Ancient History and History BA

Course overview

Combining modules in history and ancient history, this joint honours course enables you to take a wider view of society’s development. You will look at the ancient, medieval and modern worlds, learn to think critically about them and discover the challenges and rewards of studying different historical periods.

Year one 

For ancient history, you study two core modules introducing the history and culture of Greece and Rome, and an in-depth module on one topic (eg Alexander). Beginners' language or classics and popular culture modules are optional. In history, you study our core module, Learning History, as well as two optional modules outlining the main trends in European and world history between 500AD and 1945.

Year two 

The core element in history is provided by the compulsory Contemporary World since 1945. The focus of this module is not just on global developments, political and economic, social and cultural, environmental and demographic, but also on the exploration of key historical debates concerning the immediate origins of the world in which we now live. You also choose optional history modules, covering more specialised topics than those you will have studied in Year One, from a menu that covers a wide chronological and geographical range. In ancient history, an extended course study prepares you for third-year dissertation work, and you are able to pick from a wider range of optional modules, including further language work.

Year three

 

 

 

 

 

In your third year to have the choice of specialising in history or ancient history or splitting your time equally between departments. You can also choose to write a dissertation in either history or ancient history. Your history dissertation will be based on your study of a Special Subject, a year-long seminar which involves analysis of original source material. Depending on your choice of focus, you will also study further optional modules in either history or ancient history or continue your language work.

More information

Please visit the Department of History and Department of Classics websites. 

Entry requirements

A levels: AAB, including A in history at A level

English language requirements 

IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)

TOEFL iBT 100 (no less that 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking)

Alternative qualifications 

Please see the alternative qualifications page.

Modules

The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result, may change from year to year. The following list is therefore subject to change but should give you a flavour of the modules we offer.

Core year-one modules

• Studying the Greek World
• Learning History
• Studying the Roman World

Typical year-one options:

• Introduction to the Medieval World, 500-1500 
• From Reformation to Revolution: an introduction to Early Modern History 
• Interpreting Ancient History 
• Interpreting Ancient Art

Core year-two modules

• Extended Source Study in Ancient History
• Exploring Historiography

Typical year-two options:

• Blood and Treasure: Vikings, Franks and Anglo-Saxons
• The Making of Modern Japan 
• The Victorians: Life, Thought and Culture 
• Slavery in Roman Society 
• Understanding Ancient Sculpture 
• Greeks and Barbarians: connected histories

Typical year-three modules

• Students may select from a wide range of special subjects, involving analysis of original source material, as well as optional modules in History or Ancient History. They may also opt to write a dissertation in History or Ancient History. No compulsory modules for this year are listed in our database.

Typical special subjects:

• From Julian to Theodosius 
• Samurai Revolution: Reinventing Japan 
• The Norman Conquest: England 1016-1087 
• Russia in Revolution 1905-21 
• Visual Mythology

Typical year-three options: 

• Britain on Film 
• The Vietnam War 
• The British Slave Trade 
• Roman Dining 
• Colour and Culture in the Mediterranean World 
• Sex, Lies and Violence: Battles of the Athenian Law Courts 

For a complete list of all the modules offered by the Departments of History and Classics please see the University module catalogue.

Skills and careers

With an excellent track record of graduate employment, a History and Ancient History degree will prepare you for a wide range of professions. Some of the most popular of these are journalism and publishing, law, business and finance, national and local government, non-governmental organisations (both national and international), administration, teaching, library and museum work and research-based careers.

A History and Ancient History degree can cater for such a diverse field of employment because the skills that you will acquire are versatile, wide-ranging, and transferable. You will learn to interpret the complex and diverse character of human society as well as forces of change and continuity. You will learn to think critically, to analyse large amounts of data, to construct logical arguments, to communicate knowledge intelligibly, to work effectively in teams, to manage time and workloads, and to lead discussions and presentations. These skills will develop your capacity to learn and adapt and will therefore equip you with the tools you need to develop your future career.

For more information on the career prospects of Nottingham history graduates, please visit our Careers page.

Average starting salary 

The average starting salary for 2009/10 full-time graduates of the School of History was £19,551.02 and for the graduates of the Department of Classics it was £16,950.*

*Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time, 2009/10.