You will take several courses across two semesters of teaching, including a compulsory course and a range of optional courses. The compulsory course (Skills and Methods in Classics – 20 credits) will provide you with the key methodological and practical skills required of researchers in all Classical subjects, while the 20-credit option courses offer a level of flexibility, allowing you to both develop or cement your language skills and explore a diverse range of in-depth historical topics. You can also take courses in archaeological and literary topics.Core courseYou will take a compulsory course, which will provide a general introduction to graduate study in classics and give you the opportunity to develop your research skills. HTML Compulsory courses previously offered include: Course nameCreditsSkills and Methods in Classics20Optional coursesYou’ll be required to take 5 option courses (20 credits each), subject to availability. Each year we offer ancient history courses in topics that our staff are currently working, ensuring that we provide Greek, Hellenistic, Roman and Late Antique options. Greek and Latin language courses are always offered.Please note: at least three of your option courses must be on ancient history topics. You may be able to take one classics language course and/or one online course Option Courses 2025-2026* * Please note that the list of courses below is provisional and subject to change.Further information and course details can be found on the Degree Programme Table.A Topic in Late Antique and Byzantine History 1 #Advanced Ancient Greek (PG) 1 #Advanced Ancient Greek (PG) 2Advanced Latin (PG) 1 #Advanced Latin (PG) 2Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs: The Basics and Beyond #Archaeological IllustrationArchaeology of 'Celtic' Europe: Communities and Interactions #Archaeomaterials Analysis #Bronze Age Civilisations of the Near East and Greece #Centre, Province and Periphery in the Age of Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos: Byzantium and its Neighbours in the Tenth #Conflict archaeology: materialities of violenceData Science for the Past: Statistical Thinking & VisualizationEarly Greek Philosophy ^Elementary Ancient Greek (PG) 1 #Elementary Ancient Greek (PG) 2Elementary Latin (PG) 1 #Elementary Latin (PG) 2Epicurus and Epicureanism #Greek Text Seminar 1 #Greek Tragedy ^Heritage Studies and the Archaeology of the Contemporary World: Investigating How the Past Shapes the Present #Homer ^Jewish Texts through the Ages #Judaea under Roman Rule #Latin Tragedy: Medea on the Roman Stage ^Lucretius, 'De rerum natura' ^Popular unrest, revolts, and rebellions in the Byzantine world #Roman ArchaeologySeafaring and Society in the Ancient Greek World (Online) *Space, Place and Time: the archaeology of built environmentsThe Archaeology of Children and Childhood #The Athenian AkropolisThe Hellenistic City #The Hittites: The Archaeology of an Ancient Near Eastern Civilisation #The Jewish Diaspora in the Roman Empire (Online) *The Latin Manuscript: Palaeography, Codicology, Textual CriticismThe Neo-Hittite Kingdoms: A World between Empires #Themes in Egyptian archaeology: the foundations of the state to the end of the Middle Kingdom # # You must choose three Ancient History courses^ A maximum of one Level 10 course can be chosen. Priority for Level 10 courses goes to undergraduate students.* A maximum of one online course can be chosen. Option courses 2024/25 Elementary Greek (PG) 1 #Elementary Latin (PG) 1 #Intermediate Greek (PG) 1 #Intermediate Latin (PG) 1 #A Topic in Late Antique and Byzantine History 1 #A Topic in Late Antique and Byzantine History 2 #Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs: The Basics and Beyond #Ancient Philosophy Seminar I #Ancient Superpowers: The Armies and Military Monuments of Rome and Persia #Apocalypse: The Book of Revelation in History and Culture (PG) #Archaeology of 'Celtic' Europe: Communities and Interactions #Archaeological IllustrationBoethius' Consolation of Philosophy ^Bronze Age Civilisations of the Near East and Greece #Conflict archaeology: materialities of violenceConstantinople: The History of a Medieval Megalopolis from Constantine the Great to Suleyman the Magnificent #Greek Pastoral Poetry ^Greek Palaeography & Manuscript CultureGreek Philosophy (Plato's Republic)Greek Text Seminar 3Hellenistic Art and ArchaeologyHerod the Great and the End of Hellenism (online) *Issues in Egyptian Archaeology: the Second Intermediate Period until the end of the Late Period (1650-332 BC)Latin Epic ^Latin Satire ^Latin Text Seminar 1 #Religion and War in Archaic and Classical GreeceMariners, Monks and Mobility: the archaeology of the early medieval Atlantic Archipelago #Plato's Republic ^Popular Culture in the Roman World (Online) *Scottish Latin Literature #The Archaeology of Children and Childhood #The Art and Archaeology of Sparta and Laconia #The Athenian Akropolis (online) *The Hellenistic City #The Hittites: The Archaeology of an Ancient Near Eastern Civilisation #The Jewish Diaspora under the Roman Empire #Themes in Egyptian archaeology: the foundations of the state to the end of the Middle Kingdom #Women, Writing, Greece: From Sappho to Virginia Woolf and BeyondHerod the Great and the End of Hellenism (online)# You must choose three Ancient History courses^ A maximum of one Level 10 course can be chosen. Priority for Level 10 courses goes to undergraduate students.* A maximum of one online course can be chosen. Option courses 2023/24Select exactly 60 credits of the following Ancient History coursesElementary Greek (PG) 1Elementary Latin (PG) 1Intermediate Greek (PG) 1Intermediate Latin (PG) 1A Topic in Late Antique and Byzantine History 1A Topic in Late Antique and Byzantine History 2Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs II: Texts and ContextsAncient Egyptian Hieroglyphs: The Basics and BeyondApocalypse: The Book of Revelation in History and Culture (PG)Archaeology of 'Celtic' Europe: Communities and InteractionsArchaeology of Late Antique ReligionBronze Age Civilisations of the Near East and GreeceDebating Marriage between Antiquity and the Middle AgesDispute Resolution in the Roman EmpireEgypt under the PtolemiesHonour in Ancient GreeceMariners, Monks and Mobility: the archaeology of the early medieval Atlantic ArchipelagoThe Archaeology of Children and ChildhoodThe Hittites: The Archaeology of an Ancient Near Eastern CivilisationThe Maccabaean RevoltThemes in Egyptian archaeology: the foundations of the state to the end of the Middle KingdomSelect between 0 and 40 credits of the following coursesElementary Greek (PG) 1Elementary Greek (PG) 2Elementary Latin (PG) 1Elementary Latin (PG) 2Intermediate Greek (PG) 1Intermediate Greek (PG) 2Intermediate Latin (PG) 1Intermediate Latin (PG) 2A Topic in Late Antique and Byzantine History 1A Topic in Late Antique and Byzantine History 2Apocalypse: The Book of Revelation in History and Culture (PG)Archaeological IllustrationArchaeology of Late Antique ReligionBronze Age Civilisations of the Near East and GreeceClassical Greek SculptureConflict archaeology: materialities of violenceDispute Resolution in the Roman EmpireEgypt under the PtolemiesGreek Philosophy (Plato's Republic)Greek Text Seminar 2Handling Greek PotteryHonour in Ancient GreeceHuman EvolutionIssues in Egyptian Archaeology: the Second Intermediate Period until the end of the Late Period (1650-332 BC)Latin Text Seminar 2Space, Place and Time: the archaeology of built environmentsThe Archaeology of Children and ChildhoodThe Hittites: The Archaeology of an Ancient Near Eastern CivilisationThe Latin Manuscript: Palaeography, Codicology, Textual CriticismThe Maccabaean RevoltSelect between 0 and 20 credits of the following Level 10 Classics Language coursesBoethius' Consolation of PhilosophyGreek Pastoral PoetryLatin EpicLatin SatirePlato's RepublicSelect between 0 and 20 credits of the following Online coursesHerod the Great and the End of Hellenism (online)Popular Culture in the Roman World (Online)The Athenian Akropolis (online) Teaching and assessmentYou will develop your skills in critical thinking, clear writing and research, verbal presentation and critical analysis.Most teaching takes place in small groups with most courses taught via weekly seminars. The majority of the 20-credit courses are assessed by single pieces of coursework, usually essays of 4,500 words. Further informationYou can see more details about the 2025/26 programme structure on the Degree Programme Table for the MSc in Ancient History. We expect the 2026/27 programme structure to be available from May 2026. This article was published on 2024-08-01