Ancient History and History

Ancient History and History is a degree that spans a remarkable range of human experience, from the city-states of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire to the political and social transformations of the modern world. Combining ancient and modern history in a single degree gives you an unusual temporal scope, training you to work with very different kinds of evidence and to engage with historical questions at opposite ends of the timescale. The skills of the ancient historian, working with fragmentary texts, inscriptions, and material culture in a world where direct sources are scarce, complement and sharpen the skills of the modern historian, who must navigate enormous quantities of archival material and secondary scholarship.

At the University of Reading, this three-year full-time programme is structured to develop your expertise across both periods while also giving you depth in the methods and approaches of historical inquiry more broadly. You will engage with primary sources in translation and where appropriate in original languages, learn to evaluate the reliability and bias of different kinds of evidence, and develop the capacity to construct well-evidenced arguments about complex historical questions. A sandwich year, year abroad, and work placement are all part of the programme, connecting your academic studies to professional environments and international contexts.

Reading has particular strengths in ancient history and classical studies, and the programme draws on specialist expertise in the ancient world alongside a history department engaged with the full range of modern historical inquiry. You will benefit from the university's collections and research culture throughout your studies.

Graduates pursue careers in education, journalism, publishing, the civil service, heritage and museums, law, and management. The combination of deep time perspective and rigorous source analysis is valued across professions that require careful reading, clear writing, and the ability to evaluate complex evidence. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in ancient history, classical studies, or modern history.