Ancient History & Archaeology

Ancient history and archaeology together form one of the most intellectually demanding and rewarding combinations available in British higher education. Ancient history is the study of the Greek and Roman worlds and the civilisations that surrounded them, reconstructed from the literary, documentary, and material evidence those cultures left behind. Archaeology provides the methods and theories for recovering and interpreting that material evidence.

Together, the two disciplines give you the full toolkit for understanding the ancient world.

The four-year full-time Ancient History and Archaeology programme at the University of St Andrews explores the history of Greece and Rome, and that of neighbouring peoples including the Persians and Carthaginians. You will study the period from the beginning of Greek writing and urbanism in the eighth century BCE through to the collapse of the western Roman empire in the fifth century CE. Geographically, the subject is centred on the Mediterranean world, which at various points extended from the Persian Gulf to the Clyde and from the Crimea to the Sahara.

You will work with primary sources in translation, engage with the rich secondary literature of classical scholarship, and develop the archaeological skills and theoretical frameworks needed to interpret material culture.

A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution with its own strengths in classics, ancient history, or archaeology. With a typical entry tariff of 200 points, the programme is rigorous and rewards serious intellectual commitment. Graduates pursue careers in heritage and museums, archaeological consultancy, public history, the civil service, academia, law, journalism, and education.

Postgraduate study in classics, ancient history, archaeology, or museum studies is a natural next step.