Ancient History and Classical Archaeology BA
AAB at A level; graduates earn a median £28,000 three years on.
95% of entrants came with A levels · 100% stay on after year 1 · Warwick course page, Discover Uni
What do you need to get in?
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. Contextual offer: BBB, for applicants from under-represented backgrounds.
Warwick course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
Other qualifications4
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| IB | 34 points34 | — |
| BTEC | —We welcome applications from students taking BTECs alongside A levels. | — |
| Advanced Highers | AAAA in two Advanced Highers and ABB/BBB in three further Highers subjects. AB in two Advanced Highers and AAB in three further Highers subjects. | — |
| Access | 45 Credits at Level 3, including Distinction in 33 Level 3 credits and Merit in We will consider applicants returning to study who are presenting a QAA-recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma on a case-by-case basis. Typically, we require 45 Credits at Level 3, including Di | — |
What do you study?
Compulsory modules this year: arts & humanities 73% · transversal skills 22% · digital & ict skills 5%.
Module — one course unit, usually a term or a year long; “core” means everyone takes it. One UK credit is about ten hours of study; a full year is 120 credits.
Warwick course page · optional modules vary by year
- Introduction to Greek and Roman History
What you learn (8)
- describe key events of Greek history from the 6th to 4th centuries BC
- describe the history of the Roman Republic before 49 BC
- identify different forms that historical writing can take
- explain factors that shape how history is constructed
- conduct independent research into historical topics
- evaluate primary and secondary textual sources critically
- evaluate online historical sources critically
- analyse historical arguments using critical thinking
- Greek Culture and Society
What you learn (5)
- identify key cultural and social issues in ancient Greek society
- describe how Greek culture and society changed over different periods
- compare different types of historical evidence for reliability and relevance
- apply different critical approaches to interpreting historical sources
- analyse primary sources in relation to their cultural and social context
- Roman Culture and Society
What you learn (5)
- describe key features of Roman culture and society in the early imperial period
- identify different types of sources used to study Roman culture and society
- apply appropriate methodologies to analyse these historical sources
- use research techniques relevant to classical and ancient history studies
- evaluate evidence and arguments using critical thinking techniques
- Encounters with Material Culture: Objects and Archaeology
What you learn (5)
- describe the material, form, style and iconography of ancient artefacts
- interpret archaeological catalogues, drawings and plans of artefacts
- situate ancient objects within different historical and cultural contexts
- analyse how an object's context shapes the messages it conveys
- explain the significance of material culture for understanding ancient societies
Year 2 · 1 core, 4 optional · 30 credits ≈ 300 hours
- The Hellenistic World 323 - 31BC
What you learn (4)
- describe the varied nature of sources used to study hellenistic culture and history
- explain how the hellenistic world influenced the development of the roman world
- analyse primary and secondary source material relating to the hellenistic period
- evaluate the reliability and significance of historical sources critically
4 optional modules
- The Roman Empire from Tiberius to Hadrian
What you learn (11)
- develop research skills through independent investigation
- improve written communication of historical arguments
- improve oral communication of historical arguments
- identify the range of primary sources available for Roman history
- evaluate the uses and limitations of primary sources
- describe the chronological narrative of Roman history from AD 14 to 138
- evaluate different approaches to writing history
- analyse modern reinterpretations of Roman history
- select relevant material for independent historical research
- present historical material coherently in written form
- present historical material coherently in oral form
Year 3 · 1 core, 6 optional · 30 credits ≈ 300 hours
- Dissertation
What you learn (12)
- conduct independent research on a chosen classical studies topic
- extend subject knowledge of classics and ancient history
- compose an extended academic argument presenting original research
- structure a long-form dissertation to meet assessment criteria
- analyse primary sources and scholarly literature critically
- evaluate advanced academic material independently and creatively
- apply problem-solving strategies to research challenges
- organise bibliographic references and footnotes consistently
- use word-processing and IT tools to produce academic text
- collaborate constructively with a supervisor on project development
- manage time effectively across an extended project
- present work-in-progress research orally to an academic audience
6 optional modules
- Principles and Methods in Classical Archaeology
What you learn (8)
- conduct structured research on classical archaeology topics
- produce clear written accounts of archaeological arguments
- present archaeological ideas clearly to an audience
- describe the historical development of classical archaeology as a discipline
- identify major techniques used in classical archaeology
- evaluate the strengths and limitations of archaeological methods
- critique underlying assumptions in archaeological reasoning
- explain the role of archaeology within modern British society
- The Transformation of Roman Society under Augustus
What you learn (6)
- evaluate the role of material culture in projecting the image of the augustan regime
- describe the major political and social changes in rome between 31 bc and ad 14
- explain how later political agendas shape modern interpretations of the past
- identify the limitations of relying on translated ancient texts for historical study
- conduct independent research on historical topics
- communicate historical arguments clearly in written form
- Greek Religion
What you learn (7)
- conduct independent research on a historical topic
- produce clear written analysis of academic material
- communicate findings effectively to others
- identify the range of surviving primary sources for ancient religion
- evaluate the limitations of primary source material for historical study
- use digital tools to support independent study
- describe the diversity of religious practices across ancient Greek history
“What you learn” restates each module’s published learning outcomes in our own words, as short skill statements in the same form as the GCSE and A level curriculum, with the help of an AI model; fields of knowledge follow the twelve fields of the knowledge sphere. The university’s module page, linked from each title, is the authoritative description.
Where does it lead?
Median — the middle earner: half earned more, half less. Pay is for graduates of this subject at this university who finished in 2016-18, not adjusted for inflation; based on 420 graduates.
Discover Uni dataset (HESA and Office for Students, CC BY 4.0, contains HESA data); earnings from the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data (Department for Education) · aggregation level 12, 14, 22, 24
Half of graduates earned between £24,000 and £35,500. Five years on, the median is £36,500. 86% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 67% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 10% left | 100% | 10 |
| In work or study, 15 months on11% studying | 86% | 115 |
| Professional or managerial job | 67% | 75 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £30,000 | 50 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £28,000 | 420 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £36,500 | 450 |
What does it cost?
Tuition fee loan — paid straight to the university; repayments start the April after you leave, at 9% of income above the threshold. UK fees are capped by government and rise with inflation; placement and study-abroad years are usually charged at a lower rate.
Warwick fees page · source
About £30,150 in fees over 3 years, covered by a tuition fee loan you repay only when earning above the threshold.
What do students say?
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 62% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 20 students answered
Highest: 100% agreed on question 3; lowest: 50% on question 25.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 94% |
| Question 2 | 89% |
| Question 3 | 100% |
| Question 4 | 83% |
| Question 5 | 83% |
| Question 6 | 78% |
| Question 7 | 94% |
| Question 8 | 78% |
| Question 9 | 67% |
| Question 10 | 56% |
| Question 11 | 83% |
| Question 12 | 83% |
| Question 13 | 100% |
| Question 14 | 67% |
| Question 15 | 89% |
| Question 16 | 89% |
| Question 17 | 83% |
| Question 18 | 78% |
| Question 19 | 83% |
| Question 20 | 94% |
| Question 21 | 83% |
| Question 22 | 83% |
| Question 23 | 71% |
| Question 24 | 65% |
| Question 25 | 50% |
| Question 26 | 71% |
Question texts are published by the Office for Students; the dataset carries only the question numbers.
Modules, entry requirements and fees are facts read from University of Warwick’s course page on 2026-09-19 and may change; the university’s page is authoritative. Descriptions are not reproduced. Outcome figures are from the Discover Uni dataset. University of Warwick is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.