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History
Ancient History BA
Ancient History BA

Ancient History BA

  • ID:RHU440005
  • Level:3-Year Bachelor's Degree
  • Duration:
  • Intake:

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Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

​English Requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.

  • Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.

  • Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.

  • Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.

Course Information

If you are fascinated by the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome and keen to develop transferable skills such as critical analysis then this course is for you.

Taught by a variety of internationally recognised experts, Ancient History offers the opportunity to study the history of Greece and Rome in the Classical period (600 BCE to 700 CE). Over three years you will delve into the politics, events and developments underpinning our understanding of many aspects of historical societies and, indeed, our own culture. You will explore themes, key periods and problems in Greek and Roman history, such as the emergence (and fall) of democracy and the rise, decline and fall of Empires.

You will build skills and knowledge from day one. In year two, the experience of historical periods will be deepened and widened and you will develop skills in research and concentrate on your individual interests, which will culminate in specialist studies and individual research projects in year three. As you build knowledge and understanding of a formative and fascinating period of world history, you will have the opportunity to study in other areas of the curriculum, notably: archaeology, literature, philosophy and language.

There is also the possibility of spending a year abroad, experiencing the profound effect these classical cultures have had on history, culture and politics.

As a student of Ancient History you will be part of our Classics Department, where the quality of research that informs our teaching and a friendly, individual approach which shapes the way we guide our students combine to create an unbeaten academic experience.

Our flexible degree programmes enable you to apply to take a Placement Year, which can be spent studying abroad, working or carrying out voluntary work. You can even do all three if you want to (minimum of three months each)! To recognise the importance of this additional skills development and university experience, your Placement Year will be formally recognised on your degree certificate and will contribute to your overall result. Please note conditions may apply if your degree already includes an integrated year out, please contact the Careers & Employability Service for more information. Find out more

  • Explore key themes and problems such as the rise, decline and fall of Empires.

  • Opportunities to study archaeology, literature, philosophy and language.

  • Develop your research and reasoning skills.

  • Choose to specialise in Greek or Roman history, or both.

  • Assessment by written exams and coursework.

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Core Modules

Year 1

  •  Greek History and the City State

  •  Key Themes in Roman History

  •  Studying Classical Antiquity

Year 2

  •  The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic

  •  Rome and its Empire from Augustus to Commodus

  • Greek History to 404 BC

  • Greek History from 403 to 322

  • Greek Historiography

  • Historiography of the Roman World

Year 3

  • Extended Essay (Dissertation)

Optional Modules

There are a number of optional course modules available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course modules that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new modules may be offered or existing modules may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.

Year 1

  •  Beginner’s Greek

  •  Intermediate Greek

  •  Greek Language and Reading

  •  Beginner's Latin

  •  Intermediate Latin

  •  Latin Language and Reading

  •  Introduction to Greek Literature

  •  Roman Literature of the Republic

  •  Roman Literature of the Empiretype

  •  Introduction to Ancient Philosophy

  •  Individual and Community

  •  Introduction to Greek Archaeology

  •  Introduction to Roman Archaeology

Year 2

  • Intensive Greek

  • Aspects of Modern Greek Language and Culture

  • Hellenistic Epic: Apollonius of Rhodes

  • Imperial Greek Poetry: Epic & Epigram

  • Homer (in Greek)

  • The Tragedy of Euripides

  • Greek Dramatic Texts II (Comedy)

  • Herodotus

  • Plato (in Greek)

  • Imperial Greek Literature

  • Greek Historiography (in Greek)

  • Greek Erotic Poetry in Greek

  • Horace

  • Lucretius and Virgil

  • Latin Love Elegy

  • Roman Satire

  • Latin Epic

  • Latin Historiography

  • Catullus and Horace

  • Latin Letters

  • Homer (In Translation)

  • Greek Drama (In Translation)

  • Cinema and Classics

  • Ovid’s Metamorphoses: Art and Power in Augustan Rome

  • Virgil’s Aeneid : the Empire in the Literary Imagination

  • Gender in Classical Antiquity

  • Greek Law and Lawcourts

  • Greek History to 322 BC

  • Augustus: Propaganda and Power

  • The Roman Republic: A Social and Economic History

  • The Rise of the Roman Empire: An Economic and Social history

  • Body and Soul in Ancient Philosophy

  • The Good Life in Ancient Philosophy

  • The Built Environment in Classical Antiquity

  • Greek and Roman Art in Context

  • Understanding Pompeii and Herculaneum

  • Perspectives on Roman Britai

  • Second Year Project

Year 3

  • Further Aspects of Modern Greek Language and Culture

  • Cinema and Classics

  • Roman Oratory

  • Ancient Literary Criticism

  • Roman Drama (In Translation)

  • Greek Lyric, Eros and Social Order

  • Nature and the Supernatural in Latin Literature

  • Greek Literature under the Roman Empire

  • Studying Ancient Myth

  • Culture and Identity from Nero to Hadrian

  • The Roman Novel

  • Gender in Classical Antiquity

  • Greek Law and Lawcourts

  • Augustus

  • The Roman Republic: A Social and Economic History

  • The Rise of the Roman Empire: An Economic and Social history

  • Alexander the Great

  • The City from Augustus to Charlemagne: The Rise and Fall of Civilisation

  • Body and Soul in Ancient Philosophy

  • The Good Life in Ancient Philosophy II

  • Understanding Pompeii and Herculaneum

  • Perspectives on Roman Britai

  • City of Rome

  • City of Athens

  • The Archaeology of the Roman Near East

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Pre Courses

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Pathway Courses

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Career Opportunity

Career Opportunity

Our degree courses not only promote academic achievement but also the means to hone the life-skills necessary to excel, post-graduation.

Studying Ancient History requires research, assessment, reasoning, organization and self-management often on your own or as part of a team. So, by choosing to study this intellectually demanding discipline you will develop a broad range of skills which are highly prized by employers, including:

  • the ability to communicate views and present arguments clearly and coherently

  • the ability to critically digest, analyse and summarise content

  • time management and the discipline to meet deadlines

  • organisation and research skills

  • problem-solving skills and capability

Being able to understand and process complex issues, to critically evaluate resources and construct coherent arguments both verbally and in writing is why many Royal Holloway classicists become employed in law, marketing, publishing, the media, government and finance. Employers like Channel 4, multinational law firm SJ Berwin, The Guildhall (City of London), accountancy firm KPMG, the Natural History Museum, Customs and Immigration, London Advertising, Broadstone Pensions and Investments and the Armed Forces have all recently recruited Royal Holloway alumni from the Department of Classics.

Ability to settle

Overseas Student Health Cover

Insurance – Single: 300 GBP per year

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