Studies & Degrees in Ancient History
Ancient History Study Programs
Ancient history is the study of the ancient world through its written and material evidence. In most universities the core is Greece and Rome. The University of St Andrews describes a span of almost 1,500 years of Mediterranean history, from the first Greek city-states in the early first millennium BCE to the collapse of the western Roman Empire in the fifth century CE, with attention to neighbouring peoples such as the Persians, Phoenicians, Egyptians and Jews. Other departments also cover the Near East, Egypt or late antiquity.
Students learn to work with the kinds of evidence that survive: historical texts, inscriptions, papyri, coins, art and architecture, in the list given by Newcastle University. The skills are those of any historian (finding and weighing sources, building an argument, writing clearly), applied to periods where the evidence is fragmentary. Ancient Greek and Latin are usually optional at bachelor's level. The University of Bristol states that there is no requirement to read Latin or Greek, and Newcastle offers both languages from beginners' level.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's level: in England a BA in Ancient History takes three years full-time, as at the University of Bristol and Newcastle University. In Scotland the first degree is a four-year MA (Honours): at St Andrews students take two other subjects next to ancient history in the first year and write an 8,000-word dissertation in the fourth. Joint degrees are common. St Andrews combines ancient history with languages, Greek, Latin or mathematics, among others, and the University of Oxford teaches a three-year degree in Ancient and Modern History with an optional thesis and a language option in Ancient Greek or Latin.
- Master's level: a taught master's usually takes one year. Leiden University offers the MA specialisation Ancient History: Empires, Societies and Cultures, taught in English over one year, with starts in February and September. Research master's degrees take longer: Utrecht University's Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies is a two-year programme in English that prepares for a doctorate.
- Doctorate: an academic career requires a PhD, for which reading knowledge of the ancient languages relevant to the topic is normally expected.
Admission and costs
UK universities do not usually ask for a particular school subject (Oxford sets no course requirements, although History is recommended), but offers are demanding: the standard A-level offer is ABB at Bristol and AAA at St Andrews. Applications go through UCAS (course code V110 at St Andrews and Newcastle). International applicants must prove their English; Bristol asks for IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in the other skills.
Fees for international students differ by university. For 2027 entry the published first-year fees are £29,300 at Bristol, £25,350 at Newcastle and £34,910 at St Andrews. In the Netherlands, Utrecht University charges €2,694 for EU/EEA students (the statutory fee) and €21,342 for non-EU/EEA students in 2026-27.
Where to study it
SpainExchange lists 24 active schools for ancient history. The United States and the United Kingdom have eight each and the Netherlands two; Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Sweden and Zimbabwe have one each.
In the United Kingdom the list includes the University of Bristol, the University of St Andrews, Newcastle University, The University of Manchester, Cardiff University, the University of Leicester, The University of Edinburgh and the University of Oxford. In the United States it includes The Ohio State University, The University of California at Berkeley, Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania, where ancient history is typically studied inside a history or classics department. The two Dutch schools are Leiden University and Utrecht University, both with master's programmes in English. Other listed schools are the University of Calgary, Macquarie University in Australia, Lund University and the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. For schools outside the English-speaking countries, check the language of instruction for each programme.
Careers
Few graduates become professional ancient historians, and those who do need postgraduate study. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, historians typically need at least a master's degree to enter the occupation, although a bachelor's degree in history may qualify for some entry-level positions. Historians held about 3,800 jobs in the United States in 2025, and employment is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Most graduates use the degree as a general humanities qualification. Bristol reports that its ancient history students go on to fields including teaching, technology, finance and broadcasting. Leiden names researcher, history teacher, curator and PhD candidate among the jobs of its master's graduates. Museums, archives, heritage bodies and publishing are other common destinations.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Latin or Greek to study ancient history?
Not at bachelor's level. Sources are read in translation, and the University of Bristol states that there is no requirement to read Latin or Greek. Most departments let students start one or both languages, which matters for anyone considering postgraduate research.
How is ancient history different from classics?
Ancient history concentrates on the history, societies and politics of the ancient world and uses sources in translation. Classics is built around the Greek and Latin languages and their literature. Many universities offer both, and joint degrees.
How long does the degree take?
Three years full-time for a BA in England (for example at Bristol, Newcastle and Oxford) and four years for the MA (Honours) at St Andrews in Scotland. A taught master's such as Leiden's takes one year; Utrecht's research master's takes two.
What jobs can I get with a degree in ancient history?
Teaching, museums and heritage, publishing and the media, and general graduate jobs in business and the public sector. Work as a historian usually requires at least a master's degree, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.