Programme structure

Year 1

In year 1 you will study the history and culture of archaic Greece and republican Rome, using a wide variety of source material, including buildings, coins, artefacts and literary works such as epic poetry and plays alongside historical texts.

Year 2

In year 2 you will study the history and culture of classical Greece and of imperial Rome. Alongside the historians Thucydides and Tacitus, the texts you read may include Plato’s philosophy, the Aeneid of Virgil and the ancient novel.

It is possible to take any of these pre-Honours courses in an online format as an alternative to the traditional face-to-face courses, for greater flexibility.

You will also study other subjects in years 1 and 2: see Flexible degrees.

Years 3 and 4

If you progress to Honours (years 3 and 4), you will choose from a wide variety of options in ancient history driven by the research strengths and interests of members of staff. These could include, for example, courses in ancient medicine, ancient technology in context, Athenian democracy, from the Gracchi to Sulla, the Roman historical imagination, Greek religion, Cleopatra, and the fall of the Roman Empire.

You will write a dissertation on a topic of your choosing, and you will also design and implement a study visit to Greece or Italy. There is also the opportunity to start or continue study of Latin and/or Greek.