Ancient History BA, 3-4 years
Course information
Typical offer ABB
UCAS code V112
Institute code L34
Taught by Archaeology and Ancient History
Admissions enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
ahladmissions@le.ac.uk
Course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 2772
saahstudent@le.ac.uk
Imperialist titans, gladiatorial battles, and the political skulduggery of Ancient Greece – the ancient world is truly fascinating. In this degree, you’ll come face-to-face with the societies and cultures of antiquity, take one step closer to unravelling the past, and prepare yourself for a career in the modern world.
Course description
Course description
The BA in Ancient History offers you the chance to engage with the history of the classical world. From the Greek city-states to the Roman Empire, from kingdoms in the Near East to networks in North Africa, you will have the chance to explore a fascinating and crucial chapter of our human past.
You will learn about the societies and cultures of antiquity, and investigate the way these changed over time. You will be introduced to key historical frameworks and discover a wide range of sources that bring you face-to-face with the ancient world, from literary texts to ancient artefacts. A range of option modules, combined with detailed research projects and a dissertation in your final year, will allow you to gain subject knowledge and follow your own interests. You will have the opportunity to gain experience with local heritage organisations and schools through Year 3 module placements and our accredited internship programme.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: ABB. Two AS-levels can be considered in place of one A-level. General Studies or Critical Thinking accepted.
- EPQ with A-levels: BBB + EPQ at grade B.
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass Diploma with 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Distinction.
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points.
- BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma with DDM.
Other national and international qualifications welcomed.
Second Year Entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the department.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK and EU Students
Starting in 2022
Tuition fees for 2022/23 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2021/22 were:
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,250 for that year
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £2,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2022
Tuition fees for 2022/23 are yet to be confirmed. As an indication of what you might pay, the fees for students who started in 2021/22 were:
- £17,450 per year
- Year Abroad: £4,362.50, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
You will need to pay a deposit of £2,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
All our degrees provide transferable skills in communication, presentation, critical analysis and teamwork. This will be critical for your future career, whether it is in historical studies or in one of the wide range of professions that attract our graduates. It doesn't matter if you have little or no previous experience of ancient history; we have designed our courses for maximum flexibility. This allows you to choose how you want to specialise or diversify as your knowledge and understanding develop.
Our dedicated work experience and outreach staff will organise placements for you in schools, heritage organisations, museums, archives, and on external projects – complementing the volunteering provision within the University.
You will undertake a placement/project in a school or heritage setting where you will work with your teacher/heritage mentor to gain a range of experience and to design and deliver a lesson plan or outreach activity. These modules provide an excellent foundation for a PGCE or a career in heritage management
You will undertake a placement/project in a school or heritage setting where you will work with your teacher/heritage mentor to gain a range of experience and to design and deliver a lesson plan or outreach activity. These modules provide an excellent foundation for a PGCE or a career in heritage management.
We also offer Archaeology and Classics in the Community internships.
Interns support the introduction of archaeology and classics in local state schools, providing a wide range of enrichment opportunities based on our research. A programme of school and campus-based activities, training and mentoring delivered in partnership with the University's School of Education, develops skills which are essential for careers in teaching, heritage and museums.
Graduate destinations
Graduates from our Archaeology and Ancient History degrees have gone on to work for a wide range of employers including:
- Bahrain National Museum
- Royal Collection Trust
- Council for British Archaeology
- Teaching
- Civil Service
- University Of Leicester Archaeological Services
Career Development Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Career Development Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Related courses
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- Goal 13: Climate action
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
You will be introduced to Greek and Roman history, as well as key types of source material available for studying the classical world including literature and art, inscriptions, coins and material culture. You will also learn about the broader contexts of Greco-Roman antiquity, exploring the diverse societies of the ancient world beyond the Mediterranean from Iron Age Europe to pharaonic Egypt, and from ancient Mesopotamia to the Berbers.
Modules
- Approaching Ancient Evidence (Greek)
- Introduction to Greek History
- An Introduction to World Archaeology BC
- The Ancient World Beyond the Mediterranean
- Approaching Ancient Evidence (Roman)
- Introduction to Roman History
- An Introduction to World Archaeology AD
- Introduction to Classical Culture
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
To develop your skills further, you will undertake an in-depth source project and learn about a wide range of approaches and methods for studying the past. You will be able to choose from a range of option modules covering Greek, Roman and Near Eastern antiquity. You may also take an option module in Latin to improve both your language skills and your knowledge of Latin literature.
Core modules
Option modules
Choose three option modules from:
- The Roman Principate
- The Ancient Near East
- Greek History in 40 Lives
- Archaeology of the Roman Empire
Plus three option modules from:
- Classical and Hellenistic Greek States
- Classical and Post-classical Latin
- Roman Social History and the Roman Family
- Roman Religion
- Celts, Britons and Barbarians: Iron Age Europe in context
- Heritage Skills
- The Medieval Mediterranean World
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year Abroad (optional)
Year Abroad (optional)
If you want to, you can spend your third year studying abroad at one of our partner institutions (eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2). Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to work in the private sector, the state sector, a non-governmental organisation, or become self-employed you will find the experience invaluable. Find out more from our Study Abroad Unit.
Please note, a year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See our Fees and Funding section for details.
We have links with several European universities, administered through the Erasmus+ scheme. If you are eligible for a loan from Student Finance you can apply for a travel grant from them. Languages courses, at both beginners and advanced level, are available through the University’s Languages at Leicester scheme.
- For the latest information on the future of the Erasmus+ scheme at UK universities please see our Brexit microsite.
We have links with the following universities:
- Università di Bologna, Italy
- Universitat de València, Spain
- Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Netherlands
- Universität Freiburg, Germany
- Aarhus Universitet, Denmark
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
We also have links with some universities outside Europe. If you are receiving financial assistance from Student Finance your support will continue and you may also be eligible to apply for additional travel grants or scholarships. We have links with the following universities:
- Flinders University, Australia
- University of Calgary, Canada
Partner institutions represent choices available to current students. The range of partner insitutions available may change in future years.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Final Year
Final Year
You will write a dissertation on a topic of your choice, within the field of Ancient History. The rest of the modules are up to you. This gives you the opportunity to tailor the degree to the areas and periods that most interest you.
Core module
- Ancient History Dissertation (double module)
Option modules
Choose three option modules from:
- Households and Domesticity in the Ancient World
- Textiles, Dress and Identity in the Roman World
- Great Greek Monuments
- Early Christian Europe
- Warfare and Violence in Antiquity
Plus three option modules from:
- Sparta and the Greek World
- Greek and Roman Art
- The Roman Labyrinth: Crete under the Emperors
- The Fall of the Roman Republic
- Archaeology and Ancient History in Education
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Job prospects are excellent: 98% of our Ancient History students are employed (or studying for a Masters degree) six months after graduating. (DLHE)
The broad range of interests among our many staff means you won't be limited geographically or temporally, with specialists ranging from the ancient Mediterranean and beyond, to 18th century slavery studies and modern US politics.
Our academic staff have written or edited dozens of books and publish regularly in major national and international journals. Where other people only get to read what our experts think, you will be working directly with them, learning from them in lectures and questioning them in seminars.
Through the University's ‘Languages at Leicester’ programme you can study ancient languages like Latin or Greek or learn or enhance your modern language skills, from French to Spanish to Russian. Courses run from beginner to advanced level and can really add to your CV.
Reading list
See the types of texts you might read, over the summer, to get a feel for the course and arrive prepared and ready to go.
View a reading list for Archaeology and Ancient History degrees
Teaching and learning
You will be taught by a variety of methods, ranging from large lectures to seminars to individual tutorials. Lectures are used to provide historical narrative and to raise key historical questions and areas of debate. Seminars are where you share your opinion about those debates and put forward your interpretation of history.
Assessment is through exams and essays, source analyses, group projects and presentations.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. However, we have a range of clubs and volunteering opportunities which mean you can spend all the time you want involved in the subjects you love! You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Student Learning Development Team provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
Course | Qualification | Duration | Attendance | UCAS Code | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Course Ancient History | Qualification BA | Duration 3 years | Attendance Full-time | UCAS Code V112 | Availability Apply Now |