Classics and English Language MA (Hons) Level: Undergraduate Subject: Classics Year of entry: 2026 Key facts UCAS Code QQ83 Award MA (Hons) Duration of study 4 years Delivery Full-time Study location Central Area Start date September 2026 School School of History, Classics and Archaeology College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Study abroad Available Placement No Open days and events Overview About the degree programme In MA (Master of Arts) Classics and English Language, you will combine:the study of ancient Greek language and literaturewitha linguistics-based approach to the study of the English languageThe study of Greek will give you access to some of the world’s greatest literature. You will read foundational texts of the western tradition in their original language, including:epicstragedyphilosophyhistoryThis will complement your studies in linguistics, giving you the opportunity to investigate linguistic structures in both a dead and a living language.Your final dissertation is taken in either classics or language sciences. Why study Classics? How long it takes to complete this degree programme This programme is studied over 4 years.A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects, outside your chosen degree programme, in Year 1 and Year 2.This allows you the opportunity to study other courses that interest you or enhance your degree. By the end of Year 2, you can decide which of these subject areas you want to focus on in the honours years of your programme.How long it takes to complete our degree programmes How a joint degree programme works A joint programme allows you to gain a well-rounded learning experience. You will have more exposure to different disciplines, allowing you to expand your knowledge and expertise.Teaching on joint programmes is split across the two subject areas, and teaching will take place in locations associated with both subjects.You will gain a different perspective through studying more than one subject and have a wider skill set that is highly attractive to future employers. Programme benefits Study the linguistic structures of both a dead and a living language.Gain access to one of the world’s great literatures, with your study of ancient Greek language and literature.Classics at Edinburgh offers one of the widest choices of subjects and approaches of any university in the UK.We have one of the largest groups of classics-focused academics in the UK, with around 30 members of staff covering a variety of research interests. Entry requirements Find your entry requirementsUse the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.Select the qualification you are studying or studied. Where you are studying or where you studied United KingdomAfghanistanAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBhutanBoliviaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanYemenZambiaZimbabweMy country is not listed Qualification - Select a qualification -SQA Highers: standard requirementsSQA Highers: widening access requirementsA levels: standard requirementsA levels: widening access requirementsIB: standard requirementsIB: widening access requirementsOther UK qualificationsMature applicants (including adult returners)International qualifications by country United Kingdom, Fees and funding Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Classics and English Language View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Classics and English Language. Additional costs If you study abroad in Year 3, your costs will vary by country. Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.This estimate covers the costs of:accommodationfoodutility billstravel within Edinburghhealth and wellbeing costsSee a breakdown of living costs Scholarships and funding Funding information You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section. Funding Programme details What you will study Year 1 In Year 1, you will:complete two courses in Linguistics and English Languagetake two courses of either beginner's or advanced intermediate ancient Greekchoose two courses from a wide range of options Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 2 In Year 2, you will:complete a course on Linguistic Theory and the Structure of Englishcomplete a course on English in Time and SpaceYou will also:study two courses in advanced ancient Greekchoose two further courses from a wide range of options Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 3 In Year 3, you will choose:two honours courses in English languageone honours course in ancient Greek languageone honours ancient Greek courseYou will also take two courses chosen from either English language or Greek, or from beginner's or advanced intermediate Latin. Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 4 A third of your final year’s study will consist of a dissertation on a topic of your choice in either classics or language sciences.You will also select:two English language honours coursestwo ancient Greek honours options Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Study abroad There are plenty of opportunities to study abroad in Year 3 by applying for one of the University’s many international exchanges. These cover many parts of the world, including: Europe AsiaNorth AmericaSouth AmericaAustraliaNew Zealand These are unique opportunities to immerse yourself in different university systems and cultures. What are my options for going abroad? Teaching and assessment Teaching You will be taught through a combination of methods, including:lecturesseminarssmall group tutorialsSome classes take you out of the classroom and into local museums and libraries.Teaching is often closely inspired by the cutting-edge research of our academic staff, especially at honours level. Changes to teaching and learningAs part of our commitment to offering high-quality education, there may be changes to course options and delivery. We try to provide a wide range of option courses to choose from, but these may be changed or cancelled at short notice. Therefore, we cannot guarantee every student their top choice of option courses. Assessment You will be assessed by exams and coursework, and sometimes by practical exercises. Sample timetable This is an example of what your timetable could look like in Semester 1 of Year 1 of Classics and English Language if you took The Greek World 1A as your option course, for example.There is a high level of flexibility in the other courses you can study. You can discuss this with your academic cohort lead and student adviser. Courses may be subject to change and availability, and your timetable may be different.Monday11:10am to 12pm Ancient Greek 1A (lecture)3:10pm to 4pm Linguistics and English Language 1A (lecture)4:10pm to 5pm The Greek World 1A (lecture)Tuesday10am to 10:50am Linguistics and English Language 1A (lecture)11:10am to 12pm Ancient Greek 1A (lecture)4:10pm to 5pm The Greek World 1A (lecture)Wednesday11:10am to 12pm Ancient Greek 1A (lecture)12:10pm to 1pm The Greek World 1A (tutorial)5:10pm to 6pm Linguistics and English Language 1A (tutorial)Thursday9am to 9:50am Ancient Greek 1A (tutorial)10am to 10:50am Linguistics and English Language 1A (lecture)11:10am to 12pm Ancient Greek 1A (lecture)4:10pm to 5pm The Greek World 1A (lecture)FridayNo lectures or tutorials Support for your studies You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.Support for your studies Where you will study Study location The School of History, Classics and Archaeology is located in the heart of the city, in the University's Central Area. The Central Area is located on the edge of Edinburgh's historic Old Town, surrounded by lots of green space.Our building, the William Robertson Wing of the Old Medical School, is Grade A-listed. The building is in the Northern Italian Renaissance style, incorporating design influences from Venice and Bologna, including red-tiled roofs, a corbelled stair turret and palazzo frontages.You will be taught in a range of lecture theatres and seminar rooms in the School and across the University's Central Area. Academic facilities In our building, you will have access to: a range of study spacesour Student Research Roomresearch collectionsan undergraduate common roomYou will also have access to the University's libraries and computing facilities, located in George Square.External resourcesAs well as using our own resources and those of the University Library, you can apply for access to the outstanding collections of the:National Library of ScotlandNational Museum of Scotland Career paths and further study Career paths You will gain practical, intellectual and theoretical skills that are highly valued by employers.You will gain rigorous mental training in a range of disciplines. This enables you to demonstrate intellectual flexibility and the ability to adapt to new situations and to learn new skills.Where our graduates workClassics graduates have gone on to pursue a range of career paths, including:journalismmuseumsteachingacademiaaccountancyfinanceITpublishingthe armed forcesthe legal professionthe civil service Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.With the Careers Service, you can:access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisionsVisit the Careers Service website Further study After you complete your programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:a masters degreea postgraduate diploma or certificatea PhDa second undergraduate degreeFind out about options for further study Applying How to apply You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.Guidance on applying through UCAS What you need to apply As part of your application, you will need:your academic qualificationsa personal statementevidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)a reference How we select If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.How we select applicants When to apply 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.Search degrees that are open on the UCAS websiteKey application dates and deadlines After you apply After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:How to submit your qualificationsAttend an offer holder eventReceiving our decisionAccepting your offerAfter you’ve accepted your offerIf you have a disability and need more support at university Applying as an international student As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS. Find out more about applying through UCAS Visas and immigration If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme. Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. Applying for a visa Agents An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact. Find contact details for an education agent Life at Edinburgh What our students say On our student blog, our team of History, Classics and Archaeology student writers share their experiences and thoughts on the things that matter to them, including:life as a student on a joint degreetransitioning to university as a mature studentstudying in Edinburgh when English is not your first languagetips for disabled studentsStudent blogs from the School of History, Classics and Archaeology Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.University accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSports clubs At the School of History, Classics and Archaeology our societies regularly hold events. These are a great way to meet new people and get involved in exciting student-run projects, and they form the hub of our student community. Classics SocietyThe Edinburgh University Classics Society welcomes everyone who has an interest in the Ancient World. The Society hosts a variety of socials, ranging from pub nights to staff-student events, symposiums and 'Hadrian’s Ball'. It also organises an international trip.The Society conducts outreach work at local schools through their Literacy Through Latin programme and welcomes anyone with a basic knowledge of Latin to volunteer. Toga tying is a speciality.Classics Society History SocietyThe History Society is one of the oldest and largest societies on campus, renowned for its welcoming spirit and social events for which it has won many awards.The History Society hosts guest lecturers, organises careers events, and works closely with the EUSA Liberation groups. It also holds regular social events from film screenings and karaoke to a black-tie Winter Ball. As well as all this, it runs an annual international trip and has five sports teams.History Society ArchSoc (Archaeology Society) and EAOP (Edinburgh Archaeology Outreach Project)Fortune and glory! ArchSoc welcomes everyone with an interest in archaeology and heritage to its academic and social events throughout the year. Try your hand at excavating, join them on trips to local heritage sites, or attend any of their informal gatherings and annual socials for Halloween and Christmas.The Edinburgh Archaeology Outreach Project (EAOP) is made up of undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students of the University of Edinburgh and members of the Archaeology Society. The aim of EAOP is to provide children in Edinburgh and its wider communities with free experience and insight into a subject that may have been unavailable to them.Archaeology SocietyThe Edinburgh Archaeology Outreach Project RetrospectRetrospect is the University's student-led History, Classics and Archaeology journal. Whether you are interested in writing about your subject outside of your studies, or simply want to gain experience in:writingeditingdesigningpublishingRetrospect is the place to be.The journal is published once a semester and runs an excellent calendar of socials and careers events.Retrospect The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities to daily life, including: sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include:a student counselling servicea health centre (doctor's surgery)support if you're living in University accommodationdedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentHealth and wellbeing support services Contact and events
