Overview

The plays, poems and speeches of antiquity still shape how we think about culture, power and identity today, offering rich ground for both literary and historical study. The BA (Hons) Classics and Ancient History at the University of Birmingham spans the ancient Mediterranean from Egypt to Greece, Rome and Byzantium, ranked joint first in the Russell Group in the latest National Student Survey results. Students benefit from an expert-led Study Tour to sites including Athens, Delphi and Mycenae, alongside access to the department's own Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology Museum and the Cadbury Research Library. The course suits students keen to explore marginalised voices and modern interpretations of the ancient world, whether starting an ancient language from scratch or building on existing study.

​

What You'll Learn

• The Greek and Roman worlds, alongside mythology, identity and the voices of marginalised groups in antiquity

• Interdisciplinary project work introducing core research and study skills

• A structured Study Tour to significant archaeological sites across Greece

• Specialist topics such as Athenian drama, Imperial Rome, and women in Rome and Byzantium

• The option to study Latin, Greek or Ancient Egyptian from beginner through advanced level

• Special Subject modules shaped by staff research, from Spartan society to Roman religion

• Independent research skills, developed throughout the degree

• A substantial final-year dissertation on a self-chosen topic

​

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse literary, historical and material evidence from across the ancient Mediterranean world, drawing on both classical texts and archaeological sources. They will be equipped to construct well-evidenced arguments about the politics, culture and society of antiquity, and to relate these debates to questions of identity and marginalisation still relevant today. Through independent research and a self-directed dissertation, students will develop the ability to formulate original arguments and conduct sustained scholarly investigation. Graduates will leave with strong analytical, research and communication skills, well suited to further study or a wide range of careers in law, education, media, publishing and the heritage sector.