Ancient History and Spanish

Ancient history and Spanish is a combination that spans civilisations separated by more than a millennium but connected by remarkable cultural and linguistic threads, not least the Latin inheritance that Spanish carries from Rome. Ancient history examines the world of Greece and Rome and their neighbours, from the emergence of Greek literacy and urban life in the eighth century BCE through the rise of the Roman republic and empire to the transformation of the ancient world in late antiquity. Spanish opens access to one of the world's most widely spoken and culturally rich languages, encompassing the literature, history, film, and political thought of Spain and the vast diversity of Latin America.

At St Andrews this four-year MA (Hons) programme allows you to develop substantial knowledge and skill in both disciplines. In ancient history you will examine the political, social, cultural, and intellectual history of the Greek and Roman worlds, engaging with primary sources in translation and with the scholarship that has shaped how we understand antiquity. In Spanish you will develop linguistic proficiency alongside a rich engagement with Spanish-language literature and culture across multiple periods and regions.

A year abroad is embedded in the programme, giving you extended immersion in a Spanish-speaking environment that deepens both your language skills and your cultural understanding.

The combination is unusual and highly distinctive, reflecting the breadth of intellectual possibility that a degree built around two serious disciplines allows.

Graduates move into careers in academia, heritage, education, journalism, the civil service, diplomacy, cultural institutions, and international organisations. The linguistic and cultural knowledge that Spanish provides extends your reach into an enormous range of professional and cultural contexts, while the analytical rigour of ancient history is valued across many sectors. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in classics, ancient history, Hispanic studies, or area studies.