BA Ancient History
About this course
BA in Ancient History, a history degree centred on the civilisations, societies and material cultures of the ancient world. Core topics include Research Methods. The course concludes with a major research project requiring a 12,000-word dissertation. The first year introduces foundational themes through modules such as The Greek World: An Introduction, The Roman World: An Introduction, Introduction to Classical Archaeology and Ancient Lives. The second year builds upon these concepts with studies covering Evidence and Enquiry in Classics, Invisible Greeks and Romans and Ancient Empires: Power and Control. Optional modules throughout the programme allow students to explore diverse areas including classical literature, languages such as Ancient Greek and Latin, and specialized historical periods.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB EPQ: BBB plus grade A in the EPQ BTEC: DDM IB: 34 points overall with 16 at Higher Level.
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What students say
Based on about 123 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 79%
- Assessment and feedback: 81%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 85%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 77%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 85%
- Left higher education: 10%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 320 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 12%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 21%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 6%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 39%
- South East: 6%
- South West: 3%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- The Greek World: An Introduction - This module provides a historical survey of events in the Greek world from the eighth to the fourth centuries BC, followed by a more detailed study of the social and cultural life of fifth- and fourth-century BC Athens.
- The Roman World: An Introduction - The module is intended as a foundation for further study in all aspects of Roman civilisation. It starts with an introduction to the major periods in Roman history and the surviving ancient evidence which allows us to study them, then considers various aspects of Roman social and cultural life.
- Introduction to Classical Archaeology - The aim of this module is to provide and introduction to the theory and practice of the archaeology of ancient Greece and Rome.
- Ancient Lives - The module considers a range of biographies and life writings by different authors of classical antiquity, from more historical to more literary and fictionalising biographies.
- Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 1)
- Beginners Latin
- Intermediate Ancient Greek (Level 1)
- Intermediate Latin (Level 1)
- Greek Poets
- Roman Poets
- World Histories
- Evidence and Enquiry in Classics - This module is designed to build on and enhance the skills which you have developed at level 1, and to prepare you to pursue independent research at level 3 with the help and guidance of an academic supervisor. It offers a survey of Classics today, of classes of evidence, and of the various areas of classical research.
- Invisible Greeks and Romans - This module focuses on subordinate groups in classical antiquity: women, children, enslaved people, foreigners and others outside the privileged body of citizens in Greece and Rome.
- Ancient Empires: Power and Control - This module provides an overview of the hegemonic and imperial regimes of the classical world, covering Greece, Rome and Persia, and focussing particularly on the hegemonic leagues of Sparta and Athens, the Achaemenid empire and the rise of Rome as an imperial power.
- Classical Receptions in the Brotherton Archives and Special Collections
- Virgil's Aeneid
- Homer's Iliad
- Time, Space and Place in the Greek and Roman Worlds
- The Rise of Rome: Myth and History
- Augustus and his Legacy
- Greek Religion
- Screening Antiquity
- Heroines: Representations of Mythological Women from Antiquity to the Present
- The City in the Roman World
- A Water History of the Ancient World
- The Image of Sparta
- Black Europe
- Intermediate Ancient Greek (Level 2)
- Intermediate Latin (Level 2)
- Major Research Project - The major dissertation requires the student to design their own 12,000-word project on any topic, subject to approval from a potential supervisor and the module coordinator.
- Major Research Project
- Time, Space and Place in the Greek and Roman Worlds
- A Water History of the Ancient World
- The Rise of Rome: Myth and History
- The Image of Sparta
- Greek Art and Society
- The Worlds of Alexander the Great
- The City in the Roman World
- Screening Antiquity
- Material Cultures and Cultures of Consumption
- Adventures of the Imagination: Crime and the Fantastic Across Continents
- Intermediate Ancient Greek (Level 3)
- Intermediate Latin (Level 3)
- Advanced Latin
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Ancient History at University of Leeds earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 3 years, £35,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,000 and £45,500. The £35,000 median after five years is £4,500 more than the UK median for History.
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Ancient History at University of Leeds?
92% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Ancient History at University of Leeds?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 128 UCAS points.
Does BA Ancient History at University of Leeds include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Ancient History at University of Leeds?
85% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.