Ancient and Medieval History

Ancient and medieval history spans some of the most formative periods in the development of the societies, institutions and ideas that have shaped the modern world. Ancient history takes you back to the civilisations of Greece, Rome and the Near East, examining the political structures, cultural practices and intellectual achievements of societies that are foundational to Western and Mediterranean culture. Medieval history follows the transformation of those societies through the fall of Rome, the rise of Christianity and Islam, the formation of European kingdoms and the long development of the institutions, economies and cultural forms that characterise the later Middle Ages.

Together they give you a commanding perspective on the deep roots of the contemporary world.

At the University of Edinburgh, you will study this programme over four years full time, a structure typical of Scottish honours degrees. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study in another academic environment and to engage with the physical and archival remains of these periods in other countries. Edinburgh's history department is one of the strongest in the UK, with particular depth in both ancient and medieval periods.

The typical entry tariff is around 168 UCAS points.

You will learn to work with primary sources in their original languages, reading Latin and ancient Greek alongside vernacular medieval texts, and to engage critically with the historiographical traditions that have shaped scholarly understanding of these periods. The programme develops skills in archival research, palaeography, the interpretation of material culture and the construction of historical argument from incomplete and often fragmentary evidence. These are demanding and distinctive skills that mark graduates of pre-modern history as particularly rigorous thinkers.

Graduates of ancient and medieval history programmes work in archives, museums, heritage organisations and universities. Teaching history at secondary and tertiary levels is a well-established path, as is research in the discipline at postgraduate level. More broadly, the analytical, linguistic and research skills developed in this demanding area of history are valued in law, the civil service, publishing, journalism and policy research.

Edinburgh's international reputation and the year abroad add a distinctive dimension to graduates' profiles.