BA Ancient History (V110)

2025 entry

Course summary

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 use 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.

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Entry 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.

AAB
DDD in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

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34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level
31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level

Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
80% overall
Advanced Higher: AB and Standard Higher: AAABB
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.

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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.
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.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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