Studying Classics and English at Oxford gives you the opportunity to experience and analyse ancient and modern literature in their original languages (English with Latin and/or Greek).
Here are some general resources related to Classics and English.
Overview 🔗 🌟 A comprehensive overview of the course with an outline of its structure (including the differences between Course I and Course II), entry requirements, and more.
Course Video 🔗 🌟 Listen to the perspectives of tutors and students on Classics and English.
Alternative Prospectus 🔗 An overview written by students on the Classics and English course.
From the Oriel College Classics and English page: “Classics and English is far more than half a degree in Classics and half a degree in English: each year involves several courses which develop skills in the study of reception, allusion, genre, and intertextuality which unite the two sides of the course.”
For your first year as Course 1 or 2nd year as Course 2, you do a pretty even split of Classics and English, though it may vary from term to term, and the papers are really well chosen to be mutually beneficial! The workload is often described as 2/3 of an English degree with 2/3 of a Classics degree, but it is definitely manageable.
With regards to Finals options, you're free to lean quite a lot more to the Classics side by picking up a second ancient language or pursue an even mix, and for dissertations, you can do anything on either subject or something which overlaps/ reception studies etc (and you write 2 overlapping papers anyway).
With Classics and English, you only really do one language, and almost everyone does Latin, and many students feel as though the course is sort of built around that - students who do Greek as their chosen ancient language do so because they have a really good reason or driving interest.
Prelims course handbook 🔗 🌟 This contains “essential information about the Faculties and the course” for the first year of the Classics and English degree.
Entry requirements 🔗 Information about the admission requirements.
Suggested reading and resources 🔗 🌟 This page has suggestions of what to read for every undergraduate subject, as well as information about Classics and English related research at Oxford.
All applicants for Classics and English must sit both the Classics Admissions Test(CAT) 🔗 and the English Literature Admissions Test 🔗. Find out more information about these tests here.
Official CAT advice 🔗 A video on how to prepare for the Classics Admissions Test by the Faculty of Classics.
Admissions test advice by Viola Helen 🔗 This video by Viola Helen, a recent Oxford Classics graduate, with timestamps in the description for each specific exam, including the CAT and ELAT.
ELAT advice video 🔗 A video on how to prepare for the ELAT
InsideUni Classics and English interview experiences 🔗 🌟 Current students talk about their interview experience, as well as sharing some tips. We’re biased, but we think they’re useful!