Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Classics (Greek & Roman Civil,Latin,Greek)

BA/BSc (NFQ Level 8)
I am an
Study Abroad

This course is available through the following application route(s)

Contact UsContact Us

As so much of European culture looks back to Classical Antiquity, studying Classics will give you insights not just into the ancient past but also into the ideas and texts that shaped the present. Three subjects are offered within the BA Joint Honours degree, which you can take separately or combine: Greek & Roman Civilisation • Latin • Greek • Greek & Roman Civilisation explores the Classical World through history, literature, art, archaeology, mythology and philosophy.

About This Course

As so much of European culture looks back to Classical Antiquity, studying Classics will give you insights not just into the ancient past but also into the ideas and texts that shaped the present. Three subjects are offered within the BA Joint Honours degree, which you can take separately or combine: Greek & Roman Civilisation • Latin • Greek • Greek & Roman Civilisation explores the Classical World through history, literature, art, archaeology, mythology and philosophy.

You do not need previous knowledge of the subject, nor will you have to learn the ancient languages. Latin and Greek enable you to either learn a language from scratch or to develop your existing knowledge. You will also learn to read works by authors such as Cicero, Homer, Plato, Sophocles and Virgil, in their original languages.

First Year

Greek and Roman Civilisation • Classical Greece • Introduction to Rome • War & the Hero (Homer and Virgil) • Lost Cities of the Ancient World

Second & Final Years

Alexander and His Successors • Greek Tragedy • Greeks, Romans & Barbarians • The Athenian Empire • Ovid’s Metamorphoses • Death and the Afterlife in the Ancient World • The Comedies of Aristophanes • Eating & Drinking in Antiquity • Family Life in Ancient Greece • Magic in the Ancient World

There is also the opportunity at the end of first or second year to go to Greece on a 10-day study tour of archaeological sites and museums, such as Olympia, Delphi, Mycenae and the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

Latin

You can undertake Latin in first year as a beginner. Students who studied Latin at Leaving Cert (or equivalent) can develop their knowledge through modules on language, literature and culture. Authors studied include Virgil, Cicero, Tacitus and Catullus.

Greek

We offer a language programme for beginners, leading to the study of authors such as Homer, Plato, Herodotus, Thucydides and Euripides. Students will attend lectures and tutorials as well as undertaking independent reading and study. Some modules are taught in small classes.

Assessment is through a mix of class tests, exams, coursework essays, learning journals and group work.

Studying Greek & Roman Civilisation

Celtic Civilisation Irish/Gaeilge
Drama Studies Irish Studies
English Italian
Film Studies Latin
French Mathematics
German Music
Greek Spanish
History Portuguese
Studying Greek & Roman Civilisation as a Minor with:
Archaeology Geography

UCD School of Classics has links with the Universities of Athens, Brno, Catania, Cyprus, Erlangen and Stuttgart. Non-EU exchange opportunities include the University of Melbourne, Australia and the University of Virginia, USA.

Our graduates have highly-valued skills, including research, data analysis, presentation and critical reasoning. Graduates pursue a wide range of careers, such as: Advertising, Broadcasting, Journalism, Teaching, IT, Law, Business, Speech-writing and Advocacy.

You can continue your study of the ancient world at UCD with a taught MA in Classics and a research degree – MLitt or PhD. For details, see www.ucd.ie/classics/study.

UCD School of Classics
p. +353 1 716 8166
e. tasneem.filaih@ucd.ie


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Select a minimum 2 of:
 GRC10130 Ancient Rome: An Introduction Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Select a minimum 2 of:
 GRC10170 Lost Cities of the Ancient World Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Select a minimum 2 of:
 GRC10190 War and the Hero: The Epics of Homer and Virgil Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Select a minimum 2 of:
 GRC10200 Classical Greece Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
You may wish to choose a module with relevance to the GRC programme from the list below in place of your Spring elective.
 GRC10140 Classical Myth: An Introduction Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 GRC20220 Greeks, Romans, and Barbarians Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 4 of:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 20 credits from the option list below.
 GRC20010 Alexander and his Successors Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 4 of:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 20 credits from the option list below.
 GRC20130 Study Tour of Ancient Greece Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 4 of:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 20 credits from the option list below.
 GRC20240 Piracy in World History Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 4 of:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 20 credits from the option list below.
 GRC20030 Early Roman Empire Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 4 of:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 20 credits from the option list below.
 GRC20270 The Athenian Empire Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 4 of:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 20 credits from the option list below.
 GRC20300 Women in Ancient Greece Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC20010 Alexander and his Successors Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC20240 Piracy in World History Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC30080 The Oedipus Myth Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC30330 Death and the Afterlife in the Ancient World Autumn  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC30560 Economies of the Roman Empire Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC20030 Early Roman Empire Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC20270 The Athenian Empire Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC20300 Women in Ancient Greece Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC30070 Family Life in Ancient Greece Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC30290 Magic in the Ancient World Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC20010 Alexander and his Successors Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC20240 Piracy in World History Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC30080 The Oedipus Myth Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC30330 Death and the Afterlife in the Ancient World Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC30560 Economies of the Roman Empire Autumn  10
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC20030 Early Roman Empire Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC20270 The Athenian Empire Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC20300 Women in Ancient Greece Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC30070 Family Life in Ancient Greece Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A) Min 25CR:
Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below.

In accordance with UCD academic policy, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits at level 3 or above (across both degree subjects).

Students may take an additional option module in place of their elective, if they wish..
 GRC30290 Magic in the Ancient World Spring  5

The legacy of the classical world permeates our own and, particularly in my case, contemporary pop culture. The Greek myths were in all my favourite books and the Roman Empire was the setting for some of my favourite films. In the realworld, Neo-Classical architecture fills the streets of cities such as Dublin. Anyone with a modicum of interest should study it, particularly at UCD, I have only had great interactions with the staff that make up the school of Classics. The in-depth study of these ancient cultures has also shifted much of my day-to-day thinking. The subject is not only a study of the lives of the people of the Mediterranean, but how their lives and cultures affect us today.

Leo Murtagh, Graduate

Print this page

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Classics (Greek & Roman Civil,Latin,Greek):

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceInt BAU5
Arts
Bachelor of Arts
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
 Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Closed
showAudience-audienceInt SBU3
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
 Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Closed
showAudience-audienceInt BAU5
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Apply
showAudience-audienceInt SBU3
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates		 Apply
showAudience-audienceEU DN520
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Application through CAO Apply via CAO
showAudience-audienceEU DN700
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Application through CAO Apply via CAO
* you can change options at the top of the page

Additional special entry route(s) to Classics (Greek & Roman Civil,Latin,Greek):

These options have additional eligibility requirements to cater for specific applicant cohorts. You should not apply via these routes before consulting the requirements or contacting the responsible UCD office.

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt BAU5
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts		 Full-Time

Commencing September 2025		 Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.		 Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt SBU3
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science		 Full-Time

Commencing September 2025		 Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.		 Apply
Chat to StudentsContact UsEvent AlertsVisit UCD GlobalVisit MyUCDDownload BrochureView UCD Prospectus
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.