Reading

 

Tutors are looking for prospective students who have an insatiable appetite for learning about the Classical world. We're interested in those who have an unstoppable wish to grow their knowledge and understanding, no matter what their starting point.

This commitment to the subject can be demonstrated in many ways, but we're always impressed by those who go ‘above and beyond’ their normal school work. Strong candidates are always searching for ways to go the extra mile.

‘Reading around the subject’ is a term commonly used in the context of applications to Oxford and other universities. But there is no set reading list for students applying for Classical subjects: instead we encourage you to read as widely as possible about any aspect of Classics you find interesting (in literature, history, philosophy, archaeology or philology) and – crucially – to think critically about what you're reading. This means looking into the evidence the author is using and perhaps even forming your own opinion about it.

A good starting place is to extend your reading and exploration of the ancient world relating to the works you may be studying in school. Or, relating to topics you've heard about on podcasts and TV programmes or in non-academic books. So, for example, if you are studying a tragedy by Euripides, either in Greek or in translation, why not look out a few other tragedies by the playwright and think about common threads and important differences? If you're interested in the everyday lives of Romans, why not investigate whether there is a Roman site near you that you could visit or a museum containing Roman objects?

You may also wish to explore websites which have excellent links to materials about the ancient world. You could investigate the British Museum website or the BBC Radio 4 archives: the programme ‘In Our Time’ covers lots of interesting material from ancient Greece and Rome. You can also explore the links under the various Classics courses on the central university admissions page for ‘Suggested Subject Resources’.

So spread your academic wings and try taking some short independent flights! This will give you a taste of what university work is like and help you to come up with your own interesting ideas, which we may even discuss with you at an Oxford interview. Tutors want to be sure that you will continue to grow throughout your time as an undergraduate by continuously developing your skills and expanding your intellectual horizons.

Click here for resources relating to work and research that's been undertaken here in Oxford. You might find out something you never knew before!