Ancient History and History

Ancient history and history is a degree that takes the long view of human experience, moving between the civilisations of Greece and Rome and the medieval and modern periods to examine how societies have been organised, how they have changed, and what themes and patterns persist across vast stretches of time. Ancient history engages with the classical world through its literary texts, inscriptions, and material remains, while medieval and modern history extends your analytical reach through the full range of periods and places that subsequent centuries encompass. Together, they give you an exceptionally broad historical education.

At the University of Leicester, this three-year full-time BA allows you to explore themes that transcend all historical periods, including identity, democracy, empire, resistance, and the dynamics of social change, and to recognise what is constant in human experience alongside what has changed across time. You will engage with diverse sources, from ancient texts and archaeological evidence to early modern documents and contemporary archives, developing the skills of source criticism and contextual interpretation across the full chronological span. A year abroad is integrated into the programme.

The typical entry tariff is 120 points.

Ancient history and history graduates bring an exceptionally broad analytical toolkit to their careers: the ability to work with sources across languages, genres, and periods, to construct arguments from complex evidence, and to understand human life in its historical context. Careers in education, heritage, museums, archives, journalism, public policy, the civil service, and law are all natural destinations. Postgraduate study in ancient history, medieval history, modern history, or a related humanities discipline is a well-trodden continuation.