The MA (Hons) in Ancient History ranges widely across almost 1500 years of Mediterranean history, from the emergence of the first Greek city-states in the early first millennium BCE to the collapse of the western Roman Empire in the fifth century CE and beyond. The Greeks and Romans are the focus, but the course also explores the history of neighbouring peoples, such as the Persians, Phoenicians, Egyptians and Jews. Ancient History at St Andrews ranges broadly in space as well as time, covering a region which stretches from Scotland and the Crimea in the north to the Persian Gulf in the south, and traces connections between the Mediterranean and regions of the wider world, such as sub-Saharan Africa and the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Thematically, the course deals not only with political and military history, but also with topics such as gender and sexuality, slavery, colonisation, religion, cultural contacts between peoples, and the ecology and economy of the ancient Mediterranean. It looks in depth at the nature of the ancient evidence, the way that the Greeks and Romans represented the past to themselves, and the way the modern world has reshaped those histories for contemporary purposes.

Course details

The MA (Hons) in Ancient History is a four-year course run by the School of Classics. In the first year, no previous experience of ancient history or classical languages is required; any student is eligible to take ancient history.

During your first two years of study, you will explore the history of the ancient Mediterranean and surrounding lands from a number of different perspectives: ancient empires - Persian, Hellenistic and Roman; cities from the Bronze Age to the end of the Roman empire; social history through case studies drawn from the Greek and Roman world; and the histories that the Greeks and Romans constructed for themselves and that have been constructed around them in the modern world.

Alongside ancient history, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.

At Honours-level (third and fourth year), you will be able to branch out and study a wide range of topics in ancient history that cover key aspects of the social, economic, political and cultural history of the Greek and Roman world, from archaic Greece to the end of the Roman empire. You will also have access to modules in the Classical Studies programme. All of the School’s Honours modules are inspired by the research expertise of the members of staff who teach them, and expose you to the latest debates and developments in the discipline. They cover a wide range of genres and themes, such as slavery, religion, gender, environmental history and imperialism.

The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits.

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“I chose Ancient History as St Andrews offers a broad range of classes taught around the research interests of the lecturers, so going into the class you know that it is a topic being actively researched and contributed to by the people teaching you.”

- Texas, USA

How it's taught

Teaching

Teaching at sub-honours level is delivered primarily through lectures (70 to 160 students) and small group tutorials (8 to 15 students). Tutorials are an opportunity for students to discuss and develop their thinking in a small and friendly atmosphere, guided by an expert tutor.

At Honours level, all teaching is delivered through seminars (10 to 20 students), with a strong emphasis on students’ own contributions in informal class discussion and in group or individual presentations.

In addition to lectures and tutorials, students are expected to undertake substantial independent, but guided, work outside of the classroom. Typically, this will involve:

reading journal articles and books

working on individual projects

undertaking research in the library

preparing coursework assignments and presentations

preparing for examinations

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of ancient history. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars and workshops under the supervision of the module coordinator.

You can find contact information for all staff on the School of Classics website.

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Assessment

Sub-honours modules in ancient history are typically assessed by 100% coursework. In Honours modules you will encounter a wider range of assessment formats, which can include:

research essays

analysis of material and artistic evidence

learning diaries

oral presentations

written examinations

Examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand.

The School aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.

The University's services and support teams can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities, as well as many other difficulties and challenges students might face while studying.

In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours) you will take the required modules in ancient history alongside modules in at least one other subject.

Typically, you will take one ancient history module per semester during your first two years, and two modules per semester during your third and fourth year (known as Honours).

Course information may change. Module information and course content, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at the University of St Andrews. We display the most up-to-date information possible, but this could be from a previous academic year. For the latest module information, see the module catalogue.

First year

Ancient Empires: explores how imperial states built and maintained their power; the experiences of other populations and cultures that were conquered or incorporated into ancient empires; and the contested legacies of imperial states, both in antiquity and today.

Cities and communities in the ancient Mediterranean: explores urbanisation by examining changing physical as well as social relations between people, as well as between people and their environments. We will study the rise and fall of the ancient city, including its ecology and domestic politics, and modern debates over ancient urbanism.

Second year

Ancient Societies: Gender, ethnicity, and inequality in the ancient world: surveys the fundamental divisions that gave shape to ancient social life, examining issues like gender, inequality, and ethnic identity through a broad range of sources and methodologies.

Culture and Thought in the Late Roman Republic: studies the art and literature of Rome in the Late Republic (first century BCE). Key literary texts, such as the passionate poetry of Catullus and the stylish rhetoric of Cicero, are set against the broader backdrop of Roman political, cultural and social life in this turbulent period of civil war and dictatorship.

Early Greek Poetry and Philosophy: studies the earliest phases of the Greek literary and philosophical tradition in the archaic and early classical Greek world. It explores the diversity of early Greek thought through the poetry and philosophy of the period, and explores themes of conflict, justice, love and the relationship between mortals and gods.

Introduction to Archaeology: provides a grounding in the main concepts, methodologies, and techniques of investigating the past through material evidence and physical environments. Topics will include methods of identifying and investigating archaeological sites and materials, and how archaeologists and cultural heritage practitioners disseminate, preserve, and curate the past for professional and public audiences.

Narratives of antiquity: examines influential narratives from the ancient world and their reinterpretations in later periods, from the nineteenth century to the present day, and how they continue to shape the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves for better or for worse.

Ancient history students must take the core module Approaches to Ancient History in their third year. In addition, you will choose from a variety of advanced options, including modules from a wide range of periods that showcase different historical approaches. You will also have access to modules from the Ancient History and Archaeology MA and Classical Studies MA programmes, which will give you an even wider choice of social, cultural and historical topics to explore.

Here is a sample of Honours modules that have been offered in previous years:

Egypt at the Crossroads: Multiculturalism in Late Antiquity

Floods, Famines, Plagues and Volcanoes: Roman Adaptation to the Environment

Experiencing the Gods in Ancient Greece

Poverty and social life in Late Antiquity

Religious Communities in the Late Antique World

Roman Slavery

The Culture of Roman Imperialism

The Environmental History of the Ancient Mediterranean World

The Rise of Rome. Early Italy from Prehistory to the First Punic War

The Supremacy of Greece: Athens, Sparta and Thebes 479 to 366 BCE

In fourth year, students also undertake an 8,000-word dissertation on a topic of their choice. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees.

Fees and funding

Scotland: Tuition fees are yet to be confirmed by the Scottish Government.

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £10,050 (yet to be confirmed by the UK Government)

EU and overseas: £34,910

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Entry requirements

The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about

Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.

SQA Highers

Standard entry grades:

Minimum entry grades:

Gateway entry grades:

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

GCE A-Levels

IB points

36 (HL 6,6,5)

36 (HL 6,5,5)

General entry requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

SQA qualifications

SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:

Chemistry

Computing science

Geography

Applications of Mathematics

Mathematics

Psychology.

GCSE qualifications

GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:

Computing Science

Other qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University's entry requirements web page.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

No prior knowledge of ancient history is required.

Alternative study options

Students interested in this course may also be interested in the following:

Gateway programmes

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades but meet the University's contextual criteria may be interested in the Gateway to Arts programme.

Study abroad

Ancient history students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site.

International applicants

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability.

Joint Honours degrees

You can also take Ancient History as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

Course name

Ancient History and French (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Ancient History and German (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Ancient History and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Ancient History and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Arabic and Ancient History (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History & Archaeology and Social Anthropology

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Art History

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Biblical Studies

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Comparative Literature

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Economics

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and English

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Film Studies

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and French

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and German

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Greek

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and International Relations

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Latin

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Mathematics

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Medieval History

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Persian

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Philosophy

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Social Anthropology

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Spanish

Joint degrees taken with Arabic, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish are also available With Integrated Year Abroad.

Ancient history students at St Andrews have traditionally progressed into a very wide range of careers on graduating. Some continue their academic careers via a postgraduate training degree to doctoral study either in St Andrews or at another university. Other students have progressed to postgraduate qualifications in teaching, museum studies or archaeology.

Recent ancient history graduates have moved into careers including:

civil service

financial industry

human resources

conference management

heritage management

video game design

A degree in ancient history will provide you with transferable skills that will equip you for a future career in many sectors. These skills include:

understanding a range of viewpoints and critical approaches

flexible thinking

exercising reflection and critical judgment

gathering, memorising, organising and deploying information

time management

project planning

independent work

group work

oral and written expression

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

What to do next

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We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.

Contact us

+44 (0)1334 46 2600Email

classics@st-andrews.ac.uk Address

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School of Classics website

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Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

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Page last updated: 9 October 2026

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