Program Overview

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BA Ancient History (V110)

2026 entry | view 2025 entry

Course summary

Ancient History at Bristol allows you to explore real-world issues like politics, the creation and spread of myths, and our relationship with the environment, by studying the dynamic cultures of the ancient Mediterranean.

As Bristol is close to ancient sites like Bath and Caerleon, you will enhance your studies with field trips, and we also run trips to cities rich in ancient heritage, like Rome or Pompeii.

Being an Ancient Historian is about developing knowledge, learning to analyse historical evidence, and making effective arguments. These are skills highly prized by employers, so our students go on to succeed in a variety of fields, including teaching, technology, finance and broadcasting.

With our broad range of subjects and types of assessment, you will have the opportunity to use your creativity, follow your ideas and research independently, and build innovative team projects.

Whether you are completely new to the subject or you have been inspired by previous studies, you will discover new ways of exploring the ancient Mediterranean. Studying Ancient History at Bristol will expand your knowledge of Greco-Roman societies while enriching your understanding of the challenges facing us today.

Overview

Typical offer

• A-level standard offer: AAB
• A-level contextual offer: BBB
• Go to entry requirements for the full entry criteria and contextual offer eligibility.

Programme duration

• 3 year(s) full-time.
• Part-time study is not available for this course

Location

• Clifton campus

Fees

• £9,535 per year, home students
• £27400 per year, international students
• More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.

Fees quoted are for 2025 entry only. Fees for 2026 will be confirmed, subject to government approval, later in 2025.

Course structure

You will develop the core knowledge and critical thinking skills of an Ancient Historian by combining mandatory units with optional ones. Our first-year units are specifically designed to introduce you to studying Ancient History at university level, no matter your previous experience of the subject. You will explore a huge range of source materials throughout your degree, including art, literature and archaeology. There is no requirement to read Latin or Greek, however, you will have the chance to study these languages, too. You will also have the option to take other units from elsewhere in the Arts faculty or beyond.

In your second year, you will take units which help you to think more deeply about the malleability of history - where are the borders of the ancient Mediterranean? How has classical history been represented in the past? In your third year, you can choose from an exciting range of specialist subjects based on our Department's world-class research. You will refine your skills in independent research by writing a dissertation exploring a topic of your choosing. You will also take the Applied Classics unit, which involves planning, marketing and executing a project inspired by what you love about the ancient world.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

A-level standard offer

• AAB

A-level contextual offer

• BBB

BTEC

• DDD in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

International Baccalaureate Diploma

• 34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level

International Baccalaureate Diploma contextual offer

• 31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level

European Baccalaureate

• 80% overall

Scottish Qualifications Authority

• Advanced Higher: AB and Standard Higher: AAABB

Access to HE Diploma

• Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include 24 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit or above.

Welsh Baccalaureate

• Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales or the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Cambridge Pre-U

• Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.

International qualifications

• The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Selection process

• Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement are found in the University admissions policies and procedures.
• If applying with extenuating circumstances please see our policy.
• Full information about our selection processes for Ancient History can be found in the Admissions Statement.

Applicants must also meet these requirements

GCSE profile requirements

• No specific subjects required.
• Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels.

English language requirements

• If English is not your first language, you need to have one of the following:
  • IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other skills
  • GCSE English Language grade B or 6
  • an alternative qualification outlined in our Profile level B.
• Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Related courses

See a list of all Ancient History degrees at Bristol, and find more information about the course, assessment and career prospects.

Related Subjects

• Anthropology and Archaeology
• Classical Studies
• Classics
• History

Next steps

• Visit us at an open day
• Download a prospectus
• Find out how to apply
• Make an enquiry