Director of Studies
Sub-Director of Studies
For three-year course (Q800) : A-level or IB Higher in Latin or Classical Greek. For four-year course (Q801) : none.
A-level/IB Higher Level English Literature, History and/or Modern Languages may be helpful, but are by no means necessary. Evidence of language learning is an advantage. For four-year course: Classical Civilisation, English (language or literature), History, Languages (ancient or modern).
For three-year course: Latin (or Greek) skills assessment interview.
For four-year course: Language aptitude assessment interview. More information can be found here.
For three-year and four-year courses: two pieces of written work (essays or translations, including – if possible – an essay on a Classical subject).
St John’s has one of Cambridge’s largest Classics communities, with several Fellows, many postgraduates and over 25 undergraduates, making for a lively, talented and friendly academic community in the heart of the College.
Our teaching Fellows’ interests cover a broad sweep of the Tripos, including history, literature, philosophy, and linguistics. This gives you superb College support for your learning. St John’s academics are at the forefront of the discipline, in the study of Greek and Roman history/culture in the wider context of the ancient world.
The St John's student-run Classical Society is very active, organising talks, socials and events throughout the year.
The very first Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge, the humanist Sir John Cheke, appointed in 1540, was a Fellow at St John’s, as was Roger Ascham, who tutored Elizabeth I in Latin and Ancient Greek.
Our Special Collections hold Classics treasures, including Cicero's De Officiis (1466 and our oldest printed book), a 1570 first edition of Ascham’s The Scholemaster and Aesop's Fables in a parallel 1534 Ancient Greek and Latin edition.
Watch this video to find out more about the Classics course at Cambridge.
There is no particular mould for St John’s Classicists: we just want dynamic, passionate, intelligent people, independent thinkers and enthusiastic researchers who are willing to push themselves – and their teachers too.
We select the brightest and most committed students, so work hard to secure excellent examination results. Perform very well in school/college in your penultimate and final years so that your teachers are able to confirm that you are one of their very best students when writing your UCAS reference.
Successful applicants will display intellectual curiosity, a capacity to comprehend and engage with counter-arguments, and genuine interest in the study of these ancient civilisations.
Demonstrate your interest in Classics through wider reading outside your school/college curriculum, especially the ancient authors, and visiting any local museums or Roman sites (we don't expect applicants to have visited Greece and Rome). This will help to distinguish you from applicants who are doing well in school/college but are not pursuing their academic interests to the next level.
