Bachelor of Arts (BA)

BA Ancient History and History

Study ancient, medieval and modern history for a wide range of career options.
  • Duration: 3 years
  • Year of entry: 2026
  • UCAS course code: VV50 / Institution code: M20

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Overview

Course overview

  • Ranked 7th in the UK for History, Philosophy and Theology by THE World University Rankings 2024.
  • Combine the study of the Greek and Roman worlds with medieval and modern history.
  • Discover medieval and contemporary history, stretching from Late Antiquity to modern day histories of globalisation.
  • Learn from passionate and committed historians at the cutting edge of their subjects.
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Discover Classics and Ancient History at The University of Manchester

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
Telephone
+44 (0)161 509 2871
Email
Website
https://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/cahae/
School/Faculty overview

See: About us

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

A-level

AAB, including A in History or Ancient History

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

A-level contextual offer

ABC, including A in History or Ancient History.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

Contextual offers are available for applicants who:

  • live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
  • live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
  • have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

UK refugee/care-experienced offer

ACC including A in History or Ancient History.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:

  • have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
  • have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

International Baccalaureate

35 points overall. 6,6,5 in Higher Level subjects including History

Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.

GCSE/IGCSE

Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 6 or B in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Grade 4 or C in Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification.

Other entry requirements

Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.

Country-specific entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see Accepted entry qualifications from your country

English language requirements

All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:

GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade B/6, or;

IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each sub-test, or;

An acceptable equivalent qualification.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.

If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found  here .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Fees and funding

Fees

Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply through  UCAS

Home-schooled applicants

If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course. We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. If you are a home schooled student and would like further information or advice please contact the academic School for your chosen course who will be able to help you. 

Non-standard educational routes

Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences.  Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest.  There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.

The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates.  If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.  Further information for mature students can be found here ( http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/mature-students/ )

How your application is considered

Applications are considered on the basis of an assessment of the quality of the personal statement, the reference, and past and predicted academic achievements. We encourage applicants to give details of their motivation for studying this particular subject.

Interview requirements

We don't normally interview for this degree, except in the case of mature applicants. In considering your application, all the information on the UCAS form is taken into account, particular attention being paid to academic qualifications and predictions, to your referee's confidential report, and to your personal statement.

Returning to education

We warmly encourage applications from mature applicants and students returning to education. All such applications are considered on an individual basis. Applicants are encouraged to contact us at ug-classics@manchester.ac.uk for any discussion that they might find useful.

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

We warmly encourage overseas applicants. Applicants are encouraged to contact us at ug-classics@manchester.ac.uk for any discussion that they might find useful.

Deferrals

We welcome applications for deferred entry and feel a gap year benefits many students.

We do ask applicants to let us know as early as possible if they are intending to defer.  This helps us to adjust the number of offers we make, in order to achieve the required number of students in a given year.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.  In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.  We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course. If you are applying through clearing you are required to meet the clearing requirements. In both UCAS Extra and clearing the places will be subject to availability.

Transfers

We will consider applications to transfer to Manchester from other universities and would normally ask for a letter explaining why a transfer was needed, relevant transcripts, a copy of the applicant's UCAS form and a confidential reference from one of the applicant's current university tutors.

We will consider applications to transfer from other degrees within the University of Manchester but applicants are required to have the A-level grades (or other qualifications) needed for entry to that degree programme.

Both of the above are subject to our having enough places to accommodate such applicants .   Enquiries should be made to the admissions administrator for the subject (see contact details). 

Course details

Course description

Our BA Ancient History and History joint honours course will enable you to combine the study of ancient, medieval and modern history.

Half of the course engages with the history and culture of the Greco-Roman civilisations of the Mediterranean and its hinterland, while the other half explores medieval and contemporary history, stretching from Late Antiquity to modern day histories of globalisation.

As well as offering breadth of perspective, this course will give you training on a large variety of historiographical techniques, including specialisms which are vital tools of historical research.

You will be equipped to move into a wide range of careers or further study options.

Special features

Placement year option 

Apply your subject-specific knowledge in a real-world context through a  placement year  in your third year of study, enabling you to enhance your employment prospects, clarify your career goals and build your external networks. 

Study abroad 

You can apply to spend one semester  studying abroad  during Year 2, with exchange partners including those in Europe as well as the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore. 

Connect with like-minded students 

Our students can take part in history-related activities outside of the course, including the  Manchester Histories Festival  and our student-led publication -  The Manchester Historian

Explore world-class collections 

Enjoy  unique opportunities  to explore special archived material and carry out research in a wide range of archives, libraries, museums and other research institutions in Manchester and beyond.

Teaching and learning

You will learn through a variety of channels, including lectures, seminars, small group tutorials and field trips. You'll also be encouraged to undertake independent study at every level, and to develop your own original and imaginative approaches to the subject.

Coursework and assessment

Assessment methods vary from course unit to course unit, but our basic objective is to achieve a good balance between formal written examinations, continuous assessment and project work.

Course content for year 1

You'll take course units that will introduce you to the methods and practice of the study of ancient and modern history, with a range of exciting options in both subjects.

Course units for year 1

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
CAHE10011 20 Mandatory
CAHE10022 20 Mandatory
HIST10101 20 Mandatory
CAHE10101 20 Optional
CAHE10142 20 Optional
CAHE10232 20 Optional
CAHE10281 20 Optional
CAHE10422 20 Optional
CAHE10651 20 Optional
CAHE20151 20 Optional
CAHE20162 20 Optional
CAHE20171 20 Optional
CAHE30111 20 Optional
CAHE30121 20 Optional
CAHE30162 20 Optional
CAHE30182 20 Optional
HIST10151 20 Optional
HIST10172 20 Optional
HIST10182 20 Optional
HIST10191 20 Optional
HIST10261 20 Optional
HIST10302 20 Optional
HIST10312 20 Optional
HIST10351 20 Optional
SALC11011 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 25 course units for year 1

Course content for year 2

Specialist course units on Greek and Roman history are a central element of your second year and there will be a wide range of optional topics on medieval and modern history.

Course units for year 2

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
CAHE20052 20 Mandatory
CAHE20061 20 Mandatory
AMER20141 20 Optional
AMER21002 20 Optional
CAHE20022 20 Optional
CAHE20042 20 Optional
CAHE20072 20 Optional
CAHE20091 20 Optional
CAHE20162 20 Optional
CAHE20332 20 Optional
CAHE20531 20 Optional
CAHE20632 20 Optional
CAHE23022 20 Optional
CAHE23361 20 Optional
GERM20262 20 Optional
HIST20182 20 Optional
HIST20251 20 Optional
HIST20422 20 Optional
HIST20481 20 Optional
HIST21122 20 Optional
HIST21182 20 Optional
HIST21192 20 Optional
HIST21202 20 Optional
HIST21211 20 Optional
HIST21241 20 Optional
HIST21251 20 Optional
HSTM20081 20 Optional
HSTM20592 20 Optional
HSTM20801 20 Optional
ITAL20502 20 Optional
ITAL21011 20 Optional
MEST20272 20 Optional
MEST20501 20 Optional
RELT20121 20 Optional
RELT21082 20 Optional
RUSS20242 20 Optional
RUSS20472 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 37 course units for year 2

Course content for year 3

In your final year there will be a range of specialist options in Greek, Roman and modern history.  By now, you'll have developed a keen interest in a topic which you can research in -depth for a dissertation in either Ancient History or modern History under the guidance of a specialist in your area of interest.

Course units for year 3

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
CAHE20162 20 Optional
CAHE30000 40 Optional
CAHE30022 20 Optional
CAHE30072 20 Optional
CAHE30091 20 Optional
CAHE30141 20 Optional
CAHE30332 20 Optional
CAHE30632 20 Optional
CAHE30721 20 Optional
CAHE30881 20 Optional
CAHE33361 20 Optional
HIST30292 20 Optional
HIST30970 40 Optional
HIST31052 20 Optional
HIST31202 20 Optional
HIST31362 20 Optional
HIST31491 20 Optional
HIST31522 20 Optional
HIST31551 20 Optional
HIST31591 20 Optional
HIST31671 20 Optional
HIST31721 20 Optional
HIST31752 20 Optional
HIST31842 20 Optional
HIST31881 20 Optional
HIST31891 20 Optional
HIST31941 20 Optional
HIST31992 20 Optional
HIST32012 20 Optional
HIST32152 20 Optional
HIST32171 20 Optional
HIST32221 20 Optional
HIST32241 20 Optional
HIST32251 20 Optional
HIST32321 20 Optional
HIST32342 20 Optional
HIST32351 20 Optional
HIST32362 20 Optional
HIST32372 20 Optional
HIST32391 20 Optional
HIST32412 20 Optional
HIST32512 20 Optional
HSTM31712 20 Optional
HSTM32511 20 Optional
HSTM33501 20 Optional
HSTM40332 20 Optional
MCEL30001 10 Optional
MCEL30002 10 Optional
MCEL30052 10 Optional
RUSS30601 20 Optional
SPLA31151 20 Optional
Displaying 10 of 51 course units for year 3

Facilities

The John Rylands Library 

You will have access to internationally significant collections at  The John Rylands Library , which include primary mediaeval and early modernist printed sources, including approximately 12,500 books printed between 1475 and 1640 (e.g. books by Caxton. 

The library is also home to special collections including The Methodist Archives and Collection, The French Revolution Collection, The Women's Suffrage Movement Archive and The Labour Party Library Collections.  

Manchester Museum 

Manchester Museum  is The University's own award-winning facility, home to important prehistoric, classical and ethnographic collections, which you'll draw from in your learning. 

You'll go behind the scenes to handle, analyse and interpret rare artefacts, including one of the finest Egyptology collections in Britain. 

Our ongoing collaboration between the museum and the global work of archaeology staff offers unique opportunities for students to get involved in the design of major exhibitions.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

Allour courses involve the development of strong transferable skills, encouraging students to think logically and imaginatively to interpret andanalyseinformation and data.

A degree in Classics or Ancient History will equip you with the ability to effectively communicate ideas and demonstrate an intricate understanding of different cultures and societies, leading to a career in wide range of industries.

You'll have various opportunities to gain professional and practical experience.

Many employers seek graduates who have skills in many fields of expertise.

Flexible Honours may allow you to study another subject within the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.

This is besides your major within Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology and Egyptology.

Alternatively, you could study selected course units from other courses around the University.

This is through the University College for Interdisciplinary Learning.

You can also apply to spend a year gaining valuable workplace experience on a work placement.

The creative economy accounts for one in 11 jobs across the UIK and employs 700,000 more people than the financial services industry(Creative Industries Federation).

The University of Manchester is the second most targeted university in the UK for top graduate employers (High Fliers Research, 2024).

Our award-winning careers service provides a wealth of tools, advice, development opportunities and industry links.

You'll have access to dedicated, subject-specific support throughout your studies and for up to two years after graduation.

Our undergraduate courses are also designed to provide an easy transition into postgraduate study, if desired.

We offer a wide range of specialist master's courses within the University and even offer fast-tracked enrolment to high-achieving undergraduate students.

Our students can take part in our Stellifyprogrammealongside their degrees, developing professional and leadership skills while contributing to their local and global communities through volunteering.

Our graduates have gone on to work in a variety of industries, including positionswithBBC, Google, UK government, museums, cultural institutions and law firms.

Find out more onour Careers and Employability page.

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The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.