Classics- Oxford or Cambridge?

Apologies if this post has been done a lot before, I’m in year 12 applying for Classics next year and finding it difficult to choose between applying to Oxford or Cambridge. I’m studying A Level Latin but not Greek, so it would be course 1B at Oxford and the 3 year course at Cambridge. I have looked at the courses at both universities and both have pros and cons, it would be really helpful if any current or former Oxbridge Classics students could explain what the deciding factor was for them?

Reply 1

melancollege

Universities Forum Helper

19

I'm not a Classics student but I remember from my Classics friends that the courses themselves are quite different in terms of how much choice you have. I can't remember which one lets you choose from earlier on but it may be worth looking into. It may also be worth factoring in what sort of avenue you're interested in, whether that be mostly Historical, literature, Philosophy, Philology, Archaeology, etc and see the options that are available to you.

Also this is slightly unrelated, but I'd recommend looking at the JACT Greek Summer School if you're not already. I went twice and it was great fun, I learned so much and I made loads of Classics friends, especially at Cambridge (and a few at Oxford but I'm at Cambridge so I don't really see the Oxford ones as much). I'm pretty sure if you're applying for the 3-year course and don't have Greek, they strongly recommend it. They've also recently introduced the Intermediate Certificate in Classical Greek if you did want to get some Greek before you go. Don't worry if you don't have a teacher, I'm pretty sure that one is quite self-teachable, especially with good knowledge of Latin. Obviously these aren't mandatory, but I thought I'd just let you know just in case they interested you.

Reply 2

The_Lonely_Goatherd

20

@elilast

Reply 3

elilast

13

Original post

by Anonymous #1

Apologies if this post has been done a lot before, I’m in year 12 applying for Classics next year and finding it difficult to choose between applying to Oxford or Cambridge. I’m studying A Level Latin but not Greek, so it would be course 1B at Oxford and the 3 year course at Cambridge. I have looked at the courses at both universities and both have pros and cons, it would be really helpful if any current or former Oxbridge Classics students could explain what the deciding factor was for them?

Thanks @The_Lonely_Goatherd for the mention!

Hi OP! I’m a current final year Oxford student, doing course 1B.

One thing that I will say about the Oxford course is that if you apply in the next application cycle (for 2025 entry), you will be the first cohort to sit the new Classics course. Essentially, they are changing the course structure so that it is no longer divided into 1A/1B/1C/2A/2B, but rather individuals will be placed in beginner/intermediate/advanced language streams for each language.

These changes have only very recently been finalised so I recommend that you take another look at the Oxford website to make sure you have the most recent version: https://www.classics.ox.ac.uk/paper-descriptions-first-public-examination-mods-0#/

Personally, I think that this is a good change because currently Mods are very intense, especially if you are learning a new language (as I did). The new version is intended to even out inequalities between those who have already done Latin and Greek to A-Level and those who have one or neither of the languages. But what this does mean is that my own experience is a bit less helpful as you’ll be doing things quite differently to what I did.

Here's what I think makes the Oxford course different to the Cambridge one (not necessarily better, just different), based on speaking to friends at Cambridge and my own research of the courses:

1. The Oxford course is 4 years.

•

Everyone does four years. Unless people take a year out, everyone who you start with doing Classics will finish at the same time.

•

Since you would be taking the 3 year course at Cambridge, you might want to think about whether you would like to spend 4 years at university.

•

You get a bit more time to get to grips with learning Greek, and just in general more time as an undergrad.

2. Philosophy is compulsory at Mods (the first set of examinations). You also have the option to do modern philosophy papers. At Cambridge I think there might be scope to do papers from different subjects due to the tripos system but I’m not 100% sure – but as far as I know, philosophy is not compulsory.

3. Slightly more emphasis on language and translation.

•

English to Latin and Greek is compulsory at Mods at Oxford and I believe (though not 100% sure) it’s optional at Cambridge.

•

At Oxford there is greater emphasis on text-based papers in your final exams. Currently you have to do minimum of a 4 text-based papers out of the 8 you choose for finals. Since you do these over 2 years, it amounts to quite a lot of text that you have to read independently. There definitely is translation at Cambridge, obviously, but as far as I can tell from speaking to friends at Cambridge and checking the courses available, there is less of an emphasis on final year (in part because you have exams in 2^nd year!)

4. The breadth and style of papers

•

Very large choice for finals at Oxford – the course is very customisable and you can end up doing wildly different things. There are a LOT of different options.

•

The Cambridge has a bit more scope for interdisciplinary work and reception studies (e.g. in Paper X) a little earlier on.

Tl;dr Oxford is four years, more scope for philosophy, a bit more of an emphasis on translation.

Both are good courses. I also recommend visiting the cities to see which you prefer – in the end I largely decided on Oxford because I much preferred the city! Sorry this is super long; let me know if you have any other questions. Would recommend the Oxbridge Classics Open Day if you are able to visit: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/facultyofclassicsuniversityofcambridge/1097235

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post

by melancollege

I'm not a Classics student but I remember from my Classics friends that the courses themselves are quite different in terms of how much choice you have. I can't remember which one lets you choose from earlier on but it may be worth looking into. It may also be worth factoring in what sort of avenue you're interested in, whether that be mostly Historical, literature, Philosophy, Philology, Archaeology, etc and see the options that are available to you.

Also this is slightly unrelated, but I'd recommend looking at the JACT Greek Summer School if you're not already. I went twice and it was great fun, I learned so much and I made loads of Classics friends, especially at Cambridge (and a few at Oxford but I'm at Cambridge so I don't really see the Oxford ones as much). I'm pretty sure if you're applying for the 3-year course and don't have Greek, they strongly recommend it. They've also recently introduced the Intermediate Certificate in Classical Greek if you did want to get some Greek before you go. Don't worry if you don't have a teacher, I'm pretty sure that one is quite self-teachable, especially with good knowledge of Latin. Obviously these aren't mandatory, but I thought I'd just let you know just in case they interested you.

Thanks for the response, the Cambridge course is the one that allows you to specialise earlier, but I think Oxford might have more breadth once you pass mods. I’m more interested in literature and art/archaeology than ancient history and philosophy personally so I’m looking at the differences between these in the courses. I actually went to the JACT Greek summer school last year and I’m planning on going to the Latin one this year. I hadn’t heard of the Certificate in Greek but it looks interesting, thanks for suggesting it!

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

OP

Thanks for this response, and no worries about the length, it’s really helpful. I had seen that Mods were changing at Oxford, but I’ll definitely have a closer look at the new structure. I don’t particularly mind a 3 or 4 year course as I want to pursue a Masters after undergrad, so I don’t mind staying in education longer than the norm anyway. I could take or leave philosophy so that’s not a dealbreaker one way or the other.

As for the cities themselves, I have considered them. I like both, but I live quite near Oxford, and I have thought about whether I want to go to a university that is less than an hour’s drive from home as I prefer the idea of going away. I’ve only been to Cambridge once and I liked it but thought it was quite small. I’m going on a residential there in the Easter holiday so hopefully I’ll see more of the city then and decide if I think it’s too small or too quiet. I actually was already planning on going up to Cambridge for the open day, but thanks for the suggestion.

This might be an odd question, but do you know if any classicists regret picking one course over the other, or does everyone end up enjoying the one they picked? Thanks again!

Reply 6

elilast

13

Original post

by Anonymous #1

Thanks for this response, and no worries about the length, it’s really helpful. I had seen that Mods were changing at Oxford, but I’ll definitely have a closer look at the new structure. I don’t particularly mind a 3 or 4 year course as I want to pursue a Masters after undergrad, so I don’t mind staying in education longer than the norm anyway. I could take or leave philosophy so that’s not a dealbreaker one way or the other.

As for the cities themselves, I have considered them. I like both, but I live quite near Oxford, and I have thought about whether I want to go to a university that is less than an hour’s drive from home as I prefer the idea of going away. I’ve only been to Cambridge once and I liked it but thought it was quite small. I’m going on a residential there in the Easter holiday so hopefully I’ll see more of the city then and decide if I think it’s too small or too quiet. I actually was already planning on going up to Cambridge for the open day, but thanks for the suggestion.

This might be an odd question, but do you know if any classicists regret picking one course over the other, or does everyone end up enjoying the one they picked? Thanks again!

Fair enough! Yes, would definitely recommend looking at the Mods reform. Glad to hear you're already planning on going to the Open Day - I hope you find it useful!

Although technically you can specialise a bit earlier in the Cambridge course, ultimate you end up doing options of your own choice for about the same time in both (2 years) - it's more that the Oxford course has a bit of an extended first part.

If I'm honest, at times I have wished I was doing the Cambridge course because they seem a little more up-to-date with newer interdisciplinary methods and there seems to be a bit less trudging through texts just for one translation exam in 4th year. BUT this might be a case of 'the grass is greener' and ultimately I still think I much prefer Oxford as a city, as well as the 4 year course. Although a bit of a small sample size, I would say no one I've spoken regrets their choice in which one they applied to. Most people hate to admit it but both unis/courses have good and bad things about them and I think most people do enjoy the one they go to in the end...!

A small number of Classicists at Oxford do switch to doing Classical Archaeology and Ancient History though.

Reply 7

happystoat

4

@elilast Do you know if the change to the structure affects students following a joint Classics degree, and if students will be switched to the new structure from 2025, according to whatever level they have reached at that point? I'm the parent of someone due to start this autumn.

Reply 8

elilast

13

Original post

by happystoat

@elilast Do you know if the change to the structure affects students following a joint Classics degree, and if students will be switched to the new structure from 2025, according to whatever level they have reached at that point? I'm the parent of someone due to start this autumn.

No, this doesn't affect anyone starting in 2025 (as it hasn't been advertised to those applicants!) I'm not sure how it will apply to joint schools but essentially it won't affect anyone with a current offer anyway.

Reply 9

Picnicl

17

I know this might seem shallow but it appears to me that Oxford care more about the feel of where you are studying matching your subject. Its arts courses, Classics included, more often seem to be in literally 'classical' style buildings whereas Cambridge, which has often tried to be the less traditional one, teaches Classics in a modern building. Classics appears to have been integral to Oxford ever since it was founded. Cambridge don't give a history of their teaching of the subject. Research quality for Classics is 84% at Oxford, 79% at Cambridge. 82% of Oxford Classics graduates say they're currently doing something that fits their future plans. Only 60% Classics graduates from Cambridge do. I think Cambridge is a beautiful city but I think it's fair to say that Classics is more important to Oxford than it is to Cambridge.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 10

artful_lounger

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

22

Original post

by Picnicl

I know this might seem shallow but it appears to me that Oxford care more about the feel of where you are studying matching your subject. Its arts courses, Classics included, more often seem to be in literally 'classical' style buildings whereas Cambridge, which has often tried to be the less traditional one, teaches Classics in a modern building. Classics appears to have been integral to Oxford ever since it was founded. Cambridge don't give a history of their teaching of the subject. Research quality for Classics is 84% at Oxford, 79% at Cambridge. 82% of Oxford Classics graduates say they're currently doing something that fits their future plans. Only 60% at Cambridge do. I think Cambridge is a beautiful city but I think it's fair to say that Classics is more important to Oxford than it is to Cambridge.

I think relating teaching of classics to the architecture of the building is rather tenuous. Classics has also been taught at both universities since the start as far as I'm aware since it was at the core of the education system historically. This also is rather meaningless in assessing the contemporary strengths of the course.

Also I would say the Ioannou Centre is fairly modern in style at least how they present it on the Oxford website:

Classics- Oxford or Cambridge?

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