Ancient History and History, BA, University of Leeds

Course content

A joint honours degree allows you to study the same core topics as students on each single honours course, but you'll take fewer optional and discovery modules so you can fit in both subjects.

From your first year, you'll develop your historical skills and knowledge, as well as an understanding of concepts like historiography. You'll also gain an understanding of the development of Greek and Roman civilisation and literature.

Once you have this firm foundation, you'll choose from a range of optional modules over the following two years while striking a balance across historical periods. You could study Greek religion, the legacy of Augustus, Persia under the Achaemenids, the Crusades, medicine in the Middle Ages, Victorian England, pre-colonial India, 20th century African history, the fall of the Soviet Union and more.

By the end of your final year, you will have built a wide range of skills across disciplines, allowing you to research topics and think critically about what you find. You'll apply these to an independently researched dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Entry requirements, fees and applying

  Entry requirements

  A-level: AAB

  including A in History and excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking

  • Career opportunities

    A degree in Ancient History and History crosses disciplines and gives you a wide range of knowledge and skills.

    You'll be capable of researching complex topics independently and thinking critically about information from different sources. You'll be analytical and have highly developed communication skills. You'll also have organisational and time management skills. In addition, studying for a Joint Honours degree allows you to become intellectually versatile as you switch between different disciplines.

    Graduates from the Faculty of Arts go on to a wide range of careers, including publishing, the armed forces, journalism, law, curatorship, the civil service, advertising and marketing, education, business and finance and the charity sector.

    We do everything we can to help prepare you for your career. Student-run career groups allow you to get together with other students who share your career ambitions, while you could also become a peer mentor under our scheme or apply for one of the internships the School offers every year.

    Careers support

    We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That's one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

    Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

    The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

  • Study abroad and work placements

    Study abroad

    On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. The University has partnerships with more than 400 universities worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America. 

    Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

    Work placements

    Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.

    Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.

  • Related courses

    Classical Civilisation BA
    History BA