Ancient and Medieval History

Ancient and medieval history brings together two great periods of human civilisation that are often studied in isolation but which are deeply connected. The ancient world, from Egypt and Persia to classical Greece and the Roman Empire, laid the intellectual, legal, and cultural foundations on which much of later Europe was built. The medieval period, spanning roughly from the fall of Rome to the emergence of the early modern world, saw those foundations tested, transformed, and in many places rebuilt, through the Crusades, the growth of kingdoms, the spread of Christianity and Islam, and the development of trade, law, and political thought.

At Swansea University, this three-year full-time BA gives you the opportunity to explore the history of Europe and the Mediterranean across this long span, from ancient Egyptian, Athenian, and Persian civilisations through the Roman Empire to the medieval kingdoms of England, France, and Wales, including the Welsh Age of the Princes. You will engage with a range of historical and archaeological approaches, learning to evaluate evidence critically and construct well-grounded historical arguments. The breadth of the programme means you develop both a wide chronological perspective and the capacity for focused, detailed analysis of particular periods and themes.

The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points.

Graduates of ancient and medieval history degrees find careers in heritage, museums, archival work, education, journalism, the civil service, law, publishing, and the cultural sector. The research skills, critical thinking, and written communication abilities the degree develops are transferable across a wide range of professional contexts. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in history, archaeology, classical studies, or museum studies, and those with a passion for the ancient or medieval past often find rewarding careers in academic research or in the institutions that interpret those pasts for public audiences.