Classics Ancient History & Archaeology
Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology (CLAHA) is an integrated degree programme that allows you to study the history, literature, art, archaeology, culture and thought of the ancient world in conjunction with one or both of the ancient languages.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | University of Dublin |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | University of Dublin | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Minimum Entry Requirements: Irish Leaving Certificate
To be considered for admission to a degree course at the University you must:
Present six subjects, three of which must be at grade 5 or above on higher Leaving Certificate papers or at least grade 5 in the University matriculation examination.
The six subjects above must include:
A pass in English.
A pass in mathematics (or foundation-level mathematics (see note 2)) and a pass in a language other than English
OR
A pass in Latin and a pass in a subject other than a language.
Special Entry Requirements
H4 In Greek, Latin or in another language other than English
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
To qualify for admission to an honours degree course at the University you must:
1 meet the minimum entry requirements (see above).
2 satisfy course specific requirements (where applicable), see above.
3 where there is competition for places, have good enough examination results to be included among those to whom offers are made (see the Leaving Certificate scoring system or Advanced GCE (A Level) scoring system).
Minimum entry points for recent years are available at: www.tcd.ie/study/apply/admission-requirements
Also see ‘Other Requirements’ below.
Notes:
1 A pass means grade O6/H7 or above in the Leaving Certificate and grade 7 or above in the University matriculation examination.
2 Mathematics at foundation-level is acceptable for minimum entry requirements only, for all courses except nursing or midwifery courses.
Irish at foundation-level is not acceptable for minimum entry requirements, course requirements or for scoring purposes.
3 Students may combine grades achieved in different sittings of their Leaving Certificate/Matriculation examinations for the purpose of satisfying minimum entry and/or course requirements, but not for the purposes of scoring. This is not permitted for Medicine.
4 Combinations of Leaving Certificate subjects not permitted:
Physics/chemistry may not be presented with physics or chemistry.
Biology and agricultural science may not be presented as two of the six subjects required for minimum entry requirements, and they may not be presented together to satisfy course specific requirements. However, both may be used for scoring purposes.
Art and music may not be offered as two of the three higher Leaving Certificate grades for minimum entry requirements, but both may be used for scoring purposes.
Bonus Points for Higher Level Mathematics
All students resenting H6 or above in higher level mathematics will have 25 points added to their score for mathematics. The bonus points will only be relevant where mathematics is scored as one of a student’s six best subjects for points purposes.
An applicant’s six best results from one sitting of the Leaving Certificate will be counted for scoring purposes. Applicants may combine results from the Leaving Certificate and the Trinity matriculation examination of the same year for scoring purposes.
The minimum entry levels (points) for Trinity in recent years are available at: www.tcd.ie/study/apply/admission-requirements/undergraduate
University Matriculation Examination
A matriculation examination, graded in equivalent terms to grades used in higher Leaving Certificate examination papers, is held in Trinity every year, usually in April. The subjects of the matriculation examination are Biblical Studies and Geology. You may take one or both of the subjects available, but you should note that the range of university matriculation examination subjects available is not sufficient for the fulfilment of all minimum entry requirements.
The closing date for application for the examination is 1 March of the year of proposed entry to study. Application forms and a syllabus can be obtained from:
Academic Registry, Watts Building, Trinity College Dublin,
the University of Dublin, Dublin 2,
T: +353 1 896 4500,
E: academic.registry@tcd.ie
Other Requirements
English Language Requirement
All applicants must present an English language qualification. Accepted/permitted qualifications are:
1 Irish Leaving Certificate: a grade 6 or better in ordinary level English.
2 GCSE: a grade C/grade 5 or better in English language.
3 US High School: a grade C in English taken in final year.
4 TOEFL
› Paper-based 570 (with a TWE score of 4.5)
› Computer-based 233 (with a score of 4.5 in essay)
› Internet-based 90 (with a written score of 21)
5 Cambridge Advanced/Proficiency: grade C
6 IELTS (academic version) 6.5 (no individual band below 6)
› For Dental courses: IELTS (academic version) 7 (no individual band below 7)
› For Clinical Speech and Language Studies: IELTS (academic version) 7 (no individual band below 7)
7 Pearson Test of English (Academic) – PTE Academic: a minimum score of 63 (with no Communication Skills section score below 59)
8 International Baccalaureate: English A1, A2 or B: 5 at Higher Level (4 at Standard Level if presenting IB through English).
9 QQI/FET: a pass in Communications module (5N0690).
10 Duolingo English Test: Minimum overall score of 120/160, with no section below 105.
Note: Examination results are only valid for two years.
Age Requirement
Applicants seeking admission in 2024 must have a date of birth before 15 January 2008.
Garda Vetting
Students on courses with clinical or other professional placements may be required to undergo Garda vetting procedures prior to commencing placements. If, as a result of the outcome of the Garda vetting procedures, a student is deemed unsuitable to attend clinical or other professional placement, he/she may be required to withdraw from his/her course. Students who have resided outside Ireland for a period of 6 months or more will be required to provide police clearance documentation from the country (including different states) or countries in which they resided.
Students who accept an offer will be informed of the procedures to be followed to complete the vetting process (as part of the student orientation information).
Fitness To Practice
Professional courses demand that certain core competencies are met by students in order to graduate and practice professionally after qualification. Trinity has special responsibility to ensure that all students admitted to all professional programmes will be eligible for registration by the relevant professional body upon graduation. It is important to us that our students are able to fulfil the rigorous demands of professional courses and are fit to practice.
Health Screening
Offers of admission to the following courses are made subject to certain vaccination requirements and/or certain negative test results:
› Clinical Speech and Language Studies
› Orthodontic Therapy, Dental Science, Dental Hygiene, Dental Nursing, and Dental Technology
› Medicine
› Nursing and Midwifery
› Occupational Therapy
› Pharmacy
› Physiotherapy
› Radiation Therapy
› Social Studies (Social work)
Full details are available at: www.tcd.ie/study/apply/admissionrequirements/undergraduate
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
These modules are accepted for scoring purposes only and are awarded the following points: Distinction 66, Merit 46, Pass 28.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
There is an entry route to a number of degree programmes in Trinity for applicants presenting appropriate QQI/FET Level 5 or 6 Major Awards. Applicants presenting distinctions in five modules can be considered for admission.
Full information on courses with QQI entry routes, requirements etc., can be found at the link below.
QQI FET General Information Link
Careers / Further progression
Graduate skills and career opportunities
Trinity has a long tradition of Classics graduates who have continued on to postgraduate study and successful academic careers both in Europe and America. Our students find that their degree has been a real education and a source of continuing satisfaction to them, whatever employment they take up after leaving us. Recent graduates of the Classics Department have pursued careers in business, journalism, public relations, heritage and museum work, publishing, teaching and theatre, and are working for companies ranging from McKinsey and Co. and the Sunday Independent to the Gare St. Lazare Players.
Further information
Mature Students
All undergraduate courses in Trinity are open to mature applicants. Mature student applicants are not required to satisfy the normal minimum entry requirements and are not required to meet competitive academic entry levels (such as Leaving Certificate points), but are considered in the first instance on the basis of how relevant their life, work and educational experiences are to the course(s) that they wish to pursue. In addition, all applicants should demonstrate an interest in and knowledge of their course choice(s).
In order to apply to Trinity as a mature applicant you must:
› be an EU applicant (see page 218)
› be at least 23 years of age on 1 January 2024
› submit a CAO application form to the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February 2024
Late applications will not be considered from mature students.
CAO applications may be made online at: www.cao.ie
Further information about applying through the CAO as a mature student can be found www.cao.ie/index.php?page=mature
Applicants to all courses may be required to attend an interview. Interviews are usually held between April and May.
Certain courses may also require applicants to meet other assessment criteria. For information on additional assessments for specific courses please refer to the Mature Student Guidelines booklet available from:
Academic Registry, Watts Building, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Dublin 2, T: +353 1 896 4500, E: academic.registry@tcd.ie
The Mature Student Guidelines booklet is also available to download at: www.tcd.ie/maturestudents/apply
Trinity will inform mature applicants of the outcome of their application before the end of May to allow successful applicants the maximum time possible to prepare for the start of the academic year 2024. Official offers to successful applicants are made through the CAO in early July. To secure your place you must return a formal acceptance notice to the CAO by the specified reply date.
An information seminar to prepare all successful mature applicants for starting in Trinity will take place in July 2024. An orientation programme for all successful mature applicants will take place in August 2024.
For further information on studying in Trinity as a mature student please contact the mature student officer, T: +353 1 896 1386, E: mature.student.officer@tcd.ie For more information, visit: www.tcd.ie/maturestudents
Please Refer to: http://www.tcd.ie/study/eu/undergraduate/
Places 2023: 23
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
What is Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology?
Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology (CLAHA) is an integrated degree programme that allows you to study the history, literature, art, archaeology, culture and thought of the ancient world in conjunction with one or both of the ancient languages. Flexible pathways enable you to pursue your own interests and graduate with a Single Honours degree in Classics (Latin and Greek), Ancient History and Archaeology, or Classical Civilisation, or to choose from a wide range of Joint Honours and Major/Minor combinations. Both languages can be begun from scratch, and previous study is not necessary.
CLAHA: The course for you?
This may be the course for you if you enjoy learning languages and studying the history, literature and culture of ancient civilisations, and their profound influence on the modern world. Whether you are more attracted by the mythology, literature and thought of the ancient world, or by the study of its material remains and the historical record of its achievements, CLAHA will allow you to develop and pursue your own interests and shape the degree programme in the way that suits you best.
CLAHA at Trinity
The Department of Classics has a world renowned reputation and courses are taught by academics at the top of their fields. Classics has been taught in Trinity since its foundation just over 400 years ago, and Trinity is unique in having professorships in both Greek and Latin. Teaching formats include a mixture of lectures, practical classes and small-group seminars, which encourage lively discussion and the development of independent thinking. There are opportunities to participate in archaeological fieldwork and in organised study tours to Greece and Italy, for both credit and non-credit. It is also possible to study abroad for a semester or a whole year.
Your degree and what you’ll study
At the beginning of the degree programme, you will be asked to choose between a dual language pathway (typically leading to a degree in Classics) and a single language pathway (typically leading to a degree in Ancient History and Archaeology or Classical Civilisation, with the option of continuing with the language to degree level). It is possible to switch between pathways in second year.
First year
All students study all of the three subjects below and take a common core, consisting of introductory modules in Greek and Roman History and Art and Architecture. Students following the single language pathway take further modules in: Reading and Writing about Ancient Literature, Sources and Methods for Ancient History and Archaeology, languagebased modules at either Beginners’ or Intermediate level, depending on whether you have studied the language before.
Students following the dual language pathway take modules in both Greek and Latin at Beginners’ or Intermediate level, as appropriate; if beginning both languages from scratch, they study Latin in first year and begin Greek in second year.
Second, third and fourth years
In your second year, you will be asked to confirm your choice of pathway and to focus on the aspects of the programme that most interest you. Students following the single language pathway choose a preponderance of modules in Ancient History and Archaeology or Classical Civilisation according to their preferred degree outcome (Single or Joint Honours or Major/Minor). You may or may not choose to continue with the language taken in first year; you will also have the option of taking Trinity Elective modules or Open Modules.
Students following the dual language pathway will continue to study both languages at Beginners or Intermediate level, and will take Trinity Elective modules or Open Modules.
In third and fourth year, you will continue to specialise in either Ancient History and Archaeology, Classical Civilisation or Classics, according to your preferred degree outcome. All modules are taught through lectures and small-group seminars and will encourage you to discuss key themes of relevance to both the ancient and modern world.
Ancient History and Archaeology modules offer the opportunity to focus on specific themes and periods in the history and archaeology of the Mediterranean, develop a deeper awareness of methods and theory, engage with ethical issues concerning cultural heritage, and do ‘hands on’ work with artefacts. Classical Civilisation modules focus on specific genres (e.g. epic, drama, philosophy, history-writing) or themes (e.g. gender and sexuality, humans and other animals): you will refine your analysis of texts in their context through specialised methodologies. In fourth year you will choose from a range of options, such as Entertainment and Spectacle; Goddesses of the Ancient Mediterranean; Anthropology and the Greeks; Kings and Cities; Constantine; Ancient Novel.
Third and fourth year modules in Classics progress to an in-depth study of Greek and Roman literature, history and culture. You will refine your analysis of texts in their context through specialised methodologies. Greek topics may include lyric and Hellenistic poetry, philosophy, and the novel. Latin topics may include Augustan poetry, Senecan tragedy, Informal Latin, and satire.
Fourth year for all students includes a Capstone project, in the form of a dissertation on a subject of your choice. This is an opportunity to develop independent ideas and acquire critical skills while investigating in greater depth an area that particularly interests you.
Study abroad
The Department has valuable Erasmus links with the Universities of Cyprus, Udine (Italy), Geneva, Bordeaux, and Koç (Turkey). Students are also able to avail of University-wide exchanges, for example, to North America and Australia. These opportunities allow students the option of spending a year or part of a year abroad.
www.histories-humanities.tcd.ie
www.tcd.ie/Classics
Email:
ryanw1@tcd.ie
classics@tcd.ie