Our History

Founded in 1965, the University of Kent was among a group of universities established to widen access to higher education. Classics was among the first subjects to be taught to the ‘First 500’ students.

Founded by Guy Chilver, Shirley Barlow, and Christopher Collard, Kent has always been a progressive voice in the fields of Classics and Archaeology. It was among the first Universities to teach ‘reception studies’ with the ground-breaking module ‘Ancient Greece and the Modern World’ in 1967. This was one of the first ever ‘reception studies’ options in any classical studies department anywhere in the world. Decades later, these have become a mainstay of classical teaching and research all over the world (including at Kent). In 1968, Doreen Innes became the fourth member of the department, making it 50/50 female and male: again, this was highly progressive in the late ‘60s and is now commonplace.

In 1991, the Department as we know it today was born! Archaeologists Anthony Ward and Thomas Blagg transferred from Continuing Education into Classics, contributing teaching and fieldwork to the syllabus. Archaeology has been essential to our department ever since.

CLAS at Kent has grown and evolved remarkably over the last half-century. We are a diverse and inclusive department. The majority of us are female, and we count BAME and LGBTQ+ staff among our number. Our teaching and research are wide-ranging and progressive. Diversity has been a strength of everything we do from the earliest years, and with your involvement we will continue building on our proud history.

Follow our Department on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram!

 
Academic Members of the Department – Click Here

Our Facilities

Archaeology Lab. CLAS has a dedicated and well-equipped Archaeology Laboratory, used for research, student instruction and project work. The Department also has an extensive range of kit for field survey and recording, used by staff and for student instruction and research projects. Contact Lloyd Bosworth, our archaeological technician for more details.

Library Facilities. In addition to its online resources, the library has numerous books dedicated to Classical and Archaeological Studies.

• Ancient Philosophy: Templeman Library, B Block Floor 3. To browse the shelves, you’ll want to look for classmarks beginning B.
• Archaeology, Numismatics, Inscriptions: Templeman Library, D Block Floor 3. To browse the shelves, you’ll want to look for classmarks beginning CC (Archaeology), CJ (Numismatics) and CN (Inscriptions).
• Ancient Greek and Roman History: Templeman Library, D Block Floor 3. To browse the shelves, you’ll want to look for classmarks beginning D (general), DF (Greek) and DG (Roman).
• Greek and Latin Language and Literature: Templeman Library, D Block Floor 1. To browse the shelves, you’ll want to look for classmarks beginning PA.
• Ancient Art and Architecture: Templeman Library, B Block Floor 2. To browse the shelves, you’ll want to look for classmarks beginning N. These are arranged by type of art, so you’ll find browsing in this section a bit more difficult.

Computer Labs and Study Space. Computer labs with special programmes and access to printing can be found in Cornwallis and elsewhere around campus. Study space is also widely available around campus.

Societies and Activities

Although as students you are mainly here to study, if we take notice of Plato’s advice, we should also care for our body because it houses the mind!

The Kent Classics and Archaeology Society (KCAS), run by students, is one way to get involved further with the subject area and meet fellow students on your course.

Summer Programmes

Each year the British School in Athens and Rome advertises a three-week summer programme that students are invited to apply to go on. Places are competitive but those who get a place work with academics at archaeological sites in Greece and Italy. Kent students have found it a wonderful experience.

Archaeological Excavations are also a valuable way to spend your summers. To find out more about excavations, visit the Council of British Archaeology.

The American Institute of Archaeology publishes a list of excavations every January for all over the world. There are also opportunities to work on sites and on survey with some Kent lecturers who are running fieldwork projects, especially in relation to the Fieldwork Practice and Professional Archaeology modules. Speak to Drs Lavan and Willis.

Study Abroad Programmes

All students doing a Programme in Classical and Archaeological Studies can apply to spend a year abroad as part of their degree programme. If you pass all your modules abroad, you will be awarded the degree ‘Classical & Archaeological Studies with a year abroad’.

We have exciting exchange links with the Far East, including the opportunity to study for a year at Hong Kong University, Renmin University in Beijing, and now also at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Other destinations include our partner university at Ghent in Belgium as well as other European destinations via the TURING exchange network, and Universities in the US, in Canada, and South Africa.

The application process starts in the Autumn Term of your second year. To apply, you need to have at least a 2:1 average in your first year. To be permitted to go abroad after you have applied, you also need to maintain that 2.1 average for your second year at Kent. You also need supporting references from your tutors.

You will spend a third year abroad and return to Kent for your final year of studies (technically a fourth year). The marks abroad do not contribute to your Kent degree classification, but you need to pass the equivalent of 120 Kent credit points to pass the year abroad.

Please contact the International Partnerships Office and our Taught Programmes Coordinator (artshumsugandpgt@kent.ac.uk), or the CLAS Director of Undergraduate Studies for more advice.

Volunteering for Heritage Organisations and Archaeological Trusts

Students interested in heritage management or archaeology are encouraged to gain further experience by volunteering.

Students wishing to gain archaeological experience can volunteer for an excavation or take the archaeological fieldwork modules. As well as key skills being acquired, new friendships, experiences and many memories are created, whether around Canterbury or abroad. The department also offers advice on accredited excavations abroad, which might be better suited to those with specialised interests (email Dr Lavan to discuss opportunities). Students can also volunteer at the Canterbury Archaeological Trust or the Trust for Thanet Archaeology (you can also contact them by email at: thanet.arch@btclick.com).

Students wishing to gain experience in heritage management can volunteer for any number of local organisations or take the Museum and Heritage modules. You can also approach these organisations yourself. We have students who regularly volunteer for English Heritage, the Canterbury Museums, the Canterbury Cathedral, or other local heritage organisations (email Prof Labadi to discuss opportunities).

Students wishing to volunteer should also contact the Careers and Employability Office, who run a volunteer scheme that allows students to gain recognition for their volunteerism.

Considering Postgraduate Work

Some of you may find that you wish to undertake further study as a postgraduate either at Kent or at other universities. This requires some forward planning.

First, you must have a 2.1 overall. Anything less will not normally be considered. This requirement is necessary because you must demonstrate that you are capable of upper-level research and writing, which is more rigorous than undergraduate work.

Second, if you have the grades, then you have to find the correct place to do the research. You will need to work with a specialist/s in your field of interest and that may be in another university.

Third, you must apply in good time to meet the deadlines for funding applications. Funding is only given to people with first-class degrees. If you wish to enter a degree programme directly after your undergraduate work, you should be working on applications in the autumn/winter of your third year.

At Kent we offer the following postgraduate programmes:

• MA (Taught) in Ancient History
• MA (Taught) in the History and Archaeology of the Greek and Roman Worlds
• PhD (Research) in Classical and Archaeological Studies

The Research Seminar Series

CLAS regularly invites speakers from other institutions and from our own academic community to talk about their research to a wide audience of students and staff with time for questions afterwards (and sometimes even a coffee!). You can contact Dr Luke Lavan or Professor Ellen Swift, for more details.