Ancient History

The Ancient History MA is an intercollegiate degree programme of the University of London. It offers students the opportunity to focus on a specific period or topic, explore adjacent disciplines, and acquire technical skills in such areas as archaeology, epigraphy, numismatics, papyrology, and textual criticism.

Core modules

• Sources and Methods in Ancient History

Optional modules

Options include the following (for a list of what is available in any given year please see our departmental website page):

• Ancient Rome on Film
• Change and Continuity in the Ancient Near East
• The City of Rome (BA/MA), (Royal Holloway)
• Economic and Social History of Archaic and Classical Greece
• Economic and Social History of Rome (Royal Holloway)
• Greek and Latin language at various levels
• Greek Epigraphy
• Greek Historiography
• Greek Law and Lawcourts (Royal Holloway)
• Greek Papyrology
• Latin Epigraphy
• Lived Religion in Ancient Greece
• The Making of the Christian Empire AD 284-425
• Persepolis (King's College London)
• Propaganda and Ideology in Rome
• Roman Britain (King's College London)
• Roman Egypt

Dissertation/report

All students undertake an independent research project in the field of Ancient History, which culminates in a dissertation of up to 12,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures and museum visits. Most teaching is available inside UCL, but some is held in other London colleges. Assessment is through unseen examinations, coursework essays, and the dissertation.

• A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Knowledge of a relevant ancient language (e.g. Latin, Hebrew, Akkadian) is a prerequisite (minimum GCSE or one year's study as part of a BA degree).
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Advanced level: Score of 109 overall 24/30 in reading and writing and 20/30 in speaking and listening
• British Council International Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Version). Advanced level: Overall grade of 7.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the subtests.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships 

• Jean Orr Scholarship
• Wellcome Trust Scholarship