Ancient History

Ancient history is the study of the civilisations that formed the foundations of much of what we recognise as Western culture, politics, law, art, and thought, spanning the worlds of Greece, Rome, Egypt, the Near East, and Byzantium. It asks how these societies were organised, how power was exercised and contested, what they believed about the world and their place in it, and how the decisions of individuals and institutions in the distant past continue to resonate in the present. At the University of Kent, the discipline is taught by scholars who are also practising archaeologists and historians, bringing current research expertise into the classroom.

This three-year full-time degree prepares you for a wide range of careers while immersing you in the human and material record of the ancient world.

You will develop skills in the critical reading of historical and literary sources, the interpretation of material evidence, and the construction of well-evidenced historical arguments. The geographical and chronological scope of the programme is broad, taking you from Roman Britain to Byzantium and from Egyptian temples and Near Eastern empires to the Greek city states, and you will encounter a wide range of methodological approaches to the ancient world across your studies. Kent's emphasis on practical skills alongside academic learning means you will be developing the research, analytical, and communication competencies that employers value alongside deep historical knowledge.

A typical entry tariff of 104 UCAS points reflects an accessible admissions standard. Graduates from ancient history programmes pursue careers in heritage and museum work, archaeology, archiving and records management, teaching, journalism, publishing, the civil service, law, and cultural organisations. Many continue to postgraduate study in ancient history, classical studies, archaeology, or related fields.