Classics and Modern History

Classics and modern history is a degree that spans two of the most intellectually rich historical disciplines, connecting the study of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds with the rigorous examination of history from the early modern period to the present. Classics at its best is an encounter with some of the most powerful literary and philosophical writing in any world tradition, developed through engagement with the original languages and with the material, visual, and intellectual culture of antiquity. Modern history develops the analytical and archival skills of the historian, bringing the same rigour to the evidence of more recent centuries.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time programme develops skills in Greek and Latin languages alongside the literary and cultural analysis of classical texts and civilisations, while the modern history component takes you across a wide range of periods and themes from the early modern era through to the contemporary world. The degree includes a year abroad, broadening your engagement with different national traditions of historical and classical scholarship. The typical entry tariff of 200 points reflects the competitive nature of entry to a distinguished research university.

You will develop the ability to read ancient texts in their original languages, to analyse historical evidence across very different periods, to construct extended scholarly arguments, and to engage with the enormous range of methodological and interpretive approaches that these two disciplines have developed.

Graduates pursue careers in education, publishing, journalism, the cultural sector, heritage management, the civil service, law, and academia. The combination of ancient language skills, historical breadth, and analytical rigour is valued across professional contexts where close reading, sustained argument, and the capacity to engage with complexity are essential. Postgraduate study in classics, ancient history, or modern history is a well-established continuation.