Oxford – History (Ancient and Modern)

Oxford sets the year AD 284 as the split between the ancient and modern worlds. This course allows students to take options that cover before and after this year, covering the Bronze Age Mediterranean and Near East, all the way through to the present day. In total, there are over 90 options available to study. Less than a tenth of the size of its sister course History, the average intake is just 20 a year.

Structurally, the course is similar to that of History, except Ancient and Modern History students take a paper in Greek or Roman History instead of one on British History in their first year, and in their final year, students take a Classical History paper instead of a modern paper. First year undergraduates may study a text-based paper on Herodotus or Sallust or they could study Historiography. In the second and third years, students may study Athenian democracy or Art in the Roman Empire along with modern European and or World History. Students get a lot of personal choice.

It is not required to study Latin or Greek, but the course offers these languages from beginner or intermediate level. Having a grasp of these languages means that more options for papers are available throughout the course of the degree. Oxford is home to the specialist Ancient History Sackler Library, as well as the History Faculty Library and the Weston Library. College libraries are usually also very well stocked for history students.

It is recommended to study History at A Level or equivalent but not a requirement.