Classics and Ancient History Newcastle University

Our Classics and Ancient History MA will build and expand on your previous studies, enabling you to specialise in either classics or ancient history.

The course is primarily designed for students who have studied ancient history, classics or classical studies as their first degree.

You can choose to study from one of two pathways: classics or ancient history.

If you are interested in classics, you will engage in advanced study of the literatures, languages and cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome.

If you want to specialise in ancient history, you will focus on the histories, societies and cultures of Archaic and Classical Greece, Rome and the wider Mediterranean world.

The highly flexible course offers you the opportunity to study a wide range of topics reflecting the research specialisms of our staff across ancient history, classics and archaeology, including Byzantine studies, whilst developing your own research interests and professional skills.

Through this course you will gain an advanced knowledge and understanding of:

• either classics or ancient history
• methodologies for interpreting evidence
• theoretical and analytical approaches
• how to evaluate, analyse and interpret different types of evidence
• Latin, Greek or both languages
• marshalling evidence, critically analysing texts, images and material objects and writing a balanced argument
• your chosen research subject through undertaking a dissertation

Based in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, classics and ancient history at Newcastle has a long and distinguished reputation for its research and teaching. Latin and Greek have been taught here since 1874 and ancient history and classical archaeology since 1910 and 1931 respectively.

You will benefit from teaching and training in research techniques from specialists in the field. The course will equip you with advanced skills in literacy, research and project management, enabling you to pursue the subject at PhD level or to enter a range of professions.

Pathway

You can choose to study one of two pathways:

Classics

You will study specific modules that will introduce you to topics such as:

• ancient concepts of divinity as articulated by Cicero and others
• ancient philosophy
• Ciceronian rhetoric, its theory and practice
• ancient historiography
• the reception and recreation of ancient texts
• ancient science and medicine
• performance culture in ancient Greece and Rome
• the art and archaeology of Rome and Byzantium
• Greek art and archaeology

Ancient History

You will study specific modules that will introduce you to topics such as:

• ancient historiography
• the history of the Roman Republic
• the emperor Julian and the history of the Late Roman empire
• Greek and Roman religion
• the life and reception of Alexander the Great
• contact and interactions between Greeks and

Entry requirements

A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in classics, classical studies, or a related field.

We will also consider your application on an individual basis if you have lower or non-standard qualifications.

International Students

To study this course you need to meet our Band 5 English Language requirements:

Direct Entry: IELTS 6.5 overall (with 6.5 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in all other sub-skills).

Pre-sessional English Language courses are not accepted as an alternative entry to this course.

Our typical English Language requirements are listed as IELTS scores but we also accept a wide range of English Language tests.

The equivalent academic qualifications that we accept are listed on our country pages.