Ancient History and French

Ancient history is the study of the civilisations of Greece and Rome, and of the peoples who surrounded, influenced, and were shaped by them. It covers a period from the beginnings of Greek writing and urban life in the eighth century BCE through to the collapse of the western Roman empire in the fifth century CE, and it ranges geographically across the Mediterranean world, from the Persian Gulf to Britain and from the Black Sea to the Sahara. As a discipline, it requires you to work with fragmented and sometimes contradictory evidence, to think carefully about what the past can and cannot tell us, and to engage with some of the most enduring questions in human history: how societies are organised, how they fall, and what they leave behind.

Studying ancient history alongside French deepens both fields, adding a modern linguistic dimension to a degree already rich in cultural and historical complexity.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year, full-time MA (Hons) includes a year abroad, which for language students provides an opportunity for immersive study in a French-speaking country. You will develop competence in French language alongside engagement with French literature, culture, and intellectual traditions. In your ancient history studies, you will explore the political, social, cultural, and intellectual worlds of ancient Greece and Rome, working with primary sources in translation alongside scholarly secondary literature.

The combination encourages comparative thinking across very different historical and cultural contexts. The typical entry tariff is 200 UCAS points.

Graduates with ancient history and French bring together historical research skills and modern linguistic competence. Careers in the civil service, journalism, the foreign office, heritage and museums, publishing, education, and academic research are all natural destinations. The year abroad often deepens the modern language proficiency to a professional level, opening international career options.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in classics, ancient history, French studies, or related fields.