The College has a strong classical tradition, with three tutors in the Literae Humaniores School responsible for language and literature, ancient history and philosophy respectively.

Teaching for our Classics and Oriental Studies students is closely coordinated with that for students in Classics and English and Classics and Modern Languages.

We are more than happy to consider applications either for the three-year version of the course (Course I), for students with at least one ancient language at A-level or equivalent, or for the four-year course (Course II), for students taking up an ancient language as beginners.

There is an active Classics Society, and several College funds are used to provide prizes, to support travel and field archaeology, and to augment the well-stocked classical library.

Teaching in all Oriental Studies subjects is arranged centrally by the Faculty of Oriental Studies, and takes place either in the Oriental Institute or the Institute for Chinese Studies.

Tutorials in Chinese subjects taught by Dr Robert Chard are usually held at St Anne’s; some tutorials in all subjects may be held in external tutors’ colleges. Dr Chard also acts as personal tutor to all Oriental Studies students, and we have a good community of undergraduates across a range of Oriental Studies subjects. Oriental Studies subjects are as demanding as they are rewarding, and the support offered in College can make a considerable difference.

Though Oriental Studies is not a college-based subject, St Anne’s offers particular advantages to Oriental Studies students. Chief among them is the College Library: we have the largest collection of books required for Chinese classes and tutorials, and are among the largest in Japanese. Arabic, Hebrew, Jewish Studies, Turkish, Korean and Tibetan are also well catered for. The library can acquire new books requested by students, often at very short notice. St Anne’s is also adjacent to St Antony’s College, which contains the Bodleian (main university library) collection in Japanese, and also the Modern Middle East Centre Library.

Classics and Oriental Studies graduates have a high employment success rate; St Anne’s graduates can be found all over the world, working in sectors as diverse as banking, business, law, government, media, education and charities.

See also Classics.