BA Ancient History and History
-
UCAS code
V117 -
Clearing BTEC Extended Offer
MMM -
Clearing Offer
CCD -
Year of entry
2023/24 See 2024/25 entry -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
-
Year of entry
2023/24 See 2024/25 entry -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
Join our BA Ancient History and History degree and explore the past, from ancient Greece through Medieval Europe to Cold War Britain.
Choose BA Ancient History and History at the University of Reading
- Explore the richness of the classical world alongside the wide variety of human history around the globe, combining two complementary subjects to enhance your understanding of both.
- The Department of History’s expertise covers political, social and cultural history across a wide range of regions from the medieval period to the present, from the Crusades to the 1960s. In the National Student Survey 2023, 100% of our students said our teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (100% of respondents studying in the Department of History).
- In the Department of Classics you can examine the fascinating cultures and societies of the Greek and Roman worlds, from c. 2000 BC to AD 600. In the National Student Survey 2023, 100% of our students said our teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (100% of respondents studying BA Ancient History).
A wide-ranging curriculum with a global reach
In this three-year course, you’ll address important modern questions and trace them back to their roots, exploring different periods of history through both literary and material sources. In your first year, you will develop your research and analytical skills. During your second and final years, you will be able to select modules that best fit your interests, choosing from a wide range of subjects, such as:
- ancient civilisations of Greece, Rome, Anatolia and Egypt
- medieval magic and the origins of the witch craze
- the making of modern South Asia.
We place a strong emphasis on small group learning within a supportive environment, encouraging discussion and debate with academics and peers.
Tailor your degree to fit your own interests
You will enhance your knowledge of the ancient world through:
- ancient history core modules, such as Greek History or Roman History
- optional Latin and Greek language modules
- hands-on experience with artefacts from the Ure Museum – the University’s collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities.
Conversely, the history segment of the course covers the last thousand years, giving you the chance to explore different historical periods before pursuing your own interests choosing from a wide variety of modules, including:
- The Colonial Experience: Africa
- Anarchy in the UK: Punk, Politics and Youth Culture in Britain, 1976-84
- Doomsday Dystopias: Nuclear Disaster in the Cold War Imagination
- Women in American History.
You will also write a dissertation on a specialist topic of your choice, and you will receive expert help from your supervisor in managing your research and writing the final thesis.
Additionally, the University offers all students the chance to learn a modern language alongside their core subjects.
Work placement opportunities
During your studies, you’ll have the opportunity to take a work placement and apply your skills and knowledge in real-world settings. Both departments benefit from links with the Careers Centre, offering help with potential employers, CVs and letters of application.
History’s second-year module, Going Public: Presenting the Past, Planning the Future, gives students the opportunity to work with external partners in museums, and heritage and media organisations. In your final year, two optional history modules also offer placements of 10 working days in local archives and secondary schools.
Employability modules in Classics are built into your degree. You can gain valuable experience and insight in a relevant workplace through our five-day Work Experience Scheme, or work with an academic on their research through our Academic Placement module. The Department’s Ure Museum also provides voluntary placements.
Study abroad opportunities
You will be encouraged to gain direct experience of ancient sites through both independent travel, which you might finance through our annual travel bursary, and by applying to study at the British School at Athens or Rome, both offering summer school opportunities to University of Reading students.
Additionally, field trips in the UK and abroad will enable you to access new areas of history within their historical surroundings. Past examples include the National Trust in Winchester and Westminster, and further afield in Paris and Berlin.
You can also choose to spend a term in your second year at one of our partner universities in Europe, the USA, Canada or Australia. We encourage all our students to seize the opportunity to study abroad, as it can help you develop skills such as independence, knowledge of different cultures, adaptability and the ability to communicate internationally.
Overview
Join our BA Ancient History and History degree and explore the past, from ancient Greece through Medieval Europe to Cold War Britain.
Choose BA Ancient History and History at the University of Reading
- Explore the richness of the classical world alongside the wide variety of human history around the globe, combining two complementary subjects to enhance your understanding of both.
- The Department of History’s expertise covers political, social and cultural history across a wide range of regions from the medieval period to the present, from the Crusades to the 1960s. In the National Student Survey 2023, 100% of our students said our teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (100% of respondents studying in the Department of History).
- In the Department of Classics you can examine the fascinating cultures and societies of the Greek and Roman worlds, from c. 2000 BC to AD 600. In the National Student Survey 2023, 100% of our students said our teaching staff were good or very good at explaining things (100% of respondents studying BA Ancient History).
Learning
A wide-ranging curriculum with a global reach
In this three-year course, you’ll address important modern questions and trace them back to their roots, exploring different periods of history through both literary and material sources. In your first year, you will develop your research and analytical skills. During your second and final years, you will be able to select modules that best fit your interests, choosing from a wide range of subjects, such as:
- ancient civilisations of Greece, Rome, Anatolia and Egypt
- medieval magic and the origins of the witch craze
- the making of modern South Asia.
We place a strong emphasis on small group learning within a supportive environment, encouraging discussion and debate with academics and peers.
Tailor your degree to fit your own interests
You will enhance your knowledge of the ancient world through:
- ancient history core modules, such as Greek History or Roman History
- optional Latin and Greek language modules
- hands-on experience with artefacts from the Ure Museum – the University’s collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities.
Conversely, the history segment of the course covers the last thousand years, giving you the chance to explore different historical periods before pursuing your own interests choosing from a wide variety of modules, including:
- The Colonial Experience: Africa
- Anarchy in the UK: Punk, Politics and Youth Culture in Britain, 1976-84
- Doomsday Dystopias: Nuclear Disaster in the Cold War Imagination
- Women in American History.
You will also write a dissertation on a specialist topic of your choice, and you will receive expert help from your supervisor in managing your research and writing the final thesis.
Additionally, the University offers all students the chance to learn a modern language alongside their core subjects.
Work placement opportunities
During your studies, you’ll have the opportunity to take a work placement and apply your skills and knowledge in real-world settings. Both departments benefit from links with the Careers Centre, offering help with potential employers, CVs and letters of application.
History’s second-year module, Going Public: Presenting the Past, Planning the Future, gives students the opportunity to work with external partners in museums, and heritage and media organisations. In your final year, two optional history modules also offer placements of 10 working days in local archives and secondary schools.
Employability modules in Classics are built into your degree. You can gain valuable experience and insight in a relevant workplace through our five-day Work Experience Scheme, or work with an academic on their research through our Academic Placement module. The Department’s Ure Museum also provides voluntary placements.
Study abroad opportunities
You will be encouraged to gain direct experience of ancient sites through both independent travel, which you might finance through our annual travel bursary, and by applying to study at the British School at Athens or Rome, both offering summer school opportunities to University of Reading students.
Additionally, field trips in the UK and abroad will enable you to access new areas of history within their historical surroundings. Past examples include the National Trust in Winchester and Westminster, and further afield in Paris and Berlin.
You can also choose to spend a term in your second year at one of our partner universities in Europe, the USA, Canada or Australia. We encourage all our students to seize the opportunity to study abroad, as it can help you develop skills such as independence, knowledge of different cultures, adaptability and the ability to communicate internationally.
Clearing A Level CCD BTEC offer MMM
A level: CCD, including C in a History-related subject
BTEC: MMM
Accepted subjects: History, Ancient History or Classical Civilisation. Other essay-based A level subjects (such as Sociology or English Literature) may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
We've listed A level and BTEC qualifications here, but please be assured that we also accept a wide variety of A level-equivalent qualifications.
For more information about Clearing at Reading, please visit our Clearing pages.
You can also visit our international student pages for information about English language qualifications.
Structure
Compulsory modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
CL1GH | Greek History: war, society, and change in the Archaic Age | PROF Amy Smith |
CL1RH | Roman History: the rise and fall of the Republic | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
HS1JH1 | Journeys through History 1:Power and People | DR Daniel Renshaw |
HS1JH2 | Journeys through History 2: Culture and Concepts' | PROF Anne Lawrence |
HS1RSO | Research Skills and Opportunities in History | DR Ruth Salter |
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
CL1G1 | Ancient Greek 1 | PROF Amy Smith |
CL1L1 | Latin 1 (C) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL1SO | Ancient Song | PROF Ian Rutherford |
CL1TR | Texts, Readers, and Writers | PROF Eleanor Dickey |
AP1A35 | Towards Sustainability: Positive Action for a Better World | PROF Julian Park |
AP1EM1 | Introduction to Marketing | MR Nick Walker |
AP1EM2 | The Fundamentals of Business and Marketing | MR Nick Walker |
AP1SB1 | Introduction to Management | PROF Julian Park |
AR1EMP | Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt & Rome | PROF Roger Matthews |
AR1EMP10 | Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt & Rome [10 credits] | PROF Roger Matthews |
AR1FOR | Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death | DR Gundula Müldner |
AR1FOR10 | Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death [10 credit] | DR Gundula Müldner |
AR1RAT | Revolutions and Transitions: The Human Journey from 6 Million Years Ago to the Present Day | PROF Steve Mithen |
AR1RAT1 | Revolutions and Transitions: The Human Journey from 6 Million Years Ago to the Present Day | PROF Steve Mithen |
AR1SOC | Contemporary world cultures: an introduction to social anthropology | DR Alanna Cant |
AR1SOC10 | Contemporary world cultures: an introduction to social anthropology [10 credits] | DR Alanna Cant |
FA1DSS | Drawing Skills | MISS Beverley Bennett |
FA1MM | Modernisms & Mythologies | DR Jenny Chamarette |
FT1ATF | Approaches to Film | DR Adam O'Brien |
FT1ATP | Analysing Theatre and Performance | DR Matt McFrederick |
FT1CSS | Comedy on Stage and Screen | DR Tonia Kazakopoulou |
FT1WD | Wildlife Documentary: Ecology and Representation | DR Adam O'Brien |
GV1B1 | Introduction to Environmental Science | DR Hazel McGoff |
IL1GICC | Intercultural Competence and Communication | MS Joan McCormack |
IL1GMB | Modern Britain: Society, History and Politics | DR Lucy Watson |
LA1PK1 | IWLP Modern Greek 1 | PROF Timothy Duff |
LS1ELS | English Language and Society | DR Christiana Themistocleous |
LS1GL | Globalization and Language | DR Tony Capstick |
MC1HPE | Museum History, Policy and Ethics | DR Rhi Smith |
MC1PP | Presenting the Past | DR Rhi Smith |
ML1GEC | Greats of European Cinema | DR Marta Simo-Comas |
MM1F10 | Student Enterprise | DR Lebene Soga |
MT1CC | The Science of Climate Change | PROF Nigel Arnell |
PO1BRI | British Society | DR Dawn Clarke |
PO1INE | Inequality | DR Jonathan Golub |
PO1IPI | Introduction to Political Ideas | DR Andrew Reid |
PO1WAR | War and Warfare | DR Vladimir Rauta |
PP1GJ | Global Justice | MISS Michela Bariselli |
PP1ML | The Meaning of Life | DR Luke Elson |
PP1RA | Reason and Argument | DR Jumbly Grindrod |
PP1RP | Radical Philosophy | PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford |
PY1IPY | Introduction to Psychology | DR Katie Barfoot |
TY1WTF | What the font? Making and using typefaces | DR Rob Banham |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
CL2AE | Ancient Epic | DR Christa Gray |
CL2AEL | Ancient Egyptian Language and Hieroglyphs | PROF Rachel Mairs |
CL2ANX | Xenophon's Anabasis | PROF Emma Aston |
CL2APL | Academic Work Placement | PROF Emma Aston |
CL2CGH | Greek History: Persian Wars to Alexander | PROF Emma Aston |
CL2DR | Ancient Drama | PROF David Carter |
CL2EGR | Egypt and the Greco-Roman World | PROF Ian Rutherford |
CL2ET | Ancient Ethiopia: The Aksumite Kingdom | PROF Rachel Mairs |
CL2G2 | Ancient Greek 2 (I) | DR Doukissa Kamini |
CL2G3 | Ancient Greek 3 (I) | DR Dimitra Tzanidaki-Kreps |
CL2GRE | Greek Religions | PROF Ian Rutherford |
CL2JP | The Justinianic Plague | DR Arietta Papaconstantinou |
CL2L2 | Latin 2 (I) | MRS Jackie Baines |
CL2L3 | Latin 3 (I) | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL2PR | Prospects for Classicists and Ancient Historians | PROF Emma Aston |
CL2RO | Roman History: From Republic to Empire | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL2SI | My Mother's Sin and other Stories | DR Dimitra Tzanidaki-Kreps |
HS2GPP | Going Public: Presenting the Past, Planning the Future | PROF Kate Williams |
HS2HAD | Historical Approaches and My Dissertation | MISS Liz Barnes |
HS2INT | Intellectuals and Society in Twentieth Century Italy | PROF Daniela La Penna |
HS2O10 | The Colonial Experience: Africa, 1879 to 1980 | DR Heike Schmidt |
HS2O11 | Hollywood Histories: Film and the Past | PROF Patrick Major |
HS2O14 | Rebel Girls: The Influence of Radical Women 1792-1919 | DR Jacqui Turner |
HS2O16 | ‘The brightest jewel in the British crown’: The Making of Modern South Asia, 1757-1947 | DR Rohan Deb Roy |
HS2O17 | Reform and Revolt in the Modern Middle East: Egypt from Ataturk to the ‘Arab Spring’ | DR Dina Rezk |
HS2O19 | Europe in the Twentieth Century | DR Daniel Renshaw |
HS2O3 | People, power and revolution: political culture in seventeenth-century England | DR Rachel Foxley |
HS2O4 | Women and Medieval History | DR Ruth Salter |
HS2O51 | Revolutionary Cities | DR Jeremy Burchardt |
HS2O53 | The American Civil War | MISS Liz Barnes |
HS2O55 | American Century: United States history since 1898 | DR Mara Oliva |
HS2O57 | Encountering the Atlantic World, 1450-1850 | DR Richard Blakemore |
HS2O58 | Black Britain: Race and Migration in Post-war Britain | DR Natalie Thomlinson |
HS2O7 | Kingship and Crisis in England, c.1154–1330 | DR Elizabeth Matthew |
HS2STA | Society, Thought and Art in Modern Europe | DR Veronica Heath |
HS2UNR | Unity, Nationalism and Regionalism in Europe | DR Athena Leoussi |
AR2M8 | Medieval Europe: power, religion and death | DR Gabor Thomas |
MC2CCM | Curatorship and Collections Management | DR Rhi Smith |
MC2LE | Museum Learning and Engagement | DR Rhi Smith |
MM2101 | Founder Dilemmas | PROF Norbert Morawetz |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Optional modules include:
Code | Module | Convenor |
---|---|---|
CL3AA | Anatolia and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age. The Context for the Trojan War | PROF Ian Rutherford |
CL3AB | Ancient Biography | PROF Timothy Duff |
CL3AEL | Ancient Egyptian Language & Hieroglyphs | PROF Rachel Mairs |
CL3BSA | Archaeology and Topography of Ancient Greece | PROF Emma Aston |
CL3BSR | British School at Rome Undergraduate Summer School | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3DN | Dissertation in Classics | PROF Emma Aston |
CL3DP | Preparation for Dissertation in Classics | PROF Emma Aston |
CL3ET | Ancient Ethiopia: The Aksumite Kingdom | PROF Rachel Mairs |
CL3FCC | From Classroom to Courtroom: Mastering the Art of Persuasion in the Ancient World | DR Christa Gray |
CL3G4 | Ancient Greek 4 (H) | DR Dimitra Tzanidaki-Kreps |
CL3G5 | Ancient Greek 5 (H) | DR Dimitra Tzanidaki-Kreps |
CL3GD | Gender in Classical Antiquity | PROF Amy Smith |
CL3INP | Independent Third Year Project | PROF Emma Aston |
CL3L3 | Latin 3 (I) | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3L4 | Latin 4 (H) | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3L5 | Latin 5 (H) | DR Andreas Gavrielatos |
CL3LAE | Late Antique Egypt | DR Arietta Papaconstantinou |
CL3RA | ‘Race’ in the Ancient Greek and Roman Worlds | PROF Barbara Goff |
CL3SHM | Saints and Holy Men in the Late Antique Mediterranean | DR Arietta Papaconstantinou |
HS3CCO | Crisis, Change, Opportunity: Italy from 1968 to the Present | PROF Daniela La Penna |
HS3DAC | Discovering Archives and Collections | DR Jacqui Turner |
HS3HED | History Education | DR Elizabeth Matthew |
HS3HLD | Dissertation in History | DR Heike Schmidt |
HS3SAU | Anarchy in the UK: Punk, Politics and Youth Culture in Britain, 1976-84 | PROF Matthew Worley |
HS3SBR | Becoming a Revolutionary: the Old Regime and the French Revolution, 1787-1794 | PROF Joël Félix |
HS3SEU | Eugenics from 1865 to the Present Day | PROF David Stack |
HS3SHP | Heretics and Popes: Heresy and Persecution in the Medieval World | PROF Rebecca Rist |
HS3SSA | Slavery in America | PROF Emily West |
HS3T100 | Sexual Politics: Gender, Sex, and Feminism in Britain after 1918 | DR Natalie Thomlinson |
HS3T25 | Medieval Magic and the Origins of the Witch-Craze | PROF Anne Lawrence |
HS3T30 | Ireland and the English in the middle ages | DR Elizabeth Matthew |
HS3T75 | The United States and the Cold War | DR Mara Oliva |
HS3T77 | Battleaxes and Benchwarmers’: Early female MPs 1919-1931 | DR Jacqui Turner |
HS3T82 | Axis at War: Life and Death in Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, 1936-45 | PROF Patrick Major |
HS3T83 | Modern Science and the Imperial World, 1750-2000 | DR Rohan Deb Roy |
HS3T88 | The Romantic Revolution: Culture, Environment and Society in England, c.1790-c.1900 | DR Jeremy Burchardt |
HS3T91 | Politics and Popular Culture: Post-Arab Spring Egypt | DR Dina Rezk |
HS3T98 | From Darwin to Death Camps? Evolution and eugenics in European society, 1859-1945 | PROF David Stack |
AR3HCP | The Anthropology of Heritage and Cultural Property | DR Alanna Cant |
AR3R9 | Archaeology of the City of Rome | DR Philippa Walton |
AR3V1 | Vikings in the West | DR Gabor Thomas |
These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Fees
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250
New international students: £20,300
UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes
UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
EU student fees
With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
Careers
An Ancient History and History degree from Reading offers excellent career prospects:
- Overall 93% of graduates from Classics are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation. (Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes first degree Classics responders)
- Overall 92% of our History graduates are in work and/or study 15 months after the end of their course. (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; First Degree responders from History)
With this course, you will develop essential transferable skills, including the ability to think critically, to work in a team and to communicate with confidence, making you an ideal candidate for many employers. Our previous graduates have pursued a career in a wide variety of sectors, including:
- accountancy and banking
- the government and the civil service
- law
- heritage and museums
- teaching
- publishing
- public sector management
- libraries and archives
- media research and production.
Past employers include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Museum and Sotheby’s. Other graduates have continued to postgraduate study.