Program Overview

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Ancient History BA Honours

The Ancient History BA Honours programme at Newcastle University is a three-year full-time course that delves into the history, culture, and politics of the ancient world. The course focuses on a broad range of historical questions relating to Greek and Roman history, exploring the interactions of Greeks and Romans with neighbouring or conquered peoples.

Course Overview

The programme covers a wide range of topics, including:

• A broad overview of Greek and Roman history
• Knowledge and understanding of significant historical issues from a global perspective
• Recurrent themes or topics across a diversity of regions and cultures
• The history of Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age Greece
• Interactions between Greeks and non-Greek 'barbarians'
• Alexander the Great
• Hellenistic kingship
• The Roman Republic and the High Empire
• Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt
• Late Antiquity
• Relations between pagans and Christians
• Ancient literacy and mathematics
• The experiences of immigrants, women, children, and enslaved people
• Greek and Roman religion
• Roman Law

Quality and Ranking

Newcastle University's Ancient History programme is highly regarded, with the following rankings:

• 19th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2026 (Classics and Ancient History category)
• 18th in the UK – The Guardian University Guide 2026 (Classics and Ancient History category)
• Global Top 140 University – QS World University Rankings 2026
• Top 150 for Classics and Ancient History – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 75 for Arts and Humanities – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 200 for History – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 20th in the UK – Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 (Classics and Ancient History category)
• Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
• Top 125 for Arts and Humanities – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Global Top 160 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025

Modules and Learning

The programme is divided into three stages, each lasting one academic year. The modules are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of ancient history, with a focus on:

• Stage 1: Compulsory modules that provide a wide-ranging and inclusive introduction to antiquity in a broad global context
• Stage 2: Compulsory modules that expand knowledge of historical developments across the Greek and Roman worlds, with optional modules that provide further study of aspects of Greek and Roman culture and language
• Stage 3: A wide range of optional modules that cover topics such as mobility and identity in the Greek Mediterranean, religion in Greece, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, Hellenistic kingship, and the fall of the Roman Republic

Teaching and Assessment

The programme uses a dynamic range of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Workshops
• Practical activities
• Site visits
• Independent study Assessment methods include:
• Assignments
• Coursework
• Essays
• Examinations
• Portfolio submission
• Presentations

Opportunities

The programme offers various opportunities, including:

• Study abroad: Spend up to a year studying at a partner institution overseas
• Work placement: Spend 9-12 months working in any organisation in the world, with University support to secure a placement
• Research skills: Develop research skills through a range of research projects, with access to expertise and advice from academic staff

Facilities and Environment

The programme is based in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, located in the historic Armstrong Building. Students have access to excellent study resources, including:

• The Philip Robinson University Library, with over 800,000 books and access to ca. 1.8m e-books
• Special Collections & Archives, with a rich collection of archival material, historical medical texts, and rare books
• The Great North Museum: Hancock, with an extensive collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artefacts
• The Wolfson Archaeology Laboratory, with facilities for use-wear analysis of bone, stone, metal, and glass, and furnaces for research in material culture or experimental archaeology
• A Material Culture Analytical Suite, with microscopes, and 2D and 3D scanning equipment

Your Future

The programme is designed to equip students with a range of transferable skills, including:

• Problem-solving
• Creative and empathic thinking
• Critical and analytical reasoning
• Project management
• Ability to work independently
• Spoken and written communication skills
• Ability to construct an argument
• Time management Graduates have gone on to work in a diverse range of careers, including:
• Law and legal services
• Marketing
• Financial services
• Journalism
• Teaching
• Armed forces
• Museum and heritage work
• Academic research

Entry Requirements

The programme has the following entry requirements:

• A-Level: ABB excluding General Studies
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points including three subjects grade 5 or above at Higher Level
• Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications: Select your qualification to view the requirements
• English Language requirements: IELTS, TOEFL, Pearsons, Duolingo English Test, or other qualifications

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

The programme has the following tuition fees:

• Home students: £9,535 (maximum fee for the academic year)
• International students: £24,500 (Year 1) The University offers a range of scholarships, including:
• Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships
• International Foundation scholarships
• International Family Discounts
• Opportunity Scholarships
• Subject Scholarships
• Sports Scholarships
• St Nicholas' Educational Trust Scholarship
• NU Sanctuary Scholarships

Open Days and Events

The University hosts various open days and events, including:

• UK open days: Explore the campus, find out about the city, and discover what students think about studying at Newcastle
• Worldwide events: Meet with staff and students in your region
• Online events: Attend virtual events and webinars to learn more about the programme

How to Apply

To apply for the programme, use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). You will need:

• The UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• The UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• The UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college You can also apply through an agent or online.