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About the Department of Classics and Ancient History

Our Durham Department of Classics & Ancient History is a large and successful department. We consistently rank as one of the top Classics and Ancient History Departments in the UK for research and teaching, and came 13th in the 2022 QS World University Rankings.

Our degrees offer both academic rigour and an outstanding student experience. We are regularly among the top Classics departments in the UK for graduate employability. In 2019 we were awarded an Advance HE Athena Swan Bronze Award. This marks our ongoing commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusiveness. We are proud that our Department is highly international, forward-looking, and in many ways genuinely diverse in its makeup and outlook.

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13th in the World in the 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject
Athena Swan Bronze Award In 2019 we were awarded an Advance HE Athena Swan Bronze Award
90.7% overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2021
4th in the UK for overall research quality in REF 2021

Study with us

  • Undergraduate study

    We offer students a very wide range of modules, which are grouped into three Single Honours and two Joint Honours programmes. These programmes are designed to emphasise the unity as well as the exciting variety of Greek and Roman antiquity.

    Students researching.
  • Postgraduate study

    As a centre of world-class research, we have a strong commitment to postgraduate provision, and welcome applications to the Taught MA programme, or applications for MA by research and PhD work in any of the (many) research specialities represented in the Department.

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Undergraduate study

We offer students a very wide range of modules, which are grouped into three Single Honours and two Joint Honours programmes. These programmes are designed to emphasise the unity as well as the exciting variety of Greek and Roman antiquity.

Students researching.

Postgraduate study

As a centre of world-class research, we have a strong commitment to postgraduate provision, and welcome applications to the Taught MA programme, or applications for MA by research and PhD work in any of the (many) research specialities represented in the Department.

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Student satisfaction

Our Department recorded an outstanding 96.1% overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2020.

We are distinctive in our commitment to training in the Classical languages. Our language modules develop the skills of those with previous experience, and enable students with no prior training to take up Latin and Greek at all levels.
Find out more about our undergraduate courses
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Our research

In the REF2021 evaluation of research quality, our Department was ranked joint fourth in the UK. Find out more about our departmental research environment and activities below

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Our staff

Our academic staff specialise in a broad range of artistic, historical, literary, linguistic, cultural, and philosophical aspects of the Graeco-Roman world. We have further expertise in the wider Ancient Mediterranean and Near East.

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Successes in 2023 Rankings for Durham Classics & Ancient History

Durham's Classics & Ancient History is pleased to announce its successes in 2023 rankings. Our department ranked overall 2nd best in the UK in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 3rd best in the Complete University Guide, and 4th best in the Guardian University Guide. We are proud of the education and support we provide to our students.
A student in a lecture on a laptop.

Professor Edith Hall and Professor Andy Wood named new British Academy Fellows

We are delighted that Professor Edith Hall from our Department of Classics and Ancient History and Professor Andy Wood from Department of History have become new Fellows of The British Academy.
British academy fellows 2022

Advance HE Athena Swan Bronze Award for Durham Classics

We are delighted to announce that the Department of Classics and Ancient History has been awarded an Advance HE Athena Swan Bronze Award.
Plaque outside the Classics and Ancient History building

Many congratulations to Professor Christopher Rowe

Prof. Emeritus Christopher Rowe has been awarded a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellowship.
A collection of books featuring Aristotle.

2020 Complete University Guide

We have been ranked as the 3rd best Classics department in the UK.
Two students exiting a historic building.

Two prominent positions for pioneering academic using ancient languages to inform modern education

We’re celebrating the news that Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson, Associate Professor within our Classics and Ancient History department has been elected to not one, but two, prominent national advisory roles to help shape future priorities in Humanities education.
Image of Dr Arlene Holmes-Henderson

Successes in 2023 Rankings for Durham Classics & Ancient History

Durham's Classics & Ancient History is pleased to announce its successes in 2023 rankings. Our department ranked overall 2nd best in the UK in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 3rd best in the Complete University Guide, and 4th best in the Guardian University Guide. We are proud of the education and support we provide to our students.
A student in a lecture on a laptop.

Student blogs and social media

Explore our Durham University Classics Society blog, packed full of interesting classical and classically-inspired articles.

Highlights

Sustainability and Changes in Tourism at Greece’s ancient sites during Covid-19: What we can learn

Re-visiting Greece in the World of Covid-19: Some thoughts on how museums and sites have used the current circumstances as an opportunity to begin making meaningful & sustainable improvements for future generations.
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The Classics Society Trip: a growing tradition, or where we’d all rather be

Classics Society Vice President, James Hua, reflects on society trips and the importance of engaging with local communities along the way.
Group photo of the Classics Society at Hadrian's Wall

Get in touch

To find out more about our department and courses, contact us using the information below.

Department of Classics and Ancient History

38 North Bailey
Durham
DH1 3EU

+44 (0)191 3343170

Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

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