The University of Oxford has announced that it will be abolishing its undergraduate Classics degree starting from 2027.
Classics, also referred to as the fancier “Literae Humaniores”, is a four-year course at Oxford devoted to the study of the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome and their impact on modern times. It is a multi-disciplinary subject that encompasses the study of languages, literature, history, philosophy, linguistics, and archaeology pertaining to the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious degrees from Oxford, with Oscar Wilde, C.S. Lewis and Boris Johnson amongst its illustrated alumni.
The decision by the University reportedly stemmed from the “lack of relevance” of Classics in the modern world and the University’s broader commitment to “future-proofing” its academic offerings.
A University spokesperson told The Oxford Student: “For too long, students have been expected to translate archaic languages that nobody actually speaks, read texts that are thousands of years old, and study the ideas of long-dead philosophers who frankly never had to learn Microsoft Excel, use LinkedIn, or apply for internships. After a thorough review by the University’s Humanities Division, we have come to the conclusion that this is not the best use of our students’ time.”
Instead, resources from the Classics department will be directed to the creation of new undergraduate courses under the branch of “applied humanities”, such as History of AI, The Art of Networking, which tests students’ ability to craft cold emails, and PowerPoint studies, where students are required to translate their essays into a five-page slide deck in place of a final thesis.
