Ancient History

Description

To understand the present, you need to discover the past. Egyptians, Sumerians, Akkadians, Greeks and Romans: Undergraduates here can enter an ancient world very different from the modern one. This can offer both excitement and the chance to learn some key skills that will help with your career in the modern world too.

This programme covers the rise and development of ancient civilisations over several millennia, from the ancient Near East and the Egyptians, to Bronze Age and Classical Greece, Republican and Imperial Rome, and Late Antiquity.

Many Ancient History degrees offer Greek and Roman history. A few offer Egyptian history in addition. Very few indeed can offer courses on the history of the Ancient Near East as well. Birminghams first great strength is that we can offer all of these areas.

We give you the opportunity to study the languages of these cultures if they wish (it can be quite exciting to find yourself You will join a lively environment where students find friendly encouragement to follow their own particular interests in the past, and where they can gain the necessary skills to equip them for a variety of careers in the future. Our distinctive emphasis on using literature, history and archaeology in the study of the ancient world, and the range of expertise available, ensures a wide choice of times, countries and cultures may be studied.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

First year

This year gives you a grounding in Egyptian, Near Eastern and Greco-Roman culture and societies, as well as opening up some wider interdisciplinary perspectives.

Second year

Our Greek and Roman core modules develop your analytical skills and introduce you to advanced historical theory and methodology. We will engage in depth with key periods and key problems in ancient history, and examine the process of writing history itself. For instance, we will investigate the consequences of empire at political, social, economic and cultural levels for conquerors and conquered alike. Reading texts in the original is a great advantage, and you have the opportunity to learn one of the ancient languages Sumerian, Egyptian, Greek or Latin. You also make your choice from our unique range of options. A special feature of the second year is the study tour to Turkey, Greece or Italy in the Easter vacation.

Third year

The core modules focus on Ancient Egypt and Western Asia. Beginning with the origins of agriculture, you follow the development of these great civilisations down to the Middle Bronze Age, investigating their history, archaeology, art and literature. Once again, you make your choice from our list of options, which changes from year to year. The highlight of the final year is your dissertation: a substantial research project on a subject of special interest to you.

Teaching and Assessment

Alongside lectures, you have tutorials, one-to-one meetings with supervisors, group meetings with other students and staff, and self-directed project work.

English Language Requirements

CAE score : 80(Grade A)

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: ABB

International Baccalaureate Diploma: 34 points

International students:

Standard English language requirements apply: IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band; TOEFL IBT 93

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Birmingham.