Modern Languages (German and Spanish) and Ancient History

Modern languages combined with ancient history is a degree that spans the very long reach of the European intellectual tradition, developing linguistic competence in German and Spanish alongside a scholarly engagement with the ancient worlds of Greece and Rome. German and Spanish together give you access to two of Europe's most important language communities, their literatures, histories, and contemporary cultures. Ancient history, rather than being purely antiquarian, provides a rigorous training in source criticism, historical argument, and the analysis of how earlier societies were organised, how they thought, and how they shaped the civilisations that followed.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year, full-time MA programme develops your proficiency in German and Spanish to a high level, engaging you with the cultural, literary, and historical traditions of the German-speaking and Spanish-speaking worlds, while also immersing you in the classical sources and scholarly debates that animate ancient historical study. A year abroad is central to the programme, giving you direct experience of living and studying in the linguistic environments you are learning, which is crucial for achieving genuine fluency. A typical entry tariff of 200 points reflects the high academic standard of this programme at one of Scotland's most prestigious universities.

Graduates of this combination go on to work in education, translation and interpreting, cultural diplomacy, publishing, journalism, arts and heritage organisations, the civil service, and international business. The combination of ancient historical training with two modern European languages is distinctive and valued in academic, cultural, and internationally facing professional roles. Postgraduate study in ancient history, classical studies, modern languages, or area studies is a well-supported further step.