Below is a brief outline of the syllabus for students taking Prelims as their first public examination. This is normally a four-year degree course, extended to five years if you take the Course II preliminary year studying Ancient Greek or Latin. Please see
Honour Moderations in Classics for an outline of the syllabus for students taking Mods as their first public examination (the five-year degree course).
Course II Qualifying Examination
If you have not previously studied either Ancient Greek or Latin at school or college, you spend a preliminary year learning one of the languages, combined with some study of classical literature; your course lasts four years.
The qualifying examination consists of two written exams: Greek or Latin Language, and Greek or Latin Texts.
After the qualifying examination, you go on to study Modern Languages Prelims as set out below.
Modern Languages Prelims
During your first year (or your second year, if you have taken the Course II preliminary year), you continue to study the language and literature of your chosen Classical language.
In addition, you sit written exams in your chosen modern language and its literature.
For comprehensive details of the papers available, and the rules on which combinations of papers students may take, please refer to the Examination Regulations. Detailed descriptions of the papers on offer, and information about teaching provision, can be found in the course handbook in our virtual learning environment, WebLearn. See also the handbooks for individual modern languages on the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages' WebLearn site.
Please note that changes may be made to course syllabuses from year to year, and that not all papers may be available in any given year.