| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Course overview
Our wide-ranging and inclusive Ancient History degree focusses upon a period extending from the eighth-century BCE ‘beginnings’ of Greek history to the fall of Alexandria in 641 CE.
During your degree you'll explore:
The areas covered will include:
You'll focus on ideas of power, identity, religion, and culture along with the histories and experiences of historically marginalized groups.
You'll learn how to work with a wide range of evidence, including:
You can also choose to study ancient Greek and Latin, from Beginners to Advanced level. You'll be learning and working alongside internationally recognised experts. That will provide you with the opportunity to specialise in the topics relating to our various areas of expertise.
Our areas of expertise include:
Our dedicated research modules will enable you to develop and further hone a broad set of aptitudes and abilities including:
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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Program Outline
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability. Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May. To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Your compulsory modules will provide you with a wide-ranging and inclusive introduction to antiquity in a broad global context. You'll gain:
You'll then choose at least one literature-based module, alongside one or two optional modules. These may include ancient language (Greek or Latin), philosophy or archaeology modules.
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| West meets East: Greek History and Society | 20 |
| The Roman World from Romulus to Trajan | 20 |
| Global Ancient Histories | 20 |
| Optional Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| The Archaeology of Britain from the Romans to the 20th Century | 20 |
| Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology | 20 |
| The World of Latin Literature | 20 |
| Tragedy, Comedy, History: The World of Greek Literature | 20 |
| How Should I Live? An Introduction to Ancient Philosophy | 20 |
| Beginners' Greek in Action 1 | 20 |
| Beginners' Greek in Action 2 | 20 |
| Intermediate Greek Language and Literature 1 | 20 |
| Intermediate Greek Language and Literature 2 | 20 |
| Beginners' Latin in Action 1 | 20 |
| Beginners' Latin in Action 2 | 20 |
| Intermediate Latin Language and Literature 1 | 20 |
| Intermediate Latin Language and Literature 2 | 20 |
| Slavery | 20 |
| Big History: From the Big Bang to Climate change | 20 |
| Global Middle Ages | 20 |
| Stuff: living in a material world | 20 |
How you'll learn
How you'll be assessed
You’ll expand your knowledge of historical developments across the ancient Greek and Near Eastern worlds in the fourth to first centuries BCE. This period encompasses the:
You'll explore the history and development of the Roman state under the Roman Empire. In doing so you will develop your ability to research and problem-solving skills. These will be learned through:
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Hellenistic Empires from Alexander to Cleopatra | 20 |
| Portfolio in Ancient History I: Commentaries | 20 |
| The Roman World from Hadrian to Heraclius | 20 |
| Issues in Ancient History | 20 |
| Optional Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Aegean Prehistory | 20 |
| Archaeologies of the Roman Empire: The Roman World from Augustus to Justinian | 20 |
| The Medieval World: AD 400-1500 | 20 |
| The Classical Inheritance in Western Culture | 20 |
| Approaches to Greek Mythology | 20 |
| Love, Death, and Longing | 20 |
| Exploring the Ancient Greek Underworld | 20 |
| Beginners' Greek in Action 1 | 20 |
| Beginners' Greek in Action 2 | 20 |
| Intermediate Greek Language and Literature 1 | 20 |
| Intermediate Greek Language and Literature 2 | 20 |
| Level 2 Greek: Interpretation of Texts | 20 |
| Level 2 Greek: Special Study | 20 |
| Greek and Roman Religions | 20 |
| Slavery in Greco-Roman antiquity | 20 |
| Beginners' Latin in Action 1 | 20 |
| Beginners' Latin in Action 2 | 20 |
| Intermediate Latin Language and Literature 1 | 20 |
| Intermediate Latin Language and Literature 2 | 20 |
| Level 2 Latin: Interpretation of Texts | 20 |
| Level 2 Latin: Special Study | 20 |
| Africa: History of a Continent | 20 |
| Greece from ancient times to the 21st century: Interdisciplinary approaches to the study of the past | 20 |
| Communication in the Medieval World, from Europe to Asia: Prayer, Poetry, Pictures, and Travel | 20 |
| Diversities of Sexuality and Gender in History | 20 |
| HaSS Study Abroad Semester 1 60 Credits | 60 |
| HaSS Study Abroad Semester 2 60 credits | 60 |
| Career Development for second year students | 20 |
You'll also have access to a wide range of modules relating to Greek and Roman history, culture, and society. This is in addition to options in History or Archaeology.
You only take one of the following modules if you undertake the Study Abroad exchange programme: HaSS Study Abroad Semester 1 (60 credits) HaSS Study Abroad Semester 2 (60 credits)
How you'll learn
How you'll be assessed
You’ll have access to an even wider range of optional modules to select from, covering topics such as:
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Portfolio in Ancient History II: Dissertation | 40 |
| Optional Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Early Medieval Britain | 20 |
| The Archaeology of Byzantium and its Neighbours | 20 |
| Archaeologies of the Middle Sea: An Armchair Voyage Across the Prehistoric Mediterranean | 20 |
| Regionality and the Fall of Rome | 20 |
| Sex, bodies and identities in Classical Greece | 20 |
| The Classical Inheritance in Western Culture | 20 |
| Approaches to Greek Mythology | 20 |
| Poetry and Literary Culture in Late Antiquity | 20 |
| Love, Death, and Longing | 20 |
| Exploring the Ancient Greek Underworld | 20 |
| Beginners' Greek in Action 1 | 20 |
| Beginners' Greek in Action 2 | 20 |
| Intermediate Greek Language and Literature 1 | 20 |
| Intermediate Greek Language and Literature 2 | 20 |
| Level 2 Greek: Interpretation of Texts | 20 |
| Level 2 Greek: Special Study | 20 |
| Level 3 Greek: Special Study | 20 |
| City of Athens: Power, Society and Culture | 20 |
| Celluloid History (Stage 3) | 20 |
| 'Like ants or frogs around the pond': Mobility and Identity in the Greek Mediterranean | 20 |
| The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine | 20 |
| Rome: the Enemy | 20 |
| Beginners' Latin in Action 1 | 20 |
| Beginners' Latin in Action 2 | 20 |
| Intermediate Latin Language and Literature 1 | 20 |
| Intermediate Latin Language and Literature 2 | 20 |
| Level 2 Latin: Interpretation of Texts | 20 |
| Level 2 Latin: Special Study | 20 |
| Level 3 Latin: Interpretation of Texts | 20 |
| Level 3 Latin: Special Study | 20 |
| Semester One Substitute for Stage 3 HIS Capped Special Subject | 20 |
| Semester Two Substitute for Stage 3 HIS Capped Special Subject | 20 |
| Living Together: Christians, Muslims and Jews in Medieval Iberia | 20 |
| Royal Portraits: Christian Kings and Kingship, c. 870-c. 930 | 20 |
| Viking-Age Scandinavia | 20 |
| Buddhism and Society in Medieval Japan | 20 |
| Career Development for final year students | 20 |
How you'll learn
How you'll be assessed
Information about these graphs
We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They combine data on the planned delivery and assessments of our courses in 2021-22 with data on the modules chosen by our students in 2020-21.
Teaching time is made up of:
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
You'll be taught through a dynamic range of methods and activities, including:
These activities take place in the classroom, library, field and the museum.
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a combination of:
Assignments – written or fieldwork
Coursework
Essays
Examinations – practical or online
Portfolio submission
Presentations
Skills and experience
Practical skills
At our on-campus museum, the Great North Museum, you'll be able to:
During your degree, you'll also have the chance to take part in extracurricular field trips that take advantage of the North East's rich history.
You'll visit sites of historic interest such as:
Transferable skills
Our Ancient History degree is designed to equip you with a range of transferable skills highly valued by employers, including:
Research skills
Throughout your degree you will be working on a range of research projects, and will have access to the expertise and advice of members of staff. At the end of your second year you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship. You'll spend the summer following your second year working alongside academic staff on your own research project.
In your final year, using the skills developed during your degree, you’ll write a dissertation on a topic of your own choosing. During this, you’ll hone your investigative skills as you undertake independent research with access to extensive print and electronic resources, as well as archives and special collections.
Chat to a student
I chose to study at Newcastle as the course involved a lot of practical skills as well as interesting topics. The lecturers are all extremely passionate about their subject and are always willing to help further my interest in Archaeology.
Sarah, Ancient History and Archaeology student
