Undergraduate 2025 

Ancient History MA

Parthenon temple on a bright day. Acropolis in Athens, Greece

Ancient history involves the study of the history and culture of Greece, Rome and the wider Mediterranean between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD with the opportunity to learn Latin and ancient Greek if you wish.

If you progress to Honours you will have the opportunity to spend at least three weeks (usually during the summer vacation after year 3) visiting archaeological sites and museums in Italy and Greece. Financial support for this visit is available to all Single Honours students.

You may also spend year 3 studying at universities in North America, Australia, New Zealand or Europe.

  • September start
  • Session dates
  • Ancient History MA (Hons): V160 4 year degree

Register your interest for more information

Programme structure

Year 1

In year 1 you will study the history and culture of archaic Greece and republican Rome, using a wide variety of source material, including buildings, coins, artefacts and literary works such as epic poetry and plays alongside historical texts.

Year 2

In year 2 you will study the history and culture of classical Greece and of imperial Rome. Alongside the historians Thucydides and Tacitus, the texts you read may include Plato’s philosophy, the Aeneid of Virgil and the ancient novel.

You will also study other subjects in years 1 and 2: see Flexible degrees.

Years 3 and 4

If you progress to Honours (years 3 and 4), you will choose from a wide variety of options in ancient history driven by the research strengths and interests of members of staff. These could include, for example, courses in ancient medicine, ancient technology in context, Athenian democracy, from the Gracchi to Sulla, the Roman historical imagination, Greek religion, Cleopatra, and the fall of the Roman Empire.

You will write a dissertation on a topic of your choosing, and you will also design and implement a study visit to Greece or Italy. There is also the opportunity to start or continue study of Latin and/or Greek.

Course details

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Our international links

If you progress to Honours you will have the opportunity to spend at least three weeks (usually during the summer vacation after year 3) visiting archaeological sites and museums in Italy and Greece. Financial support for this visit is available to all Single Honours students.

You may also spend year 3 studying at universities in North America, Australia, New Zealand or Europe.

Entry requirements

for entry in 2025

You should refer to the entry requirements for both subjects and the degree award when applying for a joint honours degree programme. The higher entry requirement (where applicable) and additional requirements must be met for both subjects.

Summary of entry requirements for Ancient History

SQA Higher entry requirements

  • BBBB is the minimum requirement from S5 to be reviewed for an S6 offer
  • Offers are not guaranteed to applicants who meet the minimum from S5
  • Typically offers will be made at AAAAA by end of S6. B at Advanced Higher is equivalent to A at Higher
  • Additional requirements: Higher English and a Higher Humanities subject at AA. (AB or BA may be considered).

SQA Higher adjusted entry requirements* (by end of S5 or S6)

  • MD20: BBBB (also other target groups*)
  • MD40: AABB* 
  • Additional requirements: Higher English and a Higher Humanities subject. Successful completion of Top-Up or one of our Summer Schools.

* See Access Glasgow for eligibility.

A-level standard entry requirements

  • AAB – BBB
  • Additional requirements: one A-level Humanities subject.

IB standard entry requirements

  • 34 (6,5,5)
  • Additional requirements: English HL6 or Humanities HL6 with English SL6.

Entry requirements for advanced entry to Ancient History

Applicants who achieve exceptional grades in their Advanced Highers, A-levels or International Baccalaureate may be considered for advanced entry, meaning that an Honours degree can be completed in three years instead of the normal four years, or four years for five-year integrated Masters programmes. Not all joint honours subjects are available for advanced entry and applications to joint honours programmes will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Choose point of entry 2nd year on your UCAS application to indicate you wish to be considered for advanced entry.

SQA Higher requirements for advanced entry 

  • Three Advanced Highers at Grades AAA attained in one exam year and at the first attempt. Subjects must be relevant to the courses to be taken at Level 2.

A-Level requirements for advanced entry

  • A*A*A 

IB requirements for advanced entry

  • 38 points

Admissions guidance

English language

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

English language requirements

Career prospects

In recent years our graduates have found employment as:

  • teachers,
  • civil servants
  • administrators
  • librarians
  • archivists
  • experts in museums and galleries.

Degrees and UCAS codes

When applying you will need to know the UCAS code for the subject or subject-combination that you wish to apply to:

MA (Hons)

Ancient History: V160 (4 years)
Ancient History/Archaeology: V1V4 (4 years)
Ancient History/Celtic Civilisation: V1Q5 (4 years)
Ancient History/Celtic Studies: VQ15 (4 years)
Ancient History/English Literature: VQ13 (4 years)
Ancient History/French: V1R1 (5 years)
Ancient History/History: VV12 (4 years)
Ancient History/Italian: VR13 (5 years)
Ancient History/Philosophy: VV15 (4 years)
Ancient History/Politics: VL12 (4 years)

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

How and when you pay tuition fees depends on where you’re from: see Tuition fees for details.

Scholarships

The University is committed to supporting students and rewarding academic excellence. That's why we've invested more than £1m in additional scholarship funding in recent years.

World Changers Global Excellence Scholarship

World Changers Glasgow Scholarship UG (EU)

World Changers RUK Excellence Scholarship

World Changers RUK Access Bursary

James McCune Smith Undergraduate Scholarship

Care Experienced and Estranged Student Bursary

Beatrix Whistler and James McNeill Whistler Scholarship

Beaconhouse Schools

Undergraduate Talent Scholarships

Cowrie Foundation Scholarship

The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Dima Alhaj Scholarship

Sanctuary Scholarships

Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants

Glasgow Highland Society Scholarship

The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

How to apply

Full-time students must apply through the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). 

SQA applicants who are eligible for our Widening Participation programmes are encouraged to participate in one or more of these programmes, including Summer School, to support your application and the transition to higher education.

International students to Arts, Engineering, Law, Nursing, Science, and Social Sciences can also apply using The Common Application: however, if applying to more than one UK university, we recommend using UCAS. Applications to Dentistry, Education, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine must be made through UCAS.

Application deadlines

  • 15 October: if including Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or also applying to Oxford or Cambridge
  • 29 January: all other UK applicants (unless otherwise stated on the UCAS website)
  • 30 June: international students.

We do not usually accept any applications after these deadlines.

It's your responsibility to ensure the accuracy of your application before submission. Requests to correct application content, change degree programme or change college of entry, will not be accepted after these deadlines. This policy is in place to ensure fairness and consistency to all applicants, and no exceptions will be made.

How to apply for Advanced Entry

Apply for year 2 (Y2) on your UCAS application. If the specific subject is unavailable for Advanced Entry or your application for year 2 entry is unsuccessful, you will be automatically considered for year 1 entry. You do not have to submit a separate UCAS application.

Apply via UCAS

4th in UK

Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide [Classics & Ancient History]

Times Good university guide