Classical Literature gives you the chance to explore some of the most important texts in world literature, and how they have been received in other cultures. You’ll combine core and optional modules to appreciate works by writers such as Homer, Virgil, Aeschylus, Apuleius, Plato and Ovid, all read in English translation, offering a window into Ancient Greek and Roman culture and history. You'll explore poetry, prose, comedy, and tragedy plays in the ancient theatre and discover how later writers from the ancient world to the present day have been inspired by the classics. You can also choose to study Ancient Greek and Latin in every year of the degree.
With philosophy at Leeds, you can explore fundamental questions about how we understand the world: what’s the difference between belief and knowledge? Why are we here? How do we know what we know – and can we ever know anything at all? Through core and optional modules you’ll learn how to construct arguments and study key topics such as ethics and logic, as well as specialist knowledge in topics from ancient and moral philosophy to the ethics of life and death, philosophy of language or aesthetics.
Throughout the course, you will develop valuable interpretative and analytical skills, as well as becoming a confident researcher. You will demonstrate these qualities in when you undertake a Final Year Project on a topic of your choice in either Philosophy or Classical Literature.
Students on this programme may apply for transfer to an International Degree. The opportunity to apply for a work placement (Industrial Degree) is also available. Classics at Leeds has exchange links with Verona University (Italy) and modern language classes are available before you go to prepare you for the experience. There are also opportunities at our partner universities across the world where courses are taught in English.
At Level 3, all students will take a 40 credit capstone project appropriate to their degree programme. Alongside the capstone projects, students will be able to take 80 further credits of optional specialist modules.
(Not recruiting from 2025/26)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS1615 | Greek Poets | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS1625 | Roman Poets | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1260 | How To Do Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates will be required to study at least 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL1080 | The Good, The Bad, The Right, The Wrong | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1090 | Knowledge, Self and Reality | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
The remaining credits may be taken either as Discovery credits, or as choices from the optional modules listed below, or as a combination of both.
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL1005 | The Mind | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1007 | Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL1015 | Thinking About Race | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates may study the following optional module:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS1100 | Ancient Lives | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS1030 | Advanced Ancient Greek | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS1200 | Intermediate Ancient Greek | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS1810 | Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 1) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS1045 | Advanced Latin | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS1250 | Intermediate Latin | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS1910 | Beginners Latin | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules.
(Not recruiting from 2025/26)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
To be eligible for a joint honours award, students must pass at least 40 credits at level 2 and 40 credits at level 3 in each of the named subjects.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory module:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2800 | Evidence and Enquiry in Classics | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study at least 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2600 | Virgil's Aeneid | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS2700 | Homer's Iliad | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates will be required to study at least 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL2615 | How Do You Know? Topics in Epistemology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2631 | God, Thought and the World: Topics in Philosophy of Religion | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2906 | Do the Right Thing: Topics in Moral Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2915 | How to Live Together: Topics in Political Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2925 | Reality Check: Topics in Metaphysics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules. Not all modules in this list will run every year.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2120 | Traversing Time: The Voyage of Argo | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS2125 | Writing Love in the Ancient World | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS2220 | Classical Receptions in the Brotherton Archives and Special Collections | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS2450 | Screening Antiquity | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS2595 | Heroines: Representations of Mythological Women from Antiquity to the Present | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS2750 | Happiness and the Good Life in the Greek and Roman Worlds | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS2760 | Thinkers and Storytellers: Myth and Reason in the Ancient World | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS2790 | Greek Tragedy | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS2924 | Ancient Comedy | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS2925 | The Ancient Novel | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL2045 | From Inferno to the world. Reading Dante’s Divine Comedy in a global context | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules. Not all modules in this list will run every year.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2255 | The Worlds of Alexander the Great | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS2352 | The World of Herodotus | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS2390 | The Rise of Rome: Myth and History | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS2420 | Augustus and his Legacy | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS2650 | The Image of Sparta | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS2680 | Greek Art and Society | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS2740 | Greek Religion | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS2890 | The City in the Roman World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS2926 | A Water History of the Ancient World | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS2927 | Time, Space and Place in the Greek and Roman Worlds | 20 | Not running in 202526 |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2200 | Intermediate Ancient Greek (Level 2) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS2810 | Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 2) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules.
(Not recruiting from 2025/26)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates pursue a Study Abroad Year at a partner institution.
Candidates will be required to take one of the modules below:
Candidates will be required to take one of the modules below:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL9001 | Year Abroad (Study) | 120 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| MODL9002 | Year Abroad (FLA Placement) | 120 | Not running in 202526 | PFP |
(Not recruiting from 2025/26)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
To be eligible for a joint honours award, students must pass at least 40 credits at level 2 and 40 credits at level 3 in each of the named subjects.
Candidates will be required to study ONE of the following modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS3200 | Major Research Project | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| PRHS3000 | Independent Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| PRHS3001 | Integrated Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| PRHS3700 | External Placement: Beyond the University | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
If CLAS3200 is taken, candidates will be required to study at least 40 credits from the following optional modules; if either PRHS3000 or PRHS3001 is taken, candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL3011 | Philosophy of Language | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3012 | Ancient Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3013 | Bioethics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3125 | Continental Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3310 | Philosophy of Sex and Relationships | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3322 | Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3700 | Feminist Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3723 | War, Terror and Justice | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3855 | Philosophical Issues in Technology | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
If either PRHS3000 or PRHS3001 is taken, candidates will be required to study at least 40 credits from the following optional modules in Baskets 1-4; if CLAS3200 is taken, candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules in Baskets 1-4:
Basket 1: candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following. Not all modules in this list will run every year.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS3001 | Ancient Comedy | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS3002 | The Ancient Novel | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS3003 | Thinkers and Storytellers: Myth and Reason in the Ancient World | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3005 | Happiness and the Good Life in the Greek and Roman Worlds | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS3007 | Writing Love in the Ancient World | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS3120 | Traversing Time: The Voyage of Argo | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS3220 | Classical Receptions in the Brotherton Archives and Special Collections | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3450 | Screening Antiquity | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS3595 | Heroines: Representations of Mythological Women from Antiquity to the Present | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS3790 | Greek Tragedy | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| MODL3045 | From Inferno to the world. Reading Dante’s Divine Comedy in a global context | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Basket 2: candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following. Not all modules in this list will run every year.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS3004 | A Water History of the Ancient World | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS3006 | Time, Space and Place in the Greek and Roman Worlds | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS3150 | The Worlds of Alexander the Great: From Pella to Punjab | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS3352 | The World of Herodotus | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS3390 | The Rise of Rome: Myth and History | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS3420 | Augustus and his Legacy | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS3650 | The Image of Sparta | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS3680 | Greek Art and Society | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS3740 | Greek Religion | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| CLAS3890 | The City in the Roman World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Basket 3: candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS3230 | Intermediate Ancient Greek (Level 3) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3815 | Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 3) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3835 | Advanced Ancient Greek | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Basket 4: candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS3260 | Intermediate Latin (Level 3) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3915 | Beginners Latin (Level 3) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3935 | Advanced Latin | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules.
Last updated: 13/10/2025 17:03:57
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