Course Overview
Ancient History explores and examines the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome—and their interactions with the world beyond. Such civilisations may appear distant but remain influential even today. Studying this three-year BA degree will introduce you to theories, methodologies, and sources (including archaeology) to help you grasp the variety of lived experience in the ancient world. The rigour we aim to foster in your thinking will open up a range of exciting career opportunities for you in a broad range of professions.
You’ll have the chance to get to grips with Greek and Roman history and society, architecture and archaeology, warfare and empire, gender, religion, politics and economics—or learn about ancient Egypt. You can also learn ancient Greek or Latin.
Why Ancient History at Swansea?
We are based in our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula.
Ancient History at Swansea is ranked:
- Classics - 2nd in the UK for Student Voice (NSS 2023*)
- 3rd in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2024)
- Classics - 5th in the UK for Teaching (NSS 2023^)
- Top 51-100 QS World University rankings (2024)
- Ranked top 15 in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2024)
- 3rd in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2024)
- 3rd in the UK for Teaching Quality (Times Good University Guide 2024)
- Top 10 in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2024)
*Based on the average positivity score across questions 22 to 25 in the NSS 2023 when ranked against universities featured in the Times Good University Guide.
^Based on the average positivity score across questions 1 to 4 in the NSS 2023 when ranked against universities featured in the Times Good University Guide.
If you so desire, you will have the option to study a semester abroad in a location such as the USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong, or Singapore, during your second year, or to spend a full year abroad after your second year.
We have a study trip module which affords you the opportunity to bolster your in-depth study of classical lands overseas by seeing one in real life. Closer to home, the first-year heritage module will, should you choose to do it, give you insight into the past in its place here in fertile and storied Wales.
If you have teaching in mind as a career, you can gain valuable experience with our Schools Placement module, in which you can, as part of your degree, instruct pupils in local schools in the culture of the classical world.
Your Ancient History Experience
You can choose to study a great selection of topics in our discipline, working with world-recognised experts in the field. We have expertise in, and regularly publish on, areas from the Greek city states and their geographers, Cyprus through the ages, and Alexander the Great to Roman Syria, Pompeii, and the bishops and emperors of the later Roman empire.
Your degree programme will be delivered through lectures, seminars and research supervision; we offer numerous creative and engaging modes of tailored assessment, including blogposts, presentations, and website design, alongside exams, essays, and the third-year dissertation.
Throughout your Ancient History degree, you will each have an persomal tutor from among the teaching staff to lend academic support. We are a close-knit community which enjoys exploring the ancient world beyond the classroom. Our student-run Ancient World Society organises social and cultural events, including museum trips.
To enhance your career prospects, we offer the opportunity to sign up for various employability and engagement-related placements, such as the Week of Work. Our staff have contacts in the heritage sector, and you can volunteer at local museums while you are here, including our own fabulous Egypt Centre, which houses over 5,000 archaeological objects.
Ancient History Employment Opportunities
Students of Ancient History typically develop excellent presentation and writing skills, related to research, analysis, and problem solving. You will learn to develop your ideas in a wide range of formats applicable to your life after university.
We have close links with local schools, in part via the Welsh Classics Hwb, as well as the Schools Work Placement module, where you can gain valuable classroom experience by teaching students about the ancient world for university credit.
Our graduates enter careers in a wide range of sectors including:
- Heritage and Tourism
- Teaching
- Media and Public Relations
- Business and Management
- Politics and Civil Service