2024 entry
BA Ancient History (V110)
Course overview

Typical offer
A-level standard offer: AAB
A-level contextual offer: BBB
See entry requirements for full details and eligibility.
Course duration
3 year(s) full-time
6 year(s) part-time
Part-time study with daytime, weekday teaching.
Application method
Full-time: UCAS
Part-time: Contact artf-ugoffice@bristol.ac.uk for more information and to apply.
Fees
£9,250 per year, home students
£26,400 per year, international students
Part-time tuition fees will normally be charged on a pro rata basis
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Location
Ancient History at Bristol allows you to explore real-world issues like politics, the creation and spread of myths, and our relationship with the environment, by studying the dynamic cultures of the Ancient Mediterranean.
As Bristol is close to ancient sites like Bath and Caerleon, you will enhance your studies with field trips, and we also run regular trips to cities rich in ancient heritage, like Rome or Pompeii.
Being an ancient historian is about developing knowledge, learning to analyse historical evidence, and making effective arguments. These are skills highly prized by employers, so our students go on to succeed in a variety of fields, from teaching to technology, banking to broadcasting.
With our broad range of subjects and types of assessment, you will have the opportunity to explore your creativity, follow your ideas and research independently, and build innovative team projects.
Whether you are completely new to the subject or you have been inspired by previous study, you will discover new ways of exploring the ancient Mediterranean. Studying Ancient History at Bristol will expand your knowledge of Greco-Roman societies while enriching your understanding of the challenges facing us today.
Course structure
You will develop the core knowledge and critical thinking skills of an ancient historian by combining mandatory units with optional ones. Our first-year units are specifically designed to introduce you to studying Ancient History at university level, no matter your previous experience of the subject. You will explore a huge range of source materials throughout your degree, including art, literature and archaeology. There is no requirement to read Latin or Greek, however, you will have the chance to study these languages, too. You will also have the option to take other units from elsewhere in the Arts faculty or beyond.
In your second year, you will take units which help you to think more deeply about the malleability of history - where are the borders of the ancient Mediterranean? How has classical history been represented in the past? In your third year, you can choose from an exciting range of specialist subjects based on our Department's world-class research. You will refine your skills in independent research by writing a dissertation exploring a topic of your choosing. You will also take the Applied Classics unit, which involves planning, marketing and executing a project inspired by what you love about the ancient world.
Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.
Go to programme catalogueEntry requirements
We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.
A-level standard offer
AAB
BTEC
DDD in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma
Find out more about our BTEC entry requirementsInternational Baccalaureate Diploma
34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level
International Baccalaureate Diploma contextual offer
31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level
Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offerEuropean Baccalaureate
80% overall
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Advanced Higher: AB and Standard Higher: AAABB
Access to HE Diploma
Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include 24 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit or above.
Mature students can contact mature-students@bristol.ac.uk to check the suitability of their Access course.
Welsh Baccalaureate
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Cambridge Pre-U
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
International qualifications
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.
Search international qualificationsApplicants must also meet these requirements
GCSE profile requirements
No specific subjects required.
Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you need to have one of the following:
- IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other skills
- GCSE English Language grade B or 6
- An alternative English Language Profile B qualification
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels
More about UK qualifications.
Selection process
- We only use your information in UCAS, or your application form for part-time study, to assess your application. There are no other selection criteria or processes.
- Full information about our selection processes for this course:
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement: