Program Overview

Ancient History and Archaeology MA (Honours) 2025 entry

Overview

The MA (Hons) in Ancient History and Archaeology explores the civilisations of the ancient Mediterranean through the evidence of their material remains.

Entry Requirements

SQA Highers

• Standard entry grades: AAAB
• Minimum entry grades: AABB
• Gateway entry grades: Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

GCE A-Levels

• Standard entry grades: AAA
• Minimum entry grades: ABB

IB points

• Standard entry grades: 36 (HL 6,6,5)
• Minimum entry grades: 36 (HL 6,5,5)

General Entry Requirements

• SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing science
  • Geography
  • Applications of Mathematics
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology
• GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology

Course Details

The MA (Hons) in Ancient History and Archaeology is a four-year course run by the School of Classics. The course focuses on the broad applications of archaeology to the history and culture of the ancient Mediterranean, and is closely integrated with other degree programmes in the School of Classics.

Fieldwork

Staff within the University occasionally conduct active fieldwork programmes. When these programmes are running, students are encouraged to apply for placement. If they are not running, every effort is made to help students find a place on an archaeological project.

Joint Degree Option

You can also apply to study Ancient History and Archaeology and Social Anthropology - UCAS code VVl6.

Modules

• First year:
  • Ancient Empires: explores how imperial states built and maintained their power; the experiences of other populations and cultures that were conquered or incorporated into ancient empires; and the contested legacies of imperial states, both in antiquity and today.
  • Cities and communities in the ancient Mediterranean: explores urbanisation by examining changing physical as well as social relations between people, as well as between people and their environments.
• Second year:
  • Ancient Societies: Gender, ethnicity, and inequality in the ancient world: surveys the fundamental divisions that gave shape to ancient social life, examining issues like gender, inequality, and ethnic identity through a broad range of sources and methodologies.
  • Narratives of antiquity: examines influential narratives from the ancient world and their reinterpretations in later periods, from the nineteenth century to the present day, and how they continue to shape the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves for better or for worse.
  • Introduction to Archaeology: provides a grounding in the main concepts, methodologies, and techniques of investigating the past through material evidence and physical environments.
• Third year:
  • Principles and Techniques in Archaeology: provides an advanced induction to the practical conduct of archaeology and how it affects the results of excavations and surveys, and an in-depth introduction to key archaeological topics and theories.
• Fourth year:
  • Students have the option of undertaking a dissertation of about 8,000 words on an approved topic in Archaeology.

Teaching

• Teaching format: lectures, tutorials, seminars
• Assessment: coursework, exams
• Support: students are expected to undertake substantial independent, but guided, work outside of the classroom.

Fees

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £9,535
• EU and overseas: £31,670

Careers

Popular career areas for students who have taken ancient history and archaeology include:

• Academia
• Journalism
• Libraries and information
• Museums and heritage
• Teaching
• Publishing

What to Do Next

• Online information events
• Undergraduate visiting days