Ancient History/Politics MA
ABB – BBB at A level, A-level English or another Humanities subject; graduates earn a median £25,500 three years on.
Typical A level offer
ABB – BBB
A-level English or another Humanities subject · 84% of entrants came with A levels · 92% stay on after year 1 · Glasgow course page, Discover Uni
Year 13 · applying
What do you need to get in?
ABB – BBBtypical A level offer
Typical offer — the grades most applicants are asked for. A contextual offer can be lower for applicants from under-represented backgrounds; none is published for this course.
Glasgow course page, read 19 September 2026 · Discover Uni entry profile
- 1A-level English or another Humanities subject
Who actually got in: 84% with A levels, 3% with the IB, 7% via Access courses, 4% with other higher education. 42% arrived with 208 or more UCAS tariff points — roughly A*A*A or better. Based on 255 entrants.
UCAS tariff points — a points scale for grades: A* = 56, A = 48, so A*A*A = 160. Entrants’ totals include extra subjects.
Other qualifications2
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish Highers | AAAABminimum from S5: BBBB | Higher English and a Higher Humanities subject at AA. (AB or BA may be considered). |
| IB | 34 (6,5,5) | English HL6 or Humanities HL6 with English SL6. |
Years 1–4
What do you study?
2compulsory modules in year 1
Compulsory modules this year: arts & humanities 96% · language & communication 4%.
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.
Glasgow course page · optional modules vary by year
Year 1 · 2 core · 40 credits ≈ 400 hours
- Classical Civilisation 1A: Myth and Politics in Classical Athens
What you learn (12)
- identify structural features of epic poetry
- identify formal features of athenian drama
- identify key architectural and artistic monuments of the period
- relate textual sources to their social and political context
- relate visual and material evidence to its social and political context
- analyse arguments presented in oratorical texts
- analyse arguments presented in dramatic texts
- analyse arguments presented in historical or philosophical texts
- evaluate modern scholarly approaches to ancient texts and monuments
- evaluate modern interpretations of athenian political ideology
- construct a written interpretation of textual and material evidence on athenian politics
- present an oral interpretation of textual and material evidence on athenian politics
- Classical Civilisation 1B: Augustan Rome: From Republic to Empire
What you learn (9)
- analyse the formation of the Principate during Augustus' rule
- trace the evolution of the Principate throughout Augustus' reign
- compare the Principate with the preceding Republican system
- explain the causes of the Republic's collapse into civil war
- identify key classical texts and artefacts relevant to the period
- analyse classical texts and artefacts for historical significance
- contextualise primary sources within their political and cultural setting
- relate primary sources to their intellectual background
- evaluate scholarly literature related to Augustan Rome
Year 2 · 2 core · 40 credits ≈ 400 hours
- Classical Civilisation 2A: Identities, Ideology and the Hellenistic World
What you learn (6)
- explain factors shaping life experiences in the ancient greek world
- analyse how social and political factors affected mediterranean societies
- identify key features of set classical texts and artefacts
- analyse set texts and artefacts for meaning and significance
- situate primary sources within their historical context
- use scholarly literature to support classical analysis
- Classical Civilisation 2B: Empire and Identity
What you learn (5)
- explain factors shaping daily life in the Roman empire such as slavery and gender
- identify key set texts and artefacts relevant to the module
- analyse set texts and artefacts to draw out their meaning
- situate primary sources within their social, political and religious contexts
- use relevant secondary scholarship to support analysis of classical topics
Year 3 · 41 core · 700 credits ≈ 7,000 hours
- Athenian Democracy: Model Or Mob-Rule?
What you learn (8)
- describe the historical background of Classical Athenian democracy
- explain how Athenian democratic institutions operated
- analyse ancient texts as evidence for Athenian democratic practice
- evaluate ancient attitudes towards democracy expressed in classical sources
- summarise modern scholarly theories on Athenian democracy
- evaluate the validity of modern interpretations of Athenian democracy
- construct original interpretations of ancient sources informed by scholarship
- construct coherent arguments integrating primary and secondary sources
- ROMAN ART
What you learn (8)
- apply detailed knowledge of primary sources in assessed work
- explain modern interpretative approaches to Roman art in assessed work
- evaluate competing scholarly interpretations of Roman art
- apply secondary literature to interpret primary material
- demonstrate research and argumentative skills in essay writing
- present research findings in a seminar setting
- contribute constructively to group discussion
- apply departmental essay-writing conventions to coursework
- The Roman Stage: A History Of Roman Drama From The Republic To The Empire
What you learn (2)
- analyse primary Roman drama texts critically in assessments and discussion
- situate Roman drama within its political and social context
- Interpreting Greek Tragedy
What you learn (13)
- identify defining formal features of greek tragedy
- relate set texts to their historical and cultural background
- recognise recurring themes within the set texts
- explain theoretical bases of modern critical approaches
- assess one's own critical approach to classical texts
- apply critical techniques from varied theoretical traditions
- relate ancient classical criticism to modern theoretical stances
- evaluate strengths and weaknesses of differing theoretical interpretations
- critique theoretical approaches by applying them to texts
- formulate a personal critical stance informed by classical and modern views
- demonstrate essay writing skills required by the department
- demonstrate seminar participation skills required by the department
- demonstrate exam skills required by the department
- Rome In Transition, 49-27 BC
What you learn (8)
- describe key events of Roman history from 49-27 BC
- explain relationships between events during this period
- identify primary sources relevant to the period
- discuss challenges in interpreting primary sources
- analyse political change in the late Roman republic
- analyse cultural change in the late Roman republic
- construct a written historical argument
- critique written historical arguments
- The Invention of History: Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon
What you learn (11)
- relate classical historiographical texts to their historical setting
- connect texts to the intellectual currents of their time
- summarise key scholarly debates on Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon
- critique prevailing interpretations of Greek historiography
- summarise ancient and modern theories of historical writing
- evaluate competing theories of how the past is recorded
- interpret each classical text as an independent work
- situate each text within the wider historiographical tradition
- construct an original interpretive argument about a classical text
- present a coherent argument in written form
- present a coherent argument orally
- Lyric poems and their performance in ancient Greece
What you learn (10)
- identify formal features distinguishing melic, iambic and elegiac verse
- compare lyric poetry types by performance context
- compare lyric poetry types by thematic content
- describe the social and political background of lyric poetry
- describe the cultural setting shaping lyric poetry
- summarise modern scholarly theories on lyric poetry performance
- evaluate competing modern theories of lyric poetry
- develop original interpretations of lyric poems informed by current research
- construct coherent arguments integrating primary texts and scholarly sources
- apply required essay-writing conventions from the departmental handbook
- From the Gracchi to Sulla: the sources and the history 133-70 BC
What you learn (7)
- situate key events and figures within their historical context
- analyse literary and non-literary ancient sources in detail
- relate ancient sources to broader historical and cultural contexts
- explain political, social and economic changes of the late republic
- construct written arguments about the development of the roman state
- critique written arguments on the roman state's development
- evaluate modern scholarly interpretations of the period
- Ancient Medicine
What you learn (5)
- identify key theories of disease in ancient medicine
- describe challenges in interpreting primary sources of medical history
- evaluate difficulties in analysing historical medical evidence
- assess the social standing of physicians and medical writers in ancient communities
- discuss how medical theories and practices persisted or changed over time
- Ancient Technology in Context
What you learn (5)
- use historical and archaeological sources to connect technology with its social setting
- explain how ancient technical theory related to practical application
- analyse the mutual influence of technology and environment in antiquity
- evaluate models explaining technological diffusion and change
- apply theoretical models to interpret technological change
- Cleopatra: Life and Legend (Hons)
What you learn (5)
- situate events of Cleopatra VII's life within broader historical context
- analyse literary, documentary and archaeological sources on ancient events
- evaluate the reliability and significance of historical sources
- explain how historical sources have been reinterpreted across different eras
- construct a coherent scholarly argument on source reception
- Religion in Ancient Greece
What you learn (8)
- describe key institutions of greek religious practice
- describe common rituals performed in greek religion
- analyse central scholarly concepts on greek religion
- use primary sources to support analysis of religious concepts
- evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches
- construct a sustained argument on a topic in greek religion
- compare modern interpretations of greek religious phenomena
- critique modern scholarly interpretations of religious phenomena
- Dissertation (Ancient History)
What you learn (13)
- plan and manage a large-scale independent research project
- deliver a completed independent research project in ancient history
- use varied research tools to locate primary sources
- identify appropriate approaches for interpreting primary evidence
- design a historical methodology suited to a chosen topic
- evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a chosen methodology
- select relevant textual or material evidence for a research question
- analyse historical evidence to support a research project
- construct a coherent and sustained argument in a dissertation
- critique existing scholarship on ancient history
- demonstrate personal engagement with a chosen historical topic
- produce a well-presented and proof-read dissertation
- apply discipline-specific bibliographic conventions and style
- Ancient Warfare
What you learn (10)
- evaluate the historiography of ancient writing on warfare
- identify recurring themes and literary devices in ancient military texts
- characterise distinctive features of ancient military thought
- explain how technology shapes methods of warfare
- explain how social and political structures influence who fights wars
- explain how cultural values determine the purposes of warfare
- critique modern historiographical approaches to ancient warfare
- relate the study of warfare to broader understanding of ancient societies
- compare warfare and battle practices across different Mediterranean societies and periods
- apply modern battle psychology insights to interpret ancient soldiers' experiences
- The Later Roman Empire, 270-400 AD
What you learn (9)
- describe the structure of the late Roman state
- analyse the evolution of the state from the early imperial period
- describe how christianity and paganism were expressed in literature and art
- explain how religious identity related to social hierarchy
- explore the conflict between christian and pagan traditions
- explain modern historiographical debates on the late Roman period
- evaluate the concept of decline in periodisation debates
- apply sociological and anthropological concepts to religious and political movements
- explain how power and patronage operated in a stratified society
- Imperium Indivisum?: The Collapse of the West Roman Empire in the fifth century AD
What you learn (5)
- describe key political and military events of the fifth century AD
- combine textual and material evidence to reconstruct historical narratives
- analyse literary and legal texts to assess local effects of imperial policy
- relate fifth century history to broader patterns of imperial decline
- evaluate mechanisms through which political authority shifts over time
- Basic ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs for Honours
What you learn (8)
- translate Middle Egyptian hieroglyphic texts into English
- produce commentary reflecting on hieroglyphic text features
- situate funerary and royal texts within wider ancient Egyptian culture
- compare different funerary and royal text examples
- analyse key religious themes in studied ancient Egyptian texts
- analyse royal culture themes in studied ancient Egyptian texts
- interpret primary sources relating to ancient Egypt
- construct an argument supported by primary source evidence
- The Art of Divergence in Ancient Egypt (Hons)
What you learn (8)
- identify typical features of conventional Egyptian art
- contrast conventional and deviant styles in Egyptian art
- situate case studies within their cultural and chronological context
- discuss possible historical influences shaping case studies
- evaluate primary sources relevant to selected case studies
- evaluate secondary sources relevant to selected case studies
- reflect on the cultural impact of artworks that broke artistic norms
- present findings visually or orally using a poster or recorded talk
- Hellenistic Poetry
What you learn (6)
- produce detailed commentaries on Hellenistic poems
- explain the social and historical context of Hellenistic poetry
- explain the cultural context of Hellenistic poetry
- present original research findings in a scholarly written form
- analyse the relationship between literature and its historical setting
- analyse the relationship between literature and its cultural setting
- The Histories of Trans People (UG)
What you learn (10)
- identify historical precedents linked to current trans identities
- describe how historical gender categories shifted with social change
- describe how political and medical contexts shaped gender categories
- compare expressions of gender diversity across different cultures and eras
- analyse links between trans history and feminist theory
- analyse links between trans history and queer theory
- evaluate the value and limits of historical evidence on trans lives
- present evaluations of evidence orally and in writing
- reflect on the personal relevance of trans history
- reflect on the political significance of trans history
- Women and Power? The extraordinary women of the ancient world
What you learn (6)
- situate primary sources on ancient women within their cultural and temporal context
- compare evidence of ancient women across different cultures
- critique secondary sources' approaches to studying ancient women
- compare experiences of ancient women across cultures using key themes
- explain the legacies of notable ancient women
- present ancient and modern perceptions of notable ancient women
- Writing Ancient Women (Honours)
What you learn (7)
- analyse literary, historical and archaeological sources on ancient women
- evaluate the reliability and significance of these sources
- analyse modern fictional and non-fictional retellings of ancient women
- evaluate how modern retellings reinterpret ancient source material
- compose an original fiction or non-fiction retelling of an ancient woman
- formulate a personal scholarly argument on the reception of ancient sources
- present a reasoned argument clearly in academic writing
- Intermediate Greek for Honours 1
What you learn (6)
- translate continuous passages of unfamiliar Greek into English
- translate prescribed set text passages accurately into English
- use dictionaries and commentaries to interpret texts independently
- identify grammatical forms in prepared and unseen greek texts
- classify linguistic forms according to grammatical category
- relate greek texts to their historical and cultural background
- Intermediate Greek for Honours 2
What you learn (6)
- translate complex english sentences and passages into greek
- translate prescribed greek passages into english accurately
- use dictionaries and commentaries to read texts independently
- identify and categorise grammatical forms in greek texts
- evaluate the literary effect of language and metre in set texts
- assess the meaning and purpose of texts within their historical context
- Basic Greek For Honours 1
What you learn (3)
- translate simple greek sentences into idiomatic english
- identify the grammatical forms of words in simple greek sentences
- produce the correct inflected forms of greek words in given sentences
- Basic Greek For Honours 2
What you learn (4)
- translate simple and complex Greek sentences into idiomatic English
- produce correct inflected forms of Greek words and phrases
- translate an unseen passage of continuous Greek prose into English
- explain linguistic features found in prepared and unprepared Greek texts
- Advanced Greek for Honours
What you learn (4)
- translate ancient Greek texts of varied genres into idiomatic English
- analyse the syntax of diverse ancient Greek texts
- explain subtle meanings behind authors' word choices
- evaluate the stylistic features of ancient Greek texts
- Literature in Fragments (Greek)
What you learn (11)
- locate fragments using standard print and online collections and commentaries
- evaluate fragments as evidence for lost original works
- analyse how fragments function within their later quoting texts
- produce independent critical analysis of textual material
- collaborate with peers to build shared critical analysis
- construct clear scholarly arguments in written form
- articulate clear scholarly arguments orally
- present ideas clearly to a peer audience
- discuss presented ideas with peers
- translate selected greek fragments into english
- apply stylistic and linguistic features to interpret fragments methodically
- Intermediate Latin for Honours 1
What you learn (4)
- translate complex Latin sentences into idiomatic English using grammar knowledge
- translate unseen Latin prose passages into idiomatic English
- explain linguistic features found in seen and unseen Latin texts
- produce the correct inflected form of Latin words and phrases
- Intermediate Latin for Honours 2
What you learn (6)
- demonstrate competent use of latin vocabulary and grammar
- translate unseen literary latin passages into english
- translate simple english sentences into grammatical latin
- compose critical written analysis of set latin texts
- translate prepared passages from set texts using reference tools
- comment on prepared passages drawing on scholarly commentaries
- Basic Latin For Honours 1
What you learn (5)
- apply knowledge of basic Latin grammar and morphology to sentences
- apply specified Latin vocabulary in context
- translate simple Latin sentences into natural English
- identify the grammatical forms of words in simple Latin sentences
- produce the correct inflected forms of Latin words and phrases
- Basic Latin For Honours 2
What you learn (6)
- translate simple Latin sentences into idiomatic English
- translate complex Latin sentences into idiomatic English
- translate an unseen Latin prose passage into idiomatic English
- describe grammatical features found in familiar Latin texts
- describe grammatical features found in unfamiliar Latin texts
- produce accurate inflected forms of Latin words and phrases
- Advanced Latin for Honours
What you learn (4)
- translate latin passages from varied genres into fluent english
- analyse the grammatical structure of ancient latin texts
- explain subtle differences in word meaning chosen by latin authors
- evaluate the stylistic features present in latin texts
- The Novel in Antiquity (Latin)
What you learn (10)
- analyse set texts critically in written and oral assessments
- discuss set texts critically with peers and tutors
- situate the novels within their literary and cultural context
- relate the novels to their social context
- discuss intertextuality and narrative technique in the novels studied
- discuss social identity and gender representation in the novels studied
- evaluate modern scholarly approaches to the set texts
- critique secondary literature interpreting the novels
- translate Latin passages by Petronius and Apuleius into idiomatic English
- render stylistic nuances of Latin prose in English translation
“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.
After graduating
Where does it lead?
£25,500median pay three years after graduating
Lower quarter£20k
Median£26k
Upper quarter£31k
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 95 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 13, 23
Half of graduates earned between £20,000 and £31,000. Five years on, the median is £32,000. 81% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing; 60% of those in work were in professional or managerial jobs.
All outcome figures7
| Measure | Value | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Continue after year 18% left | 92% | 215 |
| In work or study, 15 months on7% studying | 81% | 70 |
| Professional or managerial job | 60% | 45 |
| Pay 15 months on, median | £28,000 | 30 |
| Pay 3 years on, median | £25,500 | 95 |
| Pay 5 years on, median | £32,000 | 120 |
National Student Survey 2025-26
What do students say?
69%agreed the course was good overall (question 26)
NSS — a yearly survey of final-year students at every UK university; 64% of this course’s final year answered. Small groups can swing a lot year to year.
National Student Survey, via Discover Uni · 200 students answered
Highest: 96% agreed on question 1; lowest: 53% on question 24.
All questions26
| Question | Agree |
|---|---|
| Question 1 | 96% |
| Question 2 | 91% |
| Question 3 | 86% |
| Question 4 | 85% |
| Question 5 | 89% |
| Question 6 | 85% |
| Question 7 | 82% |
| Question 8 | 74% |
| Question 9 | 73% |
| Question 10 | 77% |
| Question 11 | 80% |
| Question 12 | 77% |
| Question 13 | 75% |
| Question 14 | 68% |
| Question 15 | 92% |
| Question 16 | 85% |
| Question 17 | 81% |
| Question 18 | 85% |
| Question 19 | 84% |
| Question 20 | 94% |
| Question 21 | 90% |
| Question 22 | 86% |
| Question 23 | 78% |
| Question 24 | 53% |
| Question 25 | 75% |
| Question 26 | 69% |
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 Glasgow’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 Glasgow is a trade mark of the university; sch.today is independent of it.