Classics & Ancient History at Manchester
The study of the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome has a long and distinguished history at The University of Manchester. Holders of professorships in one or another classical field include such distinguished scholars as R S Conway, T B L Webster, J N Adams and T J Cornell.
In recognition of our distinguished record in both teaching and research, the University and the School have continued to invest strongly in our subject areas, so that we now number fourteen members of permanent academic staff further supported by a strong temporary and part-time staff, a vibrant community of some thirty postgraduate students and about 250 of our own undergraduates. We are thus one of the largest - and indeed liveliest - centres for the study of the classical world in the country. We are equally strong on both Greek and Roman sides of the field, in history, literature and language alike. In addition to our comprehensive coverage of central and canonical subjects, we can show expertise in a number of rarer special fields, including epigraphy, papyrology and Indo-European.
We offer a wide range of established courses, such as Greek Tragedy, Virgil's Aeneid, Roman Republican History, together with newer options, such as 'Athens and Attica' (a course which encompasses archaeological and historical approaches to the city and its landscape), Greek epic poetry. the Roman Army, and Roman Love Elegy. The quality of our teaching was recognised by the maximum 24/24 score in the last National Subject Review (2001).
Classics and Ancient History is a multidisciplinary subject, and our specialists in literary, historical or linguistic research all work together to foster links at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Recent publications from academic staff include works on Ovid, Pindar, the Elder Pliny, Orosius, the family in the Roman World, Interstate relations and Individual Liberty in ancient Greece, Medical Latin, and Ancient Warfare. Research-active members of staff teach all the undergraduate programmes, and you benefit from close engagement with those at the forefront of new intellectual developments. In the last Research Assessment Exercise, more than half of the research carried out in Classics & Ancient History was judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent (4* or 3*).
Language teaching is a fundamental part of our provision, and you are warmly encouraged to begin or enhance your skills in Latin and/or Greek. We also offer a third year course in Indo-European, together with opportunities to study other ancient languages such as Oscan or Umbrian, or to explore the early development of the Romance languages. Classics and Ancient History at Manchester has many advantages to offer: a wide choice of programmes and individual courses; a wide range of forms of assessment; world-class library and computing facilities; a balance of younger and more experienced staff; strong support structures and excellent career prospects.