Classical Studies and Mediaeval History

Classical studies and mediaeval history is a combination of unusual range and intellectual coherence, spanning the ancient world and the centuries that followed its transformation and partial dissolution. Classical studies encompasses the languages, literatures, philosophies, religions, art, and social and cultural history of ancient Greece and Rome, offering engagement with texts and material culture of enduring significance. Mediaeval history examines the period that followed, when the legacy of antiquity was preserved, transformed, and contested across Europe, Byzantium, and the Islamic world.

The two periods belong together in any serious study of the deep roots of western and Mediterranean civilization.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time MA in Classical Studies and Mediaeval History allows you to discover and debate the power of Greek tragedy, the beauty of Roman sculpture, the complexities of Platonic dialogue, and the political, religious, and intellectual currents that shaped the Middle Ages. The classical studies component has remarkable range and depth, covering not only Greek and Roman literature but also the social and cultural history of the classical world, its philosophy, religion, and art, and the reception of ancient culture in later periods. The mediaeval history component develops your research and analytical skills across a substantial chronological and geographical span.

In your third year you will spend a year abroad. With a typical entry tariff of 200 UCAS points, this is a demanding programme at a leading research university.

Graduates from classical studies and mediaeval history programmes are well placed for careers in academic research, teaching, heritage and museums, publishing, journalism, arts administration, and the civil service. The research skills and cultural depth of the degree are broadly valued in roles requiring sustained analytical engagement with complex material. Postgraduate study in classics, medieval history, or area studies provides a natural continuation for those who wish to specialise.