FAQs: Classics at Victoria

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Course Planning Admission Prerequisites Doing Honours Student Support

Course Planning

Do I have to do first year Classics if I did it for Bursary?
If you intend majoring in Classics, it is best to do 100-level courses. The approach at university is rather different from the school curriculum – we take a more theoretical and contextual approach, as well as dealing with chronology, technique and iconography. However, while we do not expect first year students to have studied Classics before, if you have, you will have to do less background reading.

The Classics Museum provides students with hands-on experience examining artefacts.

I have to do two 100-level courses as prerequisites for 200 level, but Classics offers four such courses. Which two should I do?Depending on where your interest lies, you can choose to take CLAS 101 (Greek Literature, Myth and Society), CLAS 102 (Greek Art), CLAS 104 (Greek History) or CLAS 105 (Roman History: Government and Society), to get a good literary, artistic and historical grounding.

You also have the option of substituting LATI 103, LATI 104, GREE 112 or GREE 113 for any of our 100-level Classics courses.

I want to study Classics, but don't want to do a whole BA degree. What are my options?
You can study Classics (or any other subject) as a 'Certificate of Proficiency' (COP), which means you study the same courses as other students but without crediting your courses to a particular qualification. (You may subsequently be able to transfer your passes to a BA if you decide you do want to do a degree.)

David Rosenbloom assists a senior student

Alternatively, if you already have a degree, you might want to enrol for a Graduate Diploma in Arts (Grad DipArts), which allows you to complete a course of undergraduate study to suit your interests.

A third option is to enrol as a 'graduate concession' – you only pay half fees, but do not submit work for assessment and do not get a grade at the end of the course (enquire at FHSS student administration).

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Admission

I am an overseas student – can I study Classics at Victoria?
This depends on your eligibility to study in New Zealand – please contact Victoria International or email international-students@vuw.ac.nz for more information applicable to people from your country.

Students on the Greek Field Trip 2002.

How do I get to go on the Greek Field Trip?
This is a limited entry course at 300 level and 400 level, and very popular. To qualify, you should ideally be a Classics major, with above average grades. If you plan to do Honours in Classics, your application will be given preference.

Enrol online from December and we will get back to you in February the following year if you have been accepted.

Can I study Classics extramurally?
Yes, but a full extramural service is not provided. You may have difficulty accessing relevant books, and no summaries of lectures and tutorials are available. This is an option that would be at the discretion and risk of the student, and you should discuss it with the relevant Course Coordinator.

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Prerequisites

Do I need to take ancient Greek or Latin to do a Classics degree?
No - although, if you are planning to do postgraduate study at an MA level or higher, you will need to have completed two years of at least one of these languages to qualify for entry into the programme.

Geoffrey Greatrex offers a seminar for staff and Honours students.

What grades do I need to get into Honours?
As a guide, you should have at least a B+ average in your final year BA courses. If you are thinking of doing Honours, come in and talk to the Programme Director.

I have a BA from another university. Can I do Honours in Classics at Victoria? Does my previous major have to be Classics?
You can do Honours in Classics at Victoria if you have an undergraduate degree majoring in Classics. If your major is not in Classics but is in a closely related subject, you may still be eligible. You will have to talk it over with the Postgraduate Coordinator, Diana Burton.

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Doing Honours

Can I do Honours part time?
Yes, you can. Honours is devised as an integrated programme of study comprising four courses that, ideally, is undertaken over the course of a single year. However, it is possible to complete the programme part time over a maximum of four years. You should discuss your circumstances and study intentions with the Postgraduate Coordinator Diana Burton who will advise you how best to maximize the benefits of studying at Honours level.

The Classics programme has its own specialist library

Can I withdraw from an Honours paper if I find the workload too great?
Yes, but you would have to complete it at a later stage, since Honours is assessed as a single, integrated and complete course of study. Whether or not you will be awarded a BA (Hons), and in which class, is only assessed once you have completed the full programme and satisfied the requirements of all four courses.

Classics offers five Honours papers, one of which is a study tour to Greece with limited enrolment numbers permitted. You should not count on being able to take this course as part of your Honours degree, although preference is given to students studying Classics at this level.

If you wish to withdraw from a course, it is imperative that you do so before the last permitted date for withdrawal (consult the university Calendar). If you fail to do this, you will not get a refund of course fees and, more importantly, may jeopardize your performance in those courses you do complete. This in turn may lower your average performance rate for the programme and may affect the class of Honours you are awarded on completion.

Relationships between staff and senior students are very relaxed.

I have a double major at undergraduate level; can I incorporate both into my Honours degree?
Yes. You may only do one major you may substitute up to two papers from other disciplines. You should discuss this further with the Postgraduate Coordinators in the programmes under which you wish to study.

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Student Support

I am deaf/vision-impaired/have OOS – can I study Classics at Victoria?
We can accommodate students with a range of disabilities. Victoria's Disability Support Services offer a range of assistance, including sign language interpreters, note-takers, special study areas, parking, etc. Email classics@vuw.ac.nz or telephone 04-463-5319.