Ancient History MA (Hons) 2018 entry

The MA (Hons) in Ancient History explores the history of Greece and Rome, and neighbouring peoples such as the Persians and Carthaginians. Students study the period from the beginning of Greek writing and urbanism in eighth century BCE through to the collapse of the western Roman empire in the fifth century CE. Geographically the subject is centred on the Mediterranean world, but at times extends from the Persian Gulf to the Clyde and from the Crimea to the Sahara.

Applications for 2018 entry for this course have now closed, see which courses are available for the upcoming academic year.

UCAS code

V110

Course type

Master of Arts (single Honours degree)

Course duration

Four years full time

  • Start date: 10 September 2018
  • End date: 30 June 2022

If you started this programme in 2017, you can find information about 2017 entry on the 2017 Ancient History MA (Hons) page. Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

Entry requirements

SQA Highers AABB
GCE A-Levels AAA
IB points 36, including three at HL6

 

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 entrance requirements as outlined on their pages.

International applicants

If English is not your first language you will need an overall IELTS score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking), or an equivalent English Language qualification.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

No prior knowledge of Ancient History is required, but competitive applications will have previous experience of studying a modern or ancient foreign language at National 5, GCSE level, or equivalent.

Faculty entry requirements

You must also meet the Faculty of Arts minimum qualifications. These vary depending on which qualifications you hold.

Other qualifications

Passes in other examinations at equivalent levels and subjects may be accepted by the Dean of the Faculty. 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 webpage.

Find out more about Faculty of Arts entry requirements.

Timetables

St Andrews students must meet with their Adviser of Studies at the beginning of Semester 1 in September to complete advising – a compulsory part of the matriculation process. After module choices have been decided, a timetable will be allocated indicating the dates and times of classes.

Reputation

The School of Classics at St Andrews has an international reputation for the diversity of teaching programmes offered. The School has expertise in history and archaeology from the archaic Greek period to Late Antiquity, literature from the Greek classical and imperial periods to the Later Roman Empire, including the Greek literature of the Roman Empire, and later engagement with the Classics from the Renaissance to the modern day.

The School of Classics was ranked first in Scotland and fourth in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2018 and second in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2018 for overall student satisfaction and quality of teaching and research.

The School was ranked best in Scotland and second in the UK in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) for the quality and impact of its research.

The University of St Andrews as a whole was voted top in the UK for student satisfaction in The National Student Survey 2017 as 94% of St Andrews final year students gave the University top marks for the quality of the learning and teaching experience.

In 2017, the University received a TEF Gold award for the quality of teaching and the undergraduate experience.

Find out more about studying Ancient History at St Andrews.

Course information

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. The history of the ancient Greek world is traced from the eighth century BCE to Alexander the Great, and the history of Rome is studied from its beginnings to the Emperor Augustus. Modules introduce political, social and archaeological aspects of civilisations that contributed much to later European culture.

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 more about how academic years are organised.

In your second year you will undertake advanced study of the social, economic, administrative and religious history of the Roman Empire from Augustus to Constantine. You will also study the history of human settlement in the Mediterranean throughout classical antiquity. The rise and fall of classical civilisation is examined, with particular emphasis on archaeological evidence and the theories and interpretative models that modern historians have brought to bear on antiquity. These modules bridge the gap to Honours through focused assessment methods, including deeper analysis and practical tutorials using the University’s archaeological collections.

At Honours-level, 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. 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, warfare and imperialism.

The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure webpage.

Find out more about studying Ancient History at St Andrews.

Modules

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). Find out more about the modular Scottish degree system.

Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules:

Second year compulsory modules in Ancient History are:

  • The Roman Empire: explores the Roman empire with particular reference both to social, religious and economic changes as well as to political and military history.
  • Mediterranean Communities: examines the human settlement and material culture of the entire Mediterranean world throughout classical antiquity.

Students can replace one or both of these modules with second-year Classical Studies modules in order to adapt the programme to suit their interests. Second year modules in Classical Studies are:

  • Early Greek Poetry and Philosophy: surveys the diversity of early Greek thought through the poetry and philosophy of the archaic and early classical periods, and explores themes of conflict, love and the relationship between mortals and gods.
  • Culture and Thought in the Late Roman Republic: studies major authors of the Late Roman Republic, such as Catullus and Cicero, against the broader backdrop of Roman art, architecture, politics, culture and social life.

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 & Archaeology and Classical Studies programmes, which will give you an even wider choice of social, cultural and historical topics to explore.

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

  • Persia and the Greeks
  • Alexander the Great
  • The Culture of Roman Imperialism
  • Religious Communities in the Late Antique World
  • Roman Slavery
  • Greeks and Others.

In fourth year, students also undertake a 10,000-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.


The sub-honours modules listed here are the compulsory modules that students must take in order to graduate in this subject. However, most students at St Andrews take additional modules, either in their primary subject or from other subjects they are interested in. For Honours level, students choose from a range of Honours modules, some of which are listed above. A full list of all modules available for the current academic year can be found in the the module catalogue.

Teaching

Teaching format

Teaching at sub-honours level is delivered primarily through lectures (70 to 120 students) and small group tutorials (8 to 12 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 ancient source material in translation
  • 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 co-ordinator.

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

In addition to your studies in the School of Classics, optional academic support is available through practical study skills courses and workshops hosted within the University. 

The University’s student services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities webpage.

Assessment

Most modules in Ancient History are assessed by 50% coursework and 50% examination. However, some modules are assessed solely or mainly on coursework, and others include practical assessment. Coursework can include:

  • research essays
  • source analysis
  • learning diaries
  • oral presentations.

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

The School of Classics provides feedback on every assessment, with a view to improving your performance in future, and aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within three weeks.

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. Please note that some Schools offer qualified entry to Honours, and this will be clearly specified in the programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please visit the common reporting scale webpage.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2018 entry

Scotland and EU £1,820
Rest of the UK £9,250
Overseas £21,290

For overseas students, tuition fees will be fixed at this level for the duration of your programme.

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

Additional compulsory charges

The optional Honours module In the Footsteps of the Ancients, which is not offered every year, includes a compulsory field trip in Greece. Students must pay for accommodation, travel within Greece, and entry permits. They must also pay for travel and health insurance, the flights to and from Greece, and meals other than breakfast. Some financial help may be available.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation in 2018.

Funding and scholarships

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

Classics bursaries

The School of Classics offers bursaries for travel (including internships) to archaeological sites, summer schools, museums, and other institutions like the British Schools in Athens and Rome.

Find out more about undergraduate scholarships.

Joint Honours degrees

You can take Ancient History as part of a joint Honours degree alongside one of the following listed subjects. 

It is also possible to combine a degree in Ancient History with two modern languages. Any combination of Arabic, French, German, Italian, Persian, Russian, Spanish is available.

  • Art History
  • Biblical Studies
  • Comparative Literature
  • Economics
  • Film Studies
  • French
  • German
  • Greek
  • International Relations
  • Italian
  • Latin
  • Mathematics
  • Mediaeval History
  • Persian
  • Philosophy
  • Social Anthropology
  • Spanish

Your future

Careers

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:

  • NHS
  • civil service
  • financial industry
  • human resources
  • conference management
  • heritage management.

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
  • 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.

Study abroad

The University is delighted to offer undergraduates a number of exciting opportunities to apply to spend a semester or year abroad as part of a St Andrews degree programme. St Andrews is partnered with large and small institutions, ancient and young, across the globe. What unites all of our programmes is the quality of the academic provision, ensuring that participation in a St Andrews Study abroad programme opens the door to a new and valuable academic experience at another world-class institution. Study Abroad for credit is permitted on existing University-approved programmes only.

Student life

From the outset, the University of St Andrews offers an array of events and opportunities which result in a truly unique student experience. Students participate in a range of traditions, notably, the red academic gown and the academic family, where older students adopt first year students as ‘children’ and help guide them in a system of mentoring. These traditions and the choice of over 150 sports clubs and student societies to choose from ensures a community feel amongst students from first year onwards.

Students of Ancient History may be interested in joining the following student societies:

The School of Classics is housed in Swallowgate, an attractive building which overlooks the sea and is close to the University Library and St Salvator’s quadrangle. Students will attend tutorials, seminars, and individual meetings with tutors in this building, while lectures are usually held in St Salvator’s.

The Swallowgate building also houses the School of Classics’ Class Library. The Class Library contains books that supplement the extensive holdings in the main Library and closely support the School’s undergraduate programmes.

The town of St Andrews itself has lots to offer. As the campus is located around town, walking around you encounter ancient and modern buildings and areas of greenery and seaside which provide a rich, beautiful backdrop to learning. If you want a change of scenery, St Andrews' position near surrounding towns and cities such as Anstruther, Dundee and Edinburgh make it ideal for getting to know more about Scotland.

Find out more about student life at the University of St Andrews.

“Studying Ancient History at St Andrews has allowed me to explore a wide variety of fascinating courses within an incredibly welcoming and intellectually stimulating atmosphere. The small class sizes allow you to immediately form close bonds with your classmates and tutors, whose expertise is matched only by their willingness to provide you with help and support, ensuring you always attain the best possible result. The School of Classics also benefits from its own charming library, good student-teacher communication and connects students with multiple internships and projects.”

Harry (Cupar, Scotland)

Contact

School of Classics

University of St Andrews
Swallowgate
Butts Wynd
St Andrews
KY16 9AL

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2600
Email: classics@st-andrews.ac.uk

Classics website