Ancient History (BA)
- Subject area: History and ancient history
- UCAS code: V110
- Next intake: September 2022
- Duration: 3 years
- Mode: Full time
Why study this course
Study with passion
Explore your interests with subjects spanning Greek art to Persian history and reading ancient text.
Dissertation with a difference
Explore a topic that sparks your curiosity; enhance multiple skills with a presentation and written element.
Learn from experts
Benefit from the teaching and support of research-active staff.
Interactive careers workshops
Hone your career skills and gain valuable insights into roles and sectors fit for you.
Our degree develops knowledge and critical understanding of the political, social, economic and cultural structures of these ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean societies.
Unusual in the UK, our programme also allows you to discover Mesopotamia, the Levant and Egypt, Persia and the Byzantine Empire.
For us, social and cultural topics are just as important as historical period. You’ll encounter fascinating themes with contemporary relevance, from warfare, gender, religion, art and literature to medicine and science. Particularly popular is the reception of antiquity in film and popular culture.
Our degree is designed to help you cultivate the skills of the historian. You’ll master assessing a range of evidence and evaluating varying and sometimes conflicting interpretations to construct your own robust and coherent argument. You will practice expressing your new findings in ever innovative written forms as well as verbally within a nurturing environment.

Subject area: History and ancient history
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
ABB-BBB
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard A level offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
This grade range reflects our typical standard and contextual offers. We carefully consider your contextual data (the circumstances in which you've been studying) upon application. Eligible students applying for this course will be given an offer at the lower end of the advertised grade range.
International Baccalaureate
32-31 overall or 665 in 3 HL subjects.
Baccalaureate Wales
From 2023, the Welsh Baccalaureate will be renamed the Baccalaureate Wales Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate. This qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
BTEC
DDM in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Humanities or Social Science subjects. We will consider BTECs in alternative subjects alongside other academic qualifications and any relevant work or volunteer experience.
T level
Acceptance of T Levels for this programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic School. Consideration will be given to the T Level grade/subject and grades/subjects achieved at GCSE/Level 2.
Additional entry requirements
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with minimum scores of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 62 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
Other essential requirements
You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement, including the ability to travel to outside of the UK or to undertake a placement/studies outside of Cardiff University
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Tuition fees for 2022 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
---|---|---|
Year one | £9,000 | None |
Year two | £9,000 | None |
Year three | £9,000 | None |
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2022/23 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
---|---|---|
Year one | £18,950 | None |
Year two | £18,950 | None |
Year three | £18,950 | None |
Learn more about our tuition fees
Financial support
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Additional costs
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Course structure
We are currently working with our students to update and improve the content of this course. The information shown below reflects the current curriculum and is likely to change. The review of the course is expected to be completed by August 2022 and this page will be updated by end of October 2022 to reflect the changes.
BA Ancient History is a three-year degree programme comprising of core modules, which provide essential skills and training, and a wide variety of optional modules that allow you to tailor your degree to meet your interests. You will study modules totalling 120 credits each year.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2022/2023 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2022.
Year one
You take at least four 20-credit Ancient History modules of your yearly total of 120 credits. Your remaining 40 credits can be taken from within the School.
In a year giving you a thorough grounding in the subject, you will acquire a focused introduction to the study of Ancient History. Your critical and analytical skills will be fostered through close engagement with the ancient sources and modern interpretations.
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
Investigating the Ancient World: Skills and Evidence | HS3103 | 20 credits |
The Ancient World in 20 Objects | HS3104 | 20 credits |
Introduction to Ancient History 1: Gods, Kings and Citizens, 1000-323 BCE | HS3105 | 20 credits |
Introduction to Ancient History 2: Empires East and West, 323 BCE to 680 CE | HS3106 | 20 credits |
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
A World Full of Gods | HS0001 | 20 credits |
Projecting the Past: Film, Media and Heritage | HS0002 | 20 credits |
Medieval Worlds, AD 500 -1500 | HS1112 | 20 credits |
The Archaeology of Mediterranean Societies: Egypt, Greece and Rome | HS2123 | 20 credits |
The Archaeology of Britain: Prehistory to Present | HS2130 | 20 credits |
Reading Latin1 | HS3121 | 20 credits |
Reading Latin 2 | HS3122 | 20 credits |
Reading Greek 1 | HS3123 | 20 credits |
Reading Greek 2 | HS3124 | 20 credits |
Year two
You study two 20-credit core modules plus optional modules equating to 80 credits to make your yearly total of 120 credits.
At this point in your degree you have a wide range of choice to explore topics and themes of particular interest.
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
Independent 2nd Year Study | HS4334 | 20 credits |
Pots, Poems and Pictures: Using Evidence for Ancient History | HS4336 | 20 credits |
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
Art and Archaeology of Classical Greece | HS2389 | 20 credits |
Reading Latin 2 | HS3322 | 20 credits |
Reading Greek 2 | HS3324 | 20 credits |
Roman Imperial History, 31BC- AD138 | HS3335 | 20 credits |
Empires of Faith | HS3340 | 20 credits |
Early Christianity and Late Antiquity | HS3348 | 20 credits |
Two Greek Historians: Herodotus and Thucydides | HS3349 | 20 credits |
Ancient Persia: the Achaemenid Dynasty, 559-331BC | HS3378 | 20 credits |
Rebelling Against Rome: Local Identity and Resistance across the Roman Empire | HS3384 | 20 credits |
Religion in Rome and Italy | HS3385 | 20 credits |
Byzantium: the Golden Age, AD 842-1056 | HS3393 | 20 credits |
Reading Latin 1 | HS3421 | 20 credits |
Reading Greek I | HS3423 | 20 credits |
Death and Burial in the Roman World | HS4308 | 20 credits |
Greek Warfare | HS4366 | 20 credits |
Life in Ancient Rome | HS4370 | 20 credits |
Year three
You choose from a wide range of optional modules (totalling 80 credits) and write a dissertation on a topic of your choice (40 credits).
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
Researching the Ancient World: Final Year Dissertation | HS4335 | 40 credits |
Module title | Module code | Credits |
---|---|---|
Art and Archaeology of Classical Greece | HS2389 | 20 credits |
Spatial Technologies and Geographical Information Systems | HS2451 | 20 credits |
Reading Latin 2 | HS3322 | 20 credits |
Reading Greek 2 | HS3324 | 20 credits |
Roman Imperial History, 31BC- AD138 | HS3335 | 20 credits |
Empires of Faith | HS3340 | 20 credits |
Early Christianity and Late Antiquity | HS3348 | 20 credits |
Two Greek Historians: Herodotus and Thucydides | HS3349 | 20 credits |
Ancient Persia: the Achaemenid Dynasty, 559-331BC | HS3378 | 20 credits |
Rebelling Against Rome: Local Identity and Resistance across the Roman Empire | HS3384 | 20 credits |
Religion in Rome and Italy | HS3385 | 20 credits |
Byzantium: the Golden Age, AD 842-1056 | HS3393 | 20 credits |
Reading Latin 1 | HS3421 | 20 credits |
Reading Greek I | HS3423 | 20 credits |
Death and Burial in the Roman World | HS4308 | 20 credits |
Greek Warfare | HS4366 | 20 credits |
Life in Ancient Rome | HS4370 | 20 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
The School enables you to develop in a high-quality learning environment, supported by a student-orientated approach to the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Teaching is delivered through a mixture of lectures, seminars, classes, practical workshops, field trips, and individual tutorials. You will also undertake independent study and research, under the guidance of a supervisor.
Lectures provide an overview of the key concepts and frameworks for a topic, equipping students to carry out independent research for the seminars and to develop their own ideas.
Seminars provide an opportunity for students to explore the ideas outlined in the lecture in a small group environment. Seminars would usually consist of about 15 students and the seminar leader (a member of the teaching team). Seminars may take various formats, including plenary group discussion, small group work and student-led presentations. Seminars offer a rewarding opportunity to engage critically with the key ideas and reading of a topic, and to explore areas of particular interest with an expert in the field. It is vital that students prepare for seminars (undertaking any set reading, developing independent critical thought) in order to gain the maximum benefit from the sessions.
Lectures and seminars enable students to develop communication and analytical skills, and to develop critical thinking in a supportive environment.
How will I be supported?
As well as having regular feedback from your personal tutor, you will have a reading week each semester for guided study and a chance to catch up on assessed work, reading and revision. These weeks are also used by staff to visit students on their year abroad.
You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion circles.
The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.
Feedback
We’ll provide you with frequent feedback on your work. This comes in a variety of formats including oral feedback during tutorials, personalised feedback on written work, feedback lectures, generic written feedback and feedback on tutorial performance.
Coursework will be marked by your module tutor and your tutor will give you written feedback on your work. You will be given general feedback in relation to examinations following the May/June examination period and you will be able to discuss your overall performance with your personal tutor as part of the monitored student self-assessment scheme.
How will I be assessed?
Modules are assessed by various methods, including coursework essays, written reports, source criticisms, examinations, class tests, and oral presentations. The format of the assessed work for the second-year Independent Study is chosen by you; possible formats include an extended essay, a piece of creative writing, sample pages from a book or magazine, a teachers’ pack, a film, or a reconstruction drawing or model. All students write a final-year dissertation of up to 10,000 words.
Coursework and examinations are used not only for assessment purposes but also as a means of developing your capacity to gather, organise, evaluate and deploy relevant information and ideas from a variety of sources in reasoned arguments
What skills will I practise and develop?
Students will acquire and develop a range of essential transferable and discipline-specific skills, including:
-
intellectual skills - such as critical thinking, reasoning, assimilating and summarising complex information and ideas, analysing and evaluating evidence, critiquing interpretations or arguments, coping with uncertain or incomplete data, constructing arguments based on evidence, and presenting them effectively in writing and in debate;
-
employability skills - such as effective communication through written reports and oral presentations, contributing to group discussions, working independently and in teams, using IT resources effectively, and time management;
-
enterprise skills - such as creativity (practised especially in the Independent Study project), problem-solving, initiative, and independent thinking;
-
research skills - (developed especially in the Independent Study and Dissertation): defining a project, formulating research questions, locating relevant information, and presenting the results in an oral presentation and an extended written report;
-
discipline-specific skills - analysing historical problems, locating and using appropriate evidence and bibliographic resources, handling literary and archaeological material, analysing images, reading inscriptions, papyri and coins, and understanding the scholarly conventions used in relation to these types of evidence;
-
language skills - the programme offers an option for students to study Latin and Greek at beginners’ and intermediate level, and to read texts in the original languages.
Careers and placements
Career prospects
Our graduates progress into a wide range of careers using the skills gained throughout their degrees. Some choose to pursue professions making direct use of their discipline expertise, whilst others enter the public or private sectors, from teaching to graduate-track management.
96% of the School’s 2016/17 graduates reported they were in employment and/or further study within six months of graduation (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey).
Taking the Class of 2017 as our most recent example, graduates from the School have gone on to roles in teaching, the civil service, the military, banking and insurance, and the charity sector, with employers ranging from the National Museum Wales and Oxford Archaeology East, to County Council authorities and schools.
During your degree you can take full advantage of the wide range of opportunities provided by the Careers Service, enhanced by the School’s Workplace Partnerships Officer.
Graduate careers
- Historian
- Lecturer
- Curator
Placements
The school has a dedicated Work Placements Officer who supports students with work experience opportunities both in and out of term time.
Next steps
Open Day visits
Register for information about our 2021 dates
International
Learn more about our truly global university.
Get in touch
Contact us for help with any questions you have
How to apply
Find out how to apply for this course
Discover more
HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018/19, published by HESA in June 2021.