Greek/Politics

Ancient Greek is one of the great intellectual achievements of human civilisation, the language in which philosophy was systematised, tragedy was invented, and history was first written as a discipline. Studying Greek alongside Politics allows you to trace the origins of Western political thought to its source texts while also examining how those ideas have been inherited, contested, and transformed in the modern world.

At the University of Glasgow, this part-time degree combines rigorous classical study with contemporary political analysis. In Greek, you will read Homer and other poets, Athenian tragedies and comedies, orators and historians, and philosophers including Plato, engaging directly with texts in their original language and coming to understand the political and social world from which they emerged. You will also explore Greek political and social history, philosophy, religion, and art, building a rich contextual understanding of antiquity.

In Politics, you will develop frameworks for analysing power, institutions, and political behaviour in the modern world, learning to think comparatively and critically about how societies govern themselves. The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study in an international environment and to experience political and academic culture beyond the UK.

Studying these two disciplines together sharpens your capacity to read difficult texts with precision, to construct and evaluate arguments, and to understand ideas across deep historical time as well as in the present. These are transferable capabilities of considerable value in many professions.

Graduates of combined degrees in classics and politics pursue careers in law, civil service, journalism, education, international relations, and the charitable sector. The analytical and linguistic skills developed by Greek study are particularly valued in research, policy, and advocacy roles. Further study in classics, ancient history, political theory, or law is a natural progression for those who wish to deepen their expertise or pursue an academic career.