Why Study Classics?

Latin and Greek aren't "dead"—they're ancient languages with vast bodies of living literature that continue to be read, studied, and enjoyed worldwide. Calling them "dead" is like calling Shakespeare dead because he's not writing new plays.

These languages preserve works of extraordinary literary, philosophical, and historical value. The Iliad remains as powerful today as it was 2,800 years ago. Cicero's rhetoric still teaches us about persuasion and politics. Studying these texts in their original languages gives you unmediated access to some of humanity's greatest achievements.

Moreover, Latin remains very much alive in legal, medical, and scientific terminology. The Catholic Church still uses Latin. Scholars worldwide read and publish in Latin. That's not a dead language—it's a language with a different kind of life.

This is perhaps the most persistent misconception. Classics graduates pursue remarkably diverse careers. The analytical, linguistic, and critical thinking skills you develop are highly valued across many fields.

Classics graduates work in:

• Law: Barristers, solicitors, legal advisers (no law degree required for conversion courses)
• Banking & Finance: Investment banking, financial analysis, risk management (banks recruit graduates who can think, not just finance students)
• Consultancy: Management consultancy, strategy consulting (firms like McKinsey, BCG, Deloitte actively recruit Classics graduates for their analytical skills)
• Civil Service & Politics: Fast Stream, policy advisers, diplomats, parliamentary researchers
• Publishing & Journalism: Editors, writers, literary agents, broadcasters, content strategists
• Museums & Heritage: Curators, archaeologists, heritage managers, archivists
• Technology: Software development, project management, UX writing, product management
• Arts & Media: Theatre, film, television production, arts administration
• Marketing & Communications: Brand strategy, copywriting, PR, digital marketing
• Academia: Research, university teaching, academic publishing
• Teaching: Yes, but it's one option among many, not the only one

Here's the key: Many graduate employers—especially in banking, consultancy, law, and the civil service—don't require a specific degree. They want graduates who can analyse complex information, construct arguments, write clearly, and think independently. That's exactly what Classics teaches.

Top consulting firms and investment banks explicitly recruit "any degree discipline" because they value intellectual ability over subject-specific knowledge. A Classics degree proves you can handle difficult material and think rigorously—which is what these employers want.

This assumes that temporal proximity equals relevance—but that's not how ideas work. The ancient world wrestled with fundamental questions about politics, ethics, war, justice, and the good life that remain urgently relevant today.

Consider these "ancient" questions:

• How do democracies fail and become tyrannies? (Read Plato's Republic or Thucydides on Athenian democracy)
• What happens when political polarisation destroys civic discourse? (Read about the fall of the Roman Republic)
• How should we treat refugees and foreigners? (Greek tragedy explores xenia—sacred hospitality to strangers)
• What are the long-term costs of war, even for "winners"? (The Iliad has much to say about this)
• How do propaganda and rhetoric manipulate public opinion? (Roman oratory provides case studies)

Moreover, studying ancient history gives you critical distance. Because ancient societies differ from ours, you're forced to question your own assumptions about how societies work. This makes you a better analyst of any historical period, including the modern one.

The ancient world isn't a curiosity sealed off from modern concerns—it's a rich source of insight into perennial human problems. Many of which we haven't solved any better than they did.

Quite the opposite. Classics is a "facilitating subject"—Russell Group universities list it among subjects that keep the most doors open for university study.

Classics combines well with virtually any other A-Level: History, English, Philosophy, Politics, Modern Languages, even Sciences and Mathematics. The analytical and writing skills you develop in Classics benefit all your other subjects.

You don't need Classics to study Classics at university—most courses welcome complete beginners. But having studied it at A-Level gives you an advantage and demonstrates genuine interest in the subject.

For non-Classics degrees, admissions tutors value Classics highly. It shows intellectual curiosity, willingness to tackle difficult material, and the ability to think independently—exactly what universities look for.

Absolutely. First, Classical Civilisation requires no language study at all—you study ancient cultures entirely through translation and historical sources.

Second, Latin and Greek are quite different from modern language learning. You're not trying to become conversationally fluent or speak naturally. You're learning to read and analyse texts carefully. This is more like solving puzzles than chatting in French.

Many students who struggle with modern languages excel at Latin and Greek because:

• You can work at your own pace—texts don't talk back or expect quick responses
• Everything follows logical grammatical rules you can learn systematically
• There's no listening or speaking component—it's all reading and analysis
• You use dictionaries extensively, so memorising vocabulary is less crucial

If you enjoy logic puzzles, crosswords, or systematic problem-solving, you might well enjoy ancient languages even if modern languages aren't your strength.

Classics alongside sciences makes you a more interesting and capable candidate—for both university and future careers. Here's why:

1. You demonstrate intellectual range

Universities and employers want people who can think across different domains. Someone who excels in both physics and Latin shows they can handle abstract logical systems and complex textual analysis. That's rare and valuable.

2. Different skills, same rigour

Sciences teach you systematic problem-solving and quantitative reasoning. Classics teaches you textual analysis, argumentation, and clear written communication. These aren't competing skills—they're complementary. A scientist who can write clearly and argue persuasively has a massive advantage.

3. You can grapple with fundamentally different material

Translating Virgil requires different thinking than solving differential equations. Being able to switch between these modes shows cognitive flexibility and intellectual curiosity. It proves you're not just good at one narrow type of problem.

4. You stand out

Medical school applicants with Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Maths look identical on paper. Add Latin or Classical Civilisation and you're immediately distinctive. You show there's more to you than just science—you're intellectually curious about the world beyond your specialism.

5. Balance and perspective

Spending all your time on STEM subjects can be intense. Classics offers intellectual challenge of a different kind—reading Homer or debating Stoic ethics provides variety whilst still demanding serious thought. Many science students find this balance valuable.

The bottom line: If you're passionate about science, pursue it. But adding Classics doesn't dilute that—it enriches it. You become someone who can think scientifically and communicate effectively, who understands both laboratory method and historical context, who has intellectual depth beyond a single discipline.

That's exactly the kind of person universities and employers are looking for.

Hannah studied Latin, Maths, and Chemistry at A-Level before reading Economics at the University of Bristol. She now works as an analyst at a major investment bank in London.

"Latin taught me to work through complex problems methodically. When I'm analysing financial data or building models, I use the same systematic approach I learned translating Cicero. The attention to detail you develop in Latin—where one letter can change an entire sentence—transfers directly to working with numbers where precision is everything."

"During interviews, my Latin A-Level made me stand out. Banks want people who can think clearly and communicate complex ideas simply. Latin forces you to do both. Plus, understanding Latin roots makes financial and legal terminology much easier to grasp."

Tom studied Classical Civilisation alongside Biology and Chemistry before studying Medicine at King's College London. He's now a junior doctor specialising in emergency medicine.

"Classical Civ gave me something my science subjects didn't: the ability to think about ethics, mortality, and what it means to be human. In medicine, you're constantly facing difficult ethical decisions. My background in Greek philosophy—particularly Stoicism—helps me stay grounded and think clearly under pressure."

"Medical school interviews focus heavily on ethics and communication. I was able to discuss end-of-life care through the lens of ancient attitudes towards death, or talk about medical paternalism versus patient autonomy using examples from Greek medicine. It showed I could think about medicine as more than just science."

Priya studied Latin, History, and Economics at A-Level before reading PPE at Oxford. She now works as a consultant at a top-tier strategy firm, advising businesses on major decisions.

"Consulting is about breaking down complex problems and communicating solutions clearly. Latin trained me in exactly that. Every translation is essentially a problem-solving exercise—you have to analyse the structure, consider multiple possibilities, and present your solution logically."

"My firm actively recruits Classicists because they recognise we bring cognitive flexibility. I can switch between analysing spreadsheets and writing client presentations. The analytical rigour from Latin and the big-picture thinking from studying Roman history make me effective at both the detail work and strategic thinking consulting requires."

James studied Latin, English Literature, and History before reading Law at Cambridge. He's now a barrister specialising in criminal defence, regularly appearing in Crown Court.

"Latin is perfect preparation for law. Legal language is full of Latin terms—*habeas corpus*, *mens rea*, *prima facie*—and understanding them properly, not just memorising definitions, gives you an edge. More importantly, Latin teaches you to argue from evidence and construct watertight logical arguments."

"The rhetoric I learned studying Cicero's speeches directly applies to advocacy. Persuasion, structure, anticipating counter-arguments—Roman orators understood all this two thousand years ago. When I'm on my feet in court, I'm using techniques I first encountered in Latin class."

Aisha studied Greek, Politics, and Philosophy before reading Classics at Durham. She's now on the Civil Service Fast Stream, working in the Cabinet Office on policy development.

"Greek gave me access to original political philosophy—reading Plato and Aristotle on democracy, justice, and the ideal state in the original language showed me how ideas get distorted in translation. This critical approach to texts transfers directly to policy work, where you need to read documents extremely carefully and spot what's being implied as much as what's stated."

"The Fast Stream assessment looked for people who could analyse complex situations, write clearly, and think strategically. My Classics background meant I'd been doing exactly that for years. Civil servants need to brief ministers in language that's precise, clear, and persuasive—skills I developed translating Greek into good English."

Sophie studied Classical Civilisation, English, and Business Studies before reading Marketing at the University of Leeds. She's now Marketing Director for a major consumer brand.

"Marketing is storytelling, and the ancient world understood narrative better than anyone. The hero's journey, tragic flaws, redemption arcs—these are patterns from Greek mythology that still shape how we sell products today. Understanding these archetypes gives you a framework for creating compelling campaigns."

"More practically, Classical Civ taught me to analyse how societies function, what motivates people, and how culture shapes behaviour. That's exactly what you need in marketing. When I'm developing strategy, I'm constantly thinking about human psychology and cultural context—skills I developed studying ancient societies."