Ancient History and Biblical Studies

Ancient history and biblical studies brings together two disciplines that illuminate each other in particularly powerful ways. The ancient world of Greece and Rome was also the world in which the texts that became the Old and New Testaments were composed, transmitted and interpreted, and the relationship between biblical tradition and classical culture, political, philosophical and literary, shaped the development of both. Studying them together gives you access to a richer understanding of either than you could gain from each alone.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time degree includes a year abroad, giving you an international dimension to your education. In the ancient history component, you will study the civilisations of Greece and Rome and neighbouring peoples including the Persians and Carthaginians, across a period from the eighth century BCE to the fall of the western Roman empire. You will engage with primary sources, debates about historiographical method, and the political, social and cultural history of the ancient Mediterranean world.

In the biblical studies component, you will engage with the texts of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, their literary forms and compositional history, the world in which they were produced and interpreted, and the long tradition of theological and critical engagement they have generated. With a typical entry tariff of 200 UCAS points, this is a demanding programme that rewards students with broad intellectual curiosity.

Graduates from ancient history and biblical studies programmes pursue careers in academia, the church and faith organisations, teaching, journalism, publishing, the civil service, international organisations and the cultural sector. The research, critical reading and writing skills developed through these disciplines are highly transferable, and many graduates find that the combination of historical depth and engagement with foundational texts opens unexpected professional and intellectual doors. Postgraduate study in ancient history, biblical studies, theology or classical studies is a natural next step.