For 2020/2021, the programme is a year-long sustained contact initiative in partnership with Worcester College and Oxford's Faculty of Classics.

Seminars will be led by Oxford academics and will address a range of questions considering what it means to 'be human' by looking at ancient and modern perspectives, incorporating literature, linguistics, archaeology, history and philosophy. All seminars will be delivered online, on Mondays for the Manchester group and Tuesdays for the Yorkshire group.

Ancient World Network 2020/21: 'BEING HUMAN'

NOVEMBER 9th/10th - Is a robot a human?

DECEMBER 7th/8th - What happens after we die?

JANUARY 11th/12th - Why do humans tell stories?

FEBRUARY 8th/9th - Would you rather be free or safe?

MARCH 8th/9th - Would it be better is we all spoke the same language?

RESIDENTIAL - A three day stay in Oxford. All costs covered, including travel. Full details to be confirmed.

JUNE - Personal statement and application support.

Why study the ancient world? 

One of the great reasons to study the ancient world at university is that it is fundamentally strange to us while recognisable in its foundations, a combination which is helpful in making us more aware of the peculiar way in which our own world works. The history, philosophy, archaeology and literature we have access to from the distant past is never easy to understand, and must be studied together in order to make sense of any single part.

The challenge is not to try and make the ancient world more familiar, but embrace its distance and strangeness as an asset, and use it to learn to ask better questions about individuals and society in any place and any time. This allows us to become more sensitive to our own thoughts, behaviours, and responses to the world around us.