Ancient History

Ancient history is the study of the civilisations that shaped the foundations of the modern world, from the city-states of ancient Greece and the empire of Rome to the cultures of Egypt, the Near East, Byzantium and the world of Roman Britain. It is a discipline that engages with some of the most dramatic and consequential events in human history, and it uses an unusually wide range of evidence, from literary texts, inscriptions, papyri and coins to archaeological remains, architecture and material culture. Studying the ancient world demands both close reading of sources and the willingness to interpret incomplete, sometimes contradictory evidence with intellectual rigour and imagination.

At the University of Kent, this part-time programme allows you to engage with the ancient world in an intellectually stimulating environment, taught by world-leading experts including practising archaeologists and historians. You will develop new analytical and research skills, gaining valuable expertise in working with diverse historical evidence and constructing well-reasoned arguments about periods that are both distant and surprisingly contemporary. The programme covers history from the shores of Roman Britain to Byzantium, from Egyptian temples and Near Eastern empires to the Greek city-states, giving you a broad geographical and chronological range.

Graduates from ancient history programmes pursue careers across a wide range of fields. Many work in education, heritage, archaeology, museum curation, publishing and the cultural sector. The research, analysis and communication skills developed through ancient history are highly transferable, and graduates are well suited to careers in journalism, the civil service, law and the voluntary sector.

The intellectual rigour demanded by working with ancient languages and fragmentary sources also provides excellent preparation for postgraduate study in ancient history, classical studies, archaeology or related humanities disciplines.