Ancient History and Archaeology MA (Honours) 2025 entry

The MA (Hons) in Ancient History and Archaeology explores the civilisations of the ancient Mediterranean through the evidence of their material remains. 

The course ranges across the whole of the ancient Mediterranean and focuses on the period stretching from the early first millennium BCE to Late Antiquity. The Greeks and Romans are the main focus of the course, but there are opportunities to study the lives of their neighbours too, including peoples such as the Persians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Etruscans. 

This degree will take you to the heart of key debates on all areas of life in the ancient Mediterranean, including urbanism, religion, trade, warfare, colonisation, ecology and cultural identity. 

UCAS code
VV14
Start date
September 2025
End date
September 2029
Duration
Four years full time
School
School of Classics

Entry requirements

The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.

  • Standard entry grades:
    AAAB
    Minimum entry grades:
    AABB
    Gateway entry grades:
    Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

  • Standard entry grades:
    AAA
    Minimum entry grades:
    ABB

  • Standard entry grades:
    36 (HL 6,6,5)
    Minimum entry grades:
    36 (HL 6,5,5)

General entry requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

  • SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:

    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computing science
    • Geography
    • Applications of Mathematics
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Psychology.

  • GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:

    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Computing Science
    • Geography
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Psychology.

Other qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements web page.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

You do not need previous knowledge of archaeology or ancient history to apply.

Alternative study options

Students interested in this course may also be interested in the following opportunities.

Gateway programmes

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades but meet the University's contextual criteria may be interested in the Gateway to Arts programme.

Study abroad

Ancient History and Archaeology students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site. 

International applicants

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. Find out more about approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The MA (Hons) in Ancient History and Archaeology is a four-year course run by the School of Classics. The course focuses on the broad applications of archaeology to the history and culture of the ancient Mediterranean, and is closely integrated with other degree programmes in the School of Classics. 

During your first two years of study, you will typically take the modules offered by the Ancient History MA single Honours degree. These explore the history of the ancient Mediterranean and surrounding lands from a number of different perspectives: ancient empires - Persian, Hellenistic and Roman; cities from the Bronze Age to the end of the Roman empire; social history through case studies from the ancient Mediterranean world; and the histories that the Greeks and Romans constructed for themselves and which have been constructed around them in the modern world.

The study of archaeology and material culture is deeply integrated into these sub-honours modules. Some modules feature specific archaeological segments and topics and offer the choice to conduct assessed work on archaeological themes. In other modules, archaeology shapes and informs all the topics you will study. 

In your second year, you may also take an ‘Introduction to Archaeology’ module, which will introduce you to the key concepts, methods and approaches of archaeology, through a variety of case-studies and practical exercises.

In the first year of your studies, you will be required to study three subjects. In the second year you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised. 

At Honours level, you will undertake advanced training in archaeological principles and analysis and choose from a wide range of modules that are largely or entirely archaeological in content. 

Fieldwork 

Staff within the University occasionally conduct active fieldwork programmes. When these programmes are running, students are encouraged to apply for placement. If they are not running, every effort is made to help students find a place on an archaeological project. 

Joint degree option

You can also apply to study Ancient History and Archaeology and Social Anthropology - UCAS code VVl6.

 

The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.

Modules

In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours), archaeology is taught in two ways: as an integral part of understanding ancient societies, in modules shared with the ancient history programme, and in a specialised module that introduces the key archaeological concepts, methodologies, and techniques.  

Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules: 

  • Ancient Empires: explores how imperial states built and maintained their power; the experiences of other populations and cultures that were conquered or incorporated into ancient empires; and the contested legacies of imperial states, both in antiquity and today.
  • Cities and communities in the ancient Mediterranean: explores urbanisation by examining changing physical as well as social relations between people, as well as between people and their environments. We will study the rise and fall of the ancient city, including its ecology and domestic politics, and modern debates over ancient urbanism.

You will take the following second-year ancient history modules, but may take second-year Classical Studies modules instead: 

  • Ancient Societies: Gender, ethnicity, and inequality in the ancient world: surveys the fundamental divisions that gave shape to ancient social life, examining issues like gender, inequality, and ethnic identity through a broad range of sources and methodologies.
  • Narratives of antiquity: examines influential narratives from the ancient world and their reinterpretations in later periods, from the nineteenth century to the present day, and how they continue to shape the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves for better or for worse.

You can also take this interdisciplinary second-year module: 

  • Introduction to Archaeology: provides a grounding in the main concepts, methodologies, and techniques of investigating the past through material evidence and physical environments. Topics will include methods of identifying and investigating archaeological sites and materials, and how archaeologists and cultural heritage practitioners disseminate, preserve, and curate the past for professional and public audiences. 

If you decide to take ancient history and archaeology in your third and fourth years, you will take the following compulsory third-year module: 

  • Principles and Techniques in Archaeology: provides an advanced induction to the practical conduct of archaeology and how it affects the results of excavations and surveys, and an in-depth introduction to key archaeological topics and theories. 

You will then choose from a variety of advanced options which incorporate archaeology into the study of ancient civilisations and cultures, focusing on topics such as cities and urbanisation, networks, ancient art and sculpture, and the Bronze Age civilisations of the Aegean. 

Here is a sample of Honours modules which have been offered in previous years: 

  • Classical Collections
  • Cities and Urban Life in Late Antiquity (300-700 CE) 
  • Early Rome and its Neighbours
  • Greek Painted Pottery 
  • Greek sculpture
  • In the Footsteps of the Ancients: Exploring the Archaeology and Topography of Greece 
  • The Archaeology of Identities in the First Millennium BCE Mediterranean World
  • The Colours of Ancient Art
  • The Archaeology of Ancient Rome
  • The World of the Ancient Indian Ocean

In fourth year, students have the option of undertaking a dissertation of about 8,000 words on an approved topic in Archaeology. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees. 

The modules above are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course. Please see the module catalogue for more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment.

Teaching

Teaching at sub-honours level is delivered primarily through lectures (70 to 140 students) and small group tutorials (8 to 12 students). Tutorials are an opportunity for students to discuss and develop their thinking in a small and friendly atmosphere, guided by an expert tutor.  

At Honours level, all teaching is delivered through seminars (10 to 20 students), with a strong emphasis on students’ own contributions in informal class discussion and in group or individual presentations. 

In addition to lectures and tutorials, students are expected to undertake substantial independent, but guided, work outside of the classroom. Typically, this will involve: 

  • reading ancient source material in translation 
  • reading journal articles and books 
  • working on individual projects 
  • undertaking research in the library 
  • preparing coursework assignments and presentations 
  • preparing for examinations

Sub-honours modules in Ancient History and Archaeology are often assessed by coursework only. Honours modules include a wider range of assessment types, including essays, presentations, learning diaries and exams. However, some modules are assessed solely or mainly on coursework, and others include practical assessment. Coursework can include: 

  • research essays 
  • source analysis 
  • analysis of ancient sites and material evidence 
  • critical evaluation of published scholarship
  • learning diaries 
  • oral presentations

Examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand. 

The School aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within two weeks to help you improve on future assessments.

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team with expertise and knowledge of ancient history and archaeology. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars and workshops under the supervision of the module coordinator. 

You can find contact information for all staff on the School of Classics website. 

The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.

Fees

Scotland
£1,820

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man

Following the decision of the UK Government to raise undergraduate tuition fees and maintenance loans in line with inflation from April 2025, we are reviewing the consequences of that decision for fees payable by students from the rest of the UK who have chosen to study in Scotland. We will update the information on this page as soon as possible.

EU and overseas
£31,670

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Careers

Archaeology courses at St Andrews do not provide the full training in British archaeology appropriate for someone set on working in professional or commercial archaeology in the UK. Nevertheless, recent graduates have gone on to work as professional archaeologists while others have taken professional qualifications in museum studies. 

Popular career areas for students who have taken ancient history and archaeology include: 

  • academia 
  • journalism 
  • libraries and information 
  • museums and heritage 
  • teaching 
  • publishing

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

What to do next

Online information events

Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.

Undergraduate visiting days

We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.

Contact us

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 2600
Email
classics@st-andrews.ac.uk
Address
School of Classics
Swallowgate
St Andrews
KY16 9AL

School of Classics website

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