Classics at Oxford — Admissions Guide 2027

Typical offer: AAA at A-Level. A Latin or Greek A-Level (or equivalent) is expected. For Course II, only one ancient language is required. IB: 38 points with 6,6,6 at Higher Level. Around 324 applicants for 156 places (roughly 2:1 — one of the least competitive Oxford courses numerically, though the standard remains very high).

Apply via UCAS by 15 October 2025. The CAT (Classics Admissions Test) is sat in early November. Written work (usually two marked school essays) is submitted afterwards. Interviews run in December: typically 2 interviews covering language skills, literary analysis, and philosophical or historical reasoning.

Classics interviews at Oxford are intellectually wide-ranging. You may be asked to translate an unseen passage, discuss a philosophical argument from Plato or Aristotle, or analyse a historical source. Interviewers test your ability to engage with unfamiliar material, think critically, and respond to guidance. Having genuine curiosity about the ancient world matters more than encyclopaedic knowledge.

Decisions combine CAT performance, interview performance, written work, predicted grades, and personal statement. The relatively low applicant-to-place ratio means most applicants are interviewed, making interview performance especially decisive.

Write about specific texts, ideas, or periods that have genuinely excited you. If you've read Homer, Virgil, or Herodotus beyond the syllabus, discuss what struck you. Show intellectual curiosity across the Classics disciplines — language, history, and philosophy. The new UCAS format means every answer must be academically focused.

Course I: Years 1-2 (Mods) cover language, literature, and early philosophy or history. Years 3-4 (Greats) cover ancient history, philosophy, and optional papers. Course II: Year 1 learning the second language; Years 2-4 follow a similar structure to Course I. The range of optional papers in Greats is extraordinary — from Greek tragedy to Roman economics to ancient philosophy of mind.

All Oxford colleges offer Classics. Some have particular strengths in ancient philosophy or history. Balliol, Corpus Christi, and Christ Church are traditionally strong for Classics. Open application is valid.

Oxford Classics graduates enter law, civil service, journalism, publishing, consulting, finance, teaching, and academia. The analytical, linguistic, and communication skills developed through Classics are highly transferable.

International applicants are welcome, including those who have studied Latin or Greek in different educational systems. Course II is designed for students with only one ancient language. IELTS 7.5 overall with 7.0 per component.