Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

About the course

This course allows you to combine the study of an Asian or Middle Eastern language and culture with Latin and/or Greek and the study of the ancient world.

There are two options: Classics with Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Q8T9) and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with Classics (T9Q8). In each case the subject mentioned first is the main subject (about two-thirds of the degree) and the second is an additional subject (about one-third of the degree).

This joint honours degree provides an exciting opportunity for students who want to focus on interdisciplinary studies. It enables students to explore the cultural development and crossover in places such as the Middle East, Iran, Egypt and India. You will study the relationship between the languages and cultures of the great monotheistic religions within their various Greek and Roman contexts.

Those who choose Arabic, Persian or Turkish as their main language for the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with Classics degree will spend their second year undertaking immersive language study abroad. 

Please note that the course video on this page was filmed prior to the renaming of the course and of the Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library. 

Oxford is ideally placed for the combined study of Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, not least due to the numerous and varied teaching staff in each faculty, and the resources of the Ashmolean Museum, the Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library and the China Centre. The Nizami Ganjavi Library has core collections comprising Islamic, South Asian and Jewish Studies.

Oxford has the largest Classics faculty in the world, with over sixty full-time academic staff-members. It has outstanding teaching, library and museum resources, including the Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library and other Bodleian Libraries, the Ashmolean Museum and a designated Classics Centre.

'The course is an enriching opportunity to broaden the usual frontiers of the study of Classics, by adding to it one language considered to be culturally external to the Greek and Roman civilisations. The languages to choose between are numerous, each of which has the potential to change your perspective both of Classics and of the world. On the other hand, the study of Classics will teach you a lot about how to look at the language of the [Asian and Middle Eastern Studies] part. I am reading Classics with Arabic. Having chosen a linguistics paper for Mods (second-year examinations), which focuses on Indo-European, the study of Arabic, a Semitic and unrelated language, is fascinating. In many ways, this course can be remarkably stimulating for students who wish to learn about linguistics. You can choose to take Sanskrit or Armenian, for example, both instrumental in understanding Indo-European.' Dominique		'I’m a third year studying Classics and Arabic, and absolutely love both my college and my course. Classics is fantastic if you’re not quite sure what you like: you can do literature, philosophy, history, and some fairly hard-core linguistics along the way. I did a linguistics paper and a modern philosophy paper for my second year exams ... After those first exams, I chose five Classics papers from a vast range of options, alongside my three Arabic papers. I’m focusing on Greek history and Latin literature, though I’m considering a Byzantine paper as well. The Arabic classes are two hours long, three times a week. This was a bit of a shock to start with but it is really satisfying to come away knowing so much more after each class. Arabic grammar is fiendish, but I haven’t come across anything as bad as Greek -mi verbs yet!'  Clare

Unistats information

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Visit the Studying at Oxford section of this page for a more general insight into what studying here is likely to be like.

Academic requirements 

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Subject requirements

Applying 

All candidates must follow the application procedure as shown on our Applying to Oxford pages.

The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course.

Admissions test

Classics with Asian and Middle Eastern Studies - Q8T9

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with Classics - T9Q8 

All candidates must take the relevant section(s) of the Classics Admissions Test (CAT) as part of their application. 

All the information you need to arrange to take your test as well as how best to prepare can be found on your test page.

Written work

Read further guidance on the submission of written work.

What are tutors looking for?

Successful candidates will be expected to display general language aptitude, including competence in Latin or Greek if they are studying the classical language(s) to A-level or equivalent. 

Tutors in both Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies are also looking for potential and an enquiring mind, and a real commitment to this wide-ranging subject. The ability to sustain an argument is also important. 

Visit the Classics website and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website for more detail on the selection criteria for this course.

Fees

Additional Fees and Charges Information for Classics and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

There are no compulsory costs for this course beyond the fees shown above and your living costs.