Classics degree V Classical Civilisation

[raspberryrippleicecream]

DD is considering these for uni. She is a little limited in choices as she has not studied Greek or Latin (no option at her school).

Some unis insist on Greek or Latin for Classics, but would allow Classical Civilisation. What DD is trying to find out if Classics is more highly regarded, or if the uni is more important. Eg at Warwick she could do Classical Civilisation but not Classics. Anybody any thoughts on this please?

Tinkly the courses we looked at didnt have catch up modules - it is more like a ladder. You start at different levels and move up a rubg a year or whatever. The details vary but a beginners module will have people with similar experience in it and you will move up the ladder together, possibly never reaching the ring the Latin a level folk started on IYSWIM. Check the websites in detail - tho we found them very confusing! But see my suggestion below about asking how many people continue from ab initio modules (may not matter If one has enjoyed the module but decided interests lie elsewhere).

HesmyLobster hi. I thought you might be along! Uniq offers are this Wednesday. Your DD should get an email to log on. I can't remember any of the actual timings from DS 2 years ago (Physics, no place).

Thank you everyone for all your thoughts and experiences. DD definitely wants to study the languages, so I think will work towards the unis that offer those.

Any Classics course should offer language (optional or compulsory), literature (in translation or original language), philosophy, history, arts, etc. Not necessarily archaeology I don't think.

Thankyou - dd was way ahead of me (as usual ) she had even marked it on my calendar but I hadn't noticed!

We've said if she doesn't get a place with Uniq (we're not hopeful, she just doesn't tick enough boxes) then she can apply to the Jact Latin summer camp and we'll split the cost with her.

It does look very good but £££

latincamp.co.uk/

raspberry I had a moment so I checked the Exeter site as I was surprised that they did n't include an option for beginners in their Classics degree. Their Classical Studies degree does include learning either Latin or Greek for at least 2 years so is more demanding from that POV than Classical Civilisation at other universities. The entry requirements are similar to straight Classics. If your DD is keen on Exeter that seems a good option to include for her choices unless she just wants very language intense courses.

Yes, from memory they all offer languages - it is just how much (ie what proportion of the degree), whether G and L possible, and whether they are compulsory every year, things like that, that vary between the degree courses. You do have to really drill into the detail of the module structure if it matters to you as there are so many possible permutations.

Thank you sendsummer. I think that was her issue, that she didn't know how Classical studies/civilisation was perceived as opposed to Classics.

Yes that is what DD has found, that she has to look closely at the courses and the modules. Some Classics courses are very much about Language and Literature. DD wants a wider focus and less language so has chosen Classical Civ/Studies courses. But there seems to be a lot of overlap (and also with Ancient History) at most places.

raspberry I think Classical Studies, as a degree title is less likely to be differentiated from Classics than Classical Cvilisation by employers. There are five choices for UCAS so I would say that it is an option worth seriously considering and having in the mix unless she is sure that she wants to focus her time in language acquisition and studying texts in their original. Something else to be aware of (from what I ave been told) if she is contemplating Classics at Oxbridge is that Classics at Oxford is four years for all students but Cambridge is four years for beginners only with the first year devoted to Latin language learning.

Oxbridge Classics courses are a good bet, compared to subjects like History and English, if Oxbridge is really important to you.

Raspberry dd is going to a subject open day next Friday. It's at Oxford but it's for Classics courses at both Oxford and Cambridge.
Dd is hoping to find answers to most of her course-related questions.
Could be perfect for your dd too.
I just checked and registration closes on Monday, so not too late.

www.classics.ox.ac.uk/outreachopendays.html

That looks good Lobster but not possible next week sadly.

DD has a reserve place for summer school, so we are keeping fingers crossed and looking at other options

For a lot of jobs with high pay it's the institution's status not the subject that matters. (My daughter read ancient history at Bristol - she was not keen on languages and just did one at GCSE and is a City lawyer now). Bristol is a fairly good university and that probably helped her job application chances later.