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Velvet Digest

What is a greats degree?

Author

Sophia Koch

Updated on June 01, 2026

Literae humaniores, nicknamed greats, is an undergraduate course focused on classics (Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Latin, ancient Greek, and philosophy) at the University of Oxford and some other universities. It is an archetypal humanities course.

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Also question is, what does taking Greats at Oxford mean?

Proper noun. Greats. A course of academic study devoted to reading works of classical literature, also known as Literae Humaniores. Spencer read Greats at Oxford, taking a starred first.

Additionally, is classics a good degree? It's useful if you want to be an archaeologist or work in a museum as many aspects of the course are geared towards curating, although those jobs also tend to be very competitive. Classics is mainly a recreational degree; it sounds cool and is genuinely loads of fun to study.

Herein, what is a degree in the classics?

Classics (Literae Humaniores) is a wide-ranging degree devoted to the study of the literature, history, philosophy, languages and archaeology of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.

How hard is classics at Oxford?

At last, studying in such a university is such an honour, and you have to DO something that is worth allowing you to study in Oxford. Good luck ;) In terms of percentages, Classics is quite an easy degree at Oxford - round about 30–40% of applicants get places.

Related Question Answers

What are the greats?

Literae humaniores, nicknamed greats, is an undergraduate course focused on classics (Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Latin, ancient Greek, and philosophy) at the University of Oxford and some other universities. It is an archetypal humanities course.

What can a classics degree get you?

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
  • Archivist.
  • Barrister.
  • Chartered accountant.
  • Civil Service fast streamer.
  • Editorial assistant.
  • Heritage manager.
  • Higher education lecturer.
  • Market researcher.

What are Mods and Greats at Oxford?

Honour Moderations (or Mods) are a set of examinations at the University of Oxford at the end of the first part of some degree courses (e.g., Greats or Literae Humaniores). Honour Moderations candidates have a class awarded (hence the 'honours'). However, this does not count towards the final degree.

What is a double first at Oxford?

A 'double first' at Oxford usually informally refers to first-class honours in both components of an undergraduate degree, i.e. Moderations/Prelims and the Final Honour School, or in both the bachelor's and master's components of an integrated master's degree.

Where can I study classics?

Top 10 universities for classics & ancient history, based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018
1 Sapienza - Università di Roma Italy
2 University of Oxford United Kingdom
3 University of Cambridge United Kingdom
4 Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Germany

What is a double first in classics?

A "Double First" can refer to First-Class Honours in two separate subjects, e.g., Classics and Mathematics, or alternatively to First-Class Honours in the same subject in subsequent examinations, such as subsequent Parts of the Tripos at the University of Cambridge.

Why should I study classics?

Why Study Classics. To study classics is to engage with the rich variety of the remains of these ancient civilizations: their art, literature, philosophy, music, theater, politics. Because Classics is a discipline that takes as its subject entire cultures, classicists engage with a variety of modern academic fields.

What are the classics?

'Classics' refers to the study of the languages, literatures, material culture, and history of the societies of the ancient world, together with their influence on later periods and cultures right up to the present day. Classical Greek is the study of the ancient Greek language.

Is classics A Hard major?

On the whole, classics is an interdisciplinary major and I'd say one of the most rigorous humanities subjects. But there are just too many major variations, differences in quality between universities, and individual factors to generalize as to whether it's easy or hard for everyone.

Is an art degree worthless?

Getting an art degree with 200k in student loans = Useless. The degree itself is somewhat useless, almost nobody hires an artist based on a degree (and if you have an impressive portfolio, almost nobody is going to care whether or not you have a degree), and there are a lot of art schools that are basically scams.

What jobs can a classics major get?

The search will lead you to an impressive variety of careers followed by Classics majors. Here is a sampling: accounting, banking, business, communications, computer science, film, journalism, law, library science, marketing, medicine, museum work, religious studies and ministry, social work.

How much do classics professors make?

A Professor Of Classics earns an average salary of $85,439 per year.

What are the classics subjects?

Classics or classical studies is the study of classical antiquity. It encompasses the study of the Greco-Roman world, particularly of its languages and literature (Ancient Greek and Classical Latin) but also of Greco-Roman philosophy, history, and archaeology.

What is a PhD in classics?

The PhD is a three-year research degree, examined by a dissertation of up to 80,000 words. Candidates work closely with their supervisor, a senior member of the Classics Faculty (see the list of Faculty members and their research interests), and also have a secondary supervisor.

How do you become an archaeologist?

Bachelor's degrees are generally required for entry-level archaeology positions, such as field assistant, surveyor or museum technician. Aspiring archaeologists typically pursue degrees in anthropology, which consist of studies in archaeology, cultural anthropology, biological anthropology and linguistics.

What can I do with Latin?

3. Professions: Latin prepares students for many important professions that are steeped in Latin terms and phrases or in English words derived from Latin. These career fields include law, medicine, science, music, theology, philosophy, art, and literature.

What are the classics in literature?

Popular Classic Literature Books
  • Pride and Prejudice (Paperback) Jane Austen.
  • To Kill a Mockingbird (To Kill a Mockingbird, #1) Harper Lee.
  • Jane Eyre (Paperback) Charlotte Brontë
  • The Great Gatsby (Paperback) F.
  • Wuthering Heights (Paperback) Emily Brontë
  • 1984 (Kindle Edition) George Orwell.
  • Frankenstein (Paperback)
  • The Catcher in the Rye (Paperback)

What jobs can you get with an English degree?

Top Ten Jobs for English Majors
  • Social Media Manager.
  • Technical Writer.
  • Public Relations Specialist.
  • Lawyer.
  • Grant Writer.
  • Librarian.
  • Editor and Content Manager.
  • Human Resources Specialist.

What is the difference between classics and classical studies?

Our Classics degree includes Ancient Greek and Latin in all three years, offering the opportunity to explore a broad range of literary texts in their original languages. Classical Studies examines the civilisations, art, literature and religions of the ancient world, as well as their subsequent traditions.