BA Ancient History and Archaeology with Foundation Year

This four-year degree programme offers a unique combination of ancient history and archaeology, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the ancient world. The foundation year is designed to help students develop the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the programme, including critical thinking, research, and writing. Students will have the opportunity to explore topics such as classical civilisations, mythology, religion, and material culture, while also developing their understanding of historical sources and methods. This course is ideal for students who are passionate about ancient history and archaeology and want to pursue a career in these fields.

Additional Information

Students have the opportunity to participate in excavations and fieldwork trips, gaining hands-on experience of ancient sites and artefacts. The department has strong links with museums and cultural institutions, providing students with access to unique resources and opportunities for internships and placements. Graduates of this programme have gone on to pursue successful careers in fields such as archaeology, museum curation, and historical preservation.

Discover the rich history and culture of ancient civilisations at Birkbeck University of London.

Birkbeck University of London is a world-renowned institution with a long history of excellence in the humanities. The department of History, Classics and Archaeology is particularly distinguished, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary research and teaching. Students at Birkbeck have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including the Birkbeck Library and the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology. The university's central London location provides easy access to cultural institutions, libraries, and archaeological sites, offering students a unique learning environment.

Our BA Ancient History and Archaeology with Foundation Year allows you to combine and pursue your interests in the history and archaeology of the ancient world. We will equip you to study the Greek and Roman past through both textual and archaeological evidence, from Greek pottery to Roman inscriptions, ancient cities to classical authors. You will acquire critical and analytical skills, utilizing the full range of evidence that survives from the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. You will study a broad chronological and geographical sweep, with topics including the rise of the Greek city-states, Classical Athens, the foundations of the Roman Empire, the transformation of the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity, and the Byzantine Empire from the foundation of Constantinople to the medieval period. The study of archaeology develops the ability to understand how people lived, acted, and thought in the past. You will learn the essential analytical techniques of archaeology to develop your understanding of the relationship between theory and practice in the interpretation of material remains. Practical archaeological experience is a key element of this degree. This course is ideal if you are interested in understanding the ancient past through peoples relationships with words, texts, objects, buildings, and places. We will give you access to a wide range of textual, graphical, and material evidence and develop your ability to interpret and process that data. We will also encourage you to question accepted histories, so you can construct and present convincing historical and archaeological arguments using texts, images, and material objects and remains as evidence.

112-128 points, A-levels: BBC-ABB, C or grade 4 GCSE-level English and mathematics