Ancient History and English BA

Ancient History offers you the chance to explore the Ancient Greeks and Romans, and the people they envied and emulated, traded with and invaded, through the study of their literature, architecture, art, material culture and a range of other sources. You’ll combine core and optional modules to gain an understanding of life in these unique societies as they evolved, as well as developing your own interests through investigating the ‘Athenian empire’, Sparta and the Peloponnesian League, and Rome from Republic to Empire.

You’ll explore the full range of poetry, prose and drama in English, from Old English and medieval literature to contemporary writing from around the world. Core modules will give you a thorough grounding in the development of literature in English over time, while optional modules enable you to develop specialist knowledge of topics that interest you. From Arthurian legends or Shakespeare to postcolonial fiction, there’s plenty to choose from.

Explore our libraries

Leeds has plenty of useful resources for Ancient History and English students. The world-class Brotherton Library holds a wide variety of manuscript, archive and early printed material in its Special Collections. Our other library resources are also excellent, and the University Library offers a full training programme to help you make the most of them.

Take a look around our libraries:

Brotherton Library
Laidlaw Library
Edward Boyle Library

A joint honours degree allows you to study the same core topics as students on each single honours course, but you’ll take fewer optional and discovery modules so you can fit in both subjects. You’ll also undertake a major research project in either subject in your final year.

This combination will allow you to explore how ancient concepts, ideas, events, art, architecture and literature continue to influence modern culture.

Ancient History core modules will introduce you to the major events and trends that affected the Ancient Greek and Roman worlds, and you’ll also have the chance to learn or continue with Latin or Ancient Greek. In your first year you’ll also choose from core English modules exploring poetry, prose and drama through time.

You’ll go on to deepen your knowledge of ancient political systems, societies and cultures, and broaden your understanding of theoretical approaches to ancient sources. You’ll also develop your knowledge and skills through a choice of core modules focusing on different literary periods from the medieval period to today.

We offer an exceptionally wide range of optional modules, enabling you to specialise in the periods, regions, genres, or themes that interest you most, exploring diverse topics from across the classical world, revealing the complex nuances of these fascinating societies.

Classical texts are taught in translation, so you don’t need to have studied an ancient language. However, we offer Ancient Greek and Latin in every year of the degree if you want to learn or continue with either.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

The University offers a variety of tailored support for Ancient History and English students; the University Library runs free classes and workshops to help you make the most of our resources.

Our tutors are experts in their fields, and their teaching is informed by their own cutting-edge research.

We use a range of teaching methods to help you benefit from their expertise, including lectures, seminars, tutorials or occasionally workshops. However, independent study is also central to this degree since it allows you to develop your skills in research and analysis. You’ll be able to apply your skills and knowledge in a Final Year Research Project on a topic of your own choice.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

While we usually use a mixture of exams and essays, you may also be assessed on oral presentations or group work in some modules. We work hard at Leeds to make other innovative and inclusive assessment options available too. Our aim is to make sure you develop skills not only in your chosen subjects, but also ones which you can take into your future career.

Support will be on hand throughout your time at Leeds – for example, you’ll be able to attend extra classes on exam technique, structuring an essay and public speaking.

We offer support in these areas as well – for example, we run extra classes on skills such as public speaking, structuring essays and exam technique that you’ll be able to attend throughout your time at Leeds.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAB including A in English.

Other course specific tests:

• Access to HE Diploma

  Pass diploma with 60 credits overall, including at least 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. The Access course must include English modules. An interview and a piece of written work may also be required.

• BTEC

  We will consider this qualification in combination with other qualifications. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

• Cambridge Pre-U

  D3, M1, M1 including D3 in English.

• International Baccalaureate

  35 points overall with 16 at Higher Level including 6 in English at Higher Level

• Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)

  H2, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3 including H2 in English

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  AB in Advanced Highers including A in English and AABBB in Highers, or A in English in Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers

• Welsh Baccalaureate

  The Welsh Baccalaureate is not typically included in the academic conditions of an offer made to you for this course. If you choose to undertake the Welsh Baccalaureate we would strongly encourage you to draw upon these experiences within your personal statement, as your qualification will then be taken into account both when your application is initially considered by the selection panel and again when reviewed by the admissions tutor at the time your A-level results are passed to us.

• Other Qualifications

  European Baccalaureate: 80% including 85% in English.

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds offer: BBB including English at A Level and pass Access to Leeds.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

Read our guidance about applying.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2024

Fees

UK: See fees section below

International: £20,750 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 are available on individual course pages. Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024.

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Careers support

A degree in Ancient History and English crosses disciplines and gives you a wide range of knowledge and skills.

You’ll be capable of researching complex topics independently and thinking critically about information from different sources. You’ll be analytical and have highly developed communication skills. You’ll also have organisational and time management skills. In addition, studying for a joint honours degree allows you to become intellectually versatile as you switch between different disciplines.

Graduates from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures go on to a wide range of careers, including publishing, the armed forces, journalism, law, curatorship, the civil service, advertising and marketing, education, business and finance and the charity sector. Some of our graduates choose to progress onto postgraduate study.

We do everything we can to help prepare you for your career. Student-run career groups allow you to get together with other students who share your career ambitions, while you could also become a peer mentor under our scheme or apply for one of the internships the School offers every year.

You can read more about the range of careers our Ancient History and English graduates progress into, as well as the support we offer you throughout your degree.

The School of Languages, Cultures and Societies careers and employability support includes promoting internships, providing opportunities to work for the School and employer-led workshops and events.

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.

Study abroad

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. We have over 300 University partners worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America. 

Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

Classics at Leeds has exchange links with Verona University (Italy) and modern language classes are available before you go to prepare you for the experience. There are also opportunities at our partner universities across the world where courses are taught in English.

Work placements

Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.

Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.

A work placement year is a popular choice with our students as it provides an opportunity to gain invaluable work experience as part of your degree. Hannah spent a year working for an integrated marketing group. As with study abroad, you don't have to decide whether to pursue this before you come to Leeds.

You'll apply for the work placement year when you are already here and settled into your degree. If you are successful, you'll work in a graduate-level role and return to Leeds to complete your final year.