Classical Civilisation and Philosophy - BA (Hons)

Explore the civilisations that gave birth to the thinking of Aristotle and Cicero, and the philosophies they were fundamental in developing. Your first year will give you a grounding in both subjects, and later years will allow you to tailor your degree to your interests with our wide range of optional modules. Develop a deeper understanding of the topics that grab your attention, or follow a theme that complements both subjects such as gender in the ancient world and today’s society, or Greek and Roman painting and the philosophy of art.  No previous knowledge of either subject is needed - combine your enthusiasm and open mind with our quality teaching and develop highly in-demand transferrable skills in the process. You'll discover ancient Greece and Rome through their: political and social structure art and visual culture religion and social life In philosophy, you'll cover the traditional areas of ethics, reasoning and logic. You’ll have the opportunity to explore how these areas feed into contemporary interests such as social philosophy, environmental ethics, and artificial intelligence. You'll also be able contrast philosophical traditions developed in ancient Greece and Rome with those developed in India and China. "At first, it was very daunting walking in there, because you don’t know what level other people are at. The majority of people had studied it before, but there were also quite a few people that were in my shoes and hadn’t. It did take you back to the very basics and that was so useful because I knew next to nothing" - [Ciara Murphy, Classical Civilisation BA](https:www.nottingham.ac.ukhumanitiesdepartmentsclassics-and-archaeologystudy-with-usour-studentsciara-murphy.aspx "Student profile of Ciara") ### Explore more  [I know what I want to do for a career](https:www.nottingham.ac.ukstudywithusugstudyarticlesexplore-more-articlesarti-know-what-i-want-to-do-for-a-career.html "Subject specific careers advice")  [I am unsure what career I’d like](https:www.nottingham.ac.ukstudywithusugstudyarticlesexplore-more-articlesarti-m-unsure-what-career-i-d-like---.html "General careers advice")   [Get involved](https:www.nottingham.ac.ukstudywithusugstudyarticlesexplore-more-articlesartgetting-work-experience.html "Getting work experience") - make the most of your time at Nottingham  ### Your departments This course is a collaboration between two departments. Find out more about what it’s like to study in the [Department of Classics and Archaeology](https:www.nottingham.ac.ukhumanitiesdepartmentsclassics-and-archaeologyindex.aspx "Department of Classics and Archaeology homepage") and the [Department of Philosophy](https:www.nottingham.ac.ukhumanitiesdepartmentsphilosophyindex.aspx "Department of Philosophy homepage"). ### Course highlights Expand your horizons by learning a language alongside your studies with [The Language Centre](https:www.nottingham.ac.uklanguage-centremodules-for-current-studentsmodules-for-current-students.aspx "Options to learn a language"). Work with our dedicated Faculty of Arts Placements Team to assist with your employability skills development via a range of placements, internships and volunteering opportunities. Explore real-world challenges across interdisciplinary themes with our ‘Engaged Arts’ optional modules. ### Proven results 11th in the UK for classics in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 and 14th in the UK for philosophy in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026. The average starting salary for classics and archaeology undergraduates was £27,074 and for philosophy and theology and religious studies undergraduates was £28,500 (both within 15 months of graduation, HESA Graduate Outcomes 202223).