BA (Hons)

Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies

VV14

Our Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies degree takes you on a highly engaging and fascinating adventure through time. From the Bronze Age to the Crusades and beyond, it’s an absorbing three-year journey exploring the archaeology and history of the British Isles, continental Europe and the Mediterranean.

Person in armour looking across to a group

Course overview

The course has a multidisciplinary approach to the human past, and is led by expert staff from one of Winchester’s leading teaching and research units, the School of Humanities. You can study subjects in Archaeology, Classical Studies and History that cover the Bronze Age to the medieval period, using stimulating and engaging teaching materials.

Year 1 provides a solid foundation in the theory and practice of both history and archaeology and places the ancient and medieval worlds within the broad sweep of human history, along with study skills, fieldwork methods, sources of information and material culture.
In Year 2, you focus on the history and archaeology of Britain, critically study historical sources and develop your research methods ahead of your third-year dissertation. You also choose one optional module in your second year. 
In Year 3, you will research and write your dissertation which may include both archaeological and historical evidence, as well as undertaking a Depth Study in History. Optional Year 3 modules may include Themes in European Prehistory; Rites, Religions and Ritual; Popular Culture in the Classical World or Comparative Studies in History.

What you need to know

Course start date

September

Location

Winchester campus

Course length

  • 3 years full-time
  • 6 years part-time

Apply

VV14

Typical offer

104-120 points

Fees

From £9,535 pa

Course features

  • Choose from a wide range of themes and periods
  • Develop deep theoretical and cultural knowledge and develop skills in analysis and research methods, sought after by employers in many industries
  • Combine historical and archaeological evidence in your studies to achieve a broad and fulfilling view of the past and explore the rich archaeological and historical heritage of Wessex

Course details

Placement

If you decide to complete an optional History Work/Volunteering Placement it may incur travel costs, which are dependent upon where you undertake the placement (if local it may be minimal, but costs go up when public transport is used to travel). You will have a say in where your placement is located.

Fieldtrips

You will have the option to participate in either a four day-long Archaeology or History field trip module in your second year of study. You can also take the Classical Studies summer school in either Greece or Rome between your second and third year (additional costs apply).

Study abroad

Our BA (Hons) Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies course provides an opportunity for you to study abroad in the United States of America or Canada.

For more information see our Study Abroad section.

Learning and Teaching

Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.

You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.

In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars etc.), you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.

Independent learning

Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.

While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.

Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*

Teaching, learning and assessment: 252 hours

Independent learning: 948 hours

Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*

Teaching, learning and assessment: 276 hours

Independent learning: 924 hours

Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*

Teaching, learning and assessment: 228 hours

Independent learning: 972 hours

*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.

Teaching hours

All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.

The University library is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Assessment

Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.

Percentage of the course assessed by coursework

The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:

Year 1 (Level 4)*:

75% coursework
25% written exams
0% practical assessment 

Year 2 (Level 5)*:

80% coursework
20% written exams
0% practical assessment 

Year 3 (Level 6)*:

62% coursework
15% written exams
23% practical assessment 

*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.

Feedback

We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.

Modules

Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions

Modules

The Archaeology of Past Societies and Cultures 30 Credits

This module provides a brief conspectus of the prehistoric and historical periods from the emergence of humans, the later development of complex societies and civilizations through to the present day. The world context is emphasised and the major developments in each period will be explored.  The module is illustrated throughout by case studies through which students can appreciate how ideas about these cultures have developed from the beginnings of antiquarian archaeology to the application of modern theory.  Key conceptual issues, such as exchange/trade, colonisation, political, religious and social developments, will be explained and discussed in relation to specific examples.

Archaeology: Methods, Approaches and Artefacts 30 Credits

This module forms an introduction to the principles and methods upon which the study of archaeology is based and explores a history of the development of the discipline, alongside a detailed background to the main categories of material culture that you might encounter on archaeological sites, including stone tools, pottery, coins, metalwork etc.

No prior knowledge of the subject is assumed or expected. You will learn about the historical emergence of archaeology as a distinct discipline from earlier antiquarian studies, alongside the development of excavation methodologies from rudimentary early work to modern, stratigraphic approaches. You will also learn about archaeological audiences, and our discipline’s engagement with the public. These thematic lectures are buttressed by the use of sessions looking at case studies of recent research projects within the Department in order to help draw together and assist understanding of the key themes.

 From a material culture perspective, you will learn about the technology behind these artefacts, and crucially how things that we make do not just have a simple function, but also encode important symbolic information as well. As the majority of archaeological material seen by the public is displayed within museums, you will also consider how material culture is displayed and presented within museums, and the choices made by curators about this.

By the end of this course you will understand the purpose and process behind archaeological excavation and the recovery of material culture, as well as the way humans make and give meaning to even the most mundane and everyday items.

Case Study in History 30 Credits

This module introduces students to the core skills required to study history successfully at degree level. History makes sense of the past by analysing surviving evidence. Such evidence is either secondary, which requires in-depth critical reading, or primary or original, which demands critical contextualisation and analysis. All such evidence has uses to the historian, not necessarily obvious, and all contains partiality, which historians are trained to overcome. Working in small groups with one staff member per group each Term, there will be a balance between developing awareness of these overarching core skills (such as conducting research and mastering referencing conventions) and a case study in which students work on academic reading connected to a particular topic. This intensive small group environment will help students adjust to degree-level historical study in the university environment and provide a venue for delivering other transitional and transferable skills.

Medieval Worlds 30 Credits

From the echoes of Rome to an era of kings and queens, the Middle Ages spanned a thousand years between the ancient and early modern worlds. This was a period of momentous change across Britain and Ireland, Europe and the wider world featuring the rise and fracture of multiple empires including Rome, Sassanid Persia, the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates, the Carolingians, the Angevins, the Seljuks and the Byzantines. It was often a period of warfare, but also one of closer diplomatic and economic links. Old imperial legacies and ideologies were repurposed and adapted to the circumstances of the era creating new systems of kingship and queenship. Shifting religions in this period could often lead to conflict, but also created new political entities and often supported cultural and intellectual expression. The period saw ecological disasters and pandemics, alongside experiments with popular power and representative institutions.

Modules

Theory and Research in Archaeology 30 Credits

This mandatory module develops and supports students in attaining important skillsets in critical thinking, analysis and academic writing for their extended dissertation project in year 3. The first section of the course concentrates on developing a critical awareness of key theoretical standpoints and positions in the humanities with special reference to archaeology and anthropology. The second section of the course leads students through the process of research design and the skills required to deliver their dissertation project.  

The Archaeology of Britain 30 Credits

This module will provide a broad introduction to the archaeology of Britain from prehistory to the contemporary period. Overall, it will consider the discipline of archaeology with reference to the material evidence including monuments, landscapes, buried remains, art and artefacts. Current issues, thematic and theoretical approaches, case-studies and field trips will comprise a central element of the module. This module will include local fieldtrips and conclude with a residential field school.

Sources in History 30 Credits

The study of history, and the understanding of a historical period and society, is dependent on the surviving remnants of the past that become the historian’s primary sources. This module introduces students to a range of source material, from traditional textual sources to visual and material culture. Students will work with a lecturer within their area of expertise to develop skills of source analysis and evaluation, examining the authorship and meaning of historical texts. Sources in History covers topics such as al-Andalus, Norman Sicily, English monasticism, the reign of King John, female historical writing, late medieval England, Papal-Imperial relations, the Global Middle Ages, the Early Modern period and the Golden Age of Spain, Early Tudor England, Early Modern London, Victorian and Edwardian societies, Imperial Japan, the British Raj, the Soviet Union, Nazism and the Holocaust, the American South, the Global Hispanic World, the social experience of war since the 18th century, Immigration Histories of Britain, and Post-War culture and society.

Optional

Optional Modules Credits

From Homer to Alexander: The Making of Classical & Hellenistic Greece 

This course runs from the end of the Late Bronze Age palace societies, the subsequent collapse of many aspects of material culture (‘The Dark Age’), through the gradual redevelopment of the city states during the Archaic period and the height of their power in the Classical period. It concludes with the cultural changes in the Hellenistic kingdoms, the legacy of the redrawn map of the Greek world following the conquests of Alexander the Great. The module is broadly chronological with themed topics of relevance (which may include city planning and public buildings, burial, trade, warfare, gender, slavery, religion, mythology and art), and seeks to connect the different parts of life (political, social and cultural) during this fascinating period through close analysis of both the material remains and the contemporary literary sources (including archaeological sites, art, architecture, historical events, historiography, and major literary works in poetry and drama).

Themes in History

The study of history demands the rigorous consideration of change over time or the continuity of key factors and forces. Understanding and analysing the social, cultural, economic, and political causes of transformation within and across periods is a vital historical skill and is fundamentally important across the study of the subject. This module provides an opportunity to examine changes to societies across a historical time. This may include medieval themes such as the Viking Age, Anglo-French warfare, the crusades, post-Carolingian rulership, feuds and justice, or food and drink. Early modern themes may incorporate the Renaissance court, English culture and society, or food and drink. Modern themes could include American slavery, high speed society, feminism in Britain, political violence in Europe, post-War Japan and America, British relations with Europe, the Soviet Union, and photography and society.                                                           

Modules

Extended Independent Study in Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies 30 Credits

This independent study module culminates in a c. 10,000 word dissertation for students studying on the BA Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies programme. It enables students to apply their knowledge of archaeological and historical theory and practice, in order to produce a piece of independent interdisciplinary research which shows clarity of expression, logical argument and creative thought. The dissertation content/subject matter must reflect their pathway.

Depth Study in History 30 Credits

Depth Study is the most detailed and exacting part of the taught programme where students are given the opportunity to work in depth with one tutor on a single specialist topic. Exploring the rich primary and secondary source material of a specialist area consolidates the skills and competencies of a historian developed throughout the duration of the degree. A variety of topic areas are offered for study each year, examples of which include: Pax Romana; modern reception of the classical world; the Wars of the Roses; civil war, revolution and republic in the British Isles; the United States and the Cold War; Japan at war and under occupation; the Italian Wars 1494-1516 and 1521-1559; genocide in history and memory; ruling England in the second Viking Age; the age of Napoleon; the post-war teenager in Britain; colonialism and its aftermath in north Africa and France; and the Anglo-Norman Civil War 1135-1154.

Optional

Optional Modules Credits

Themes in European Prehistory 

This module will involve an in-depth exploration of themes in prehistoric Europe. The study may cover the prehistory of Europe from the Palaeolithic period through the development of an agricultural economy across the continent in the Neolithic, and the end of the Iron Age and the spread of the Roman Empire, in line with available lecturing staff’s research expertise. Within this time period, key concepts, controversies and problems will be considered and methodologies analysed. Themes and topics of relevance may include art, trade and exchange, settlement, monuments, religion, and burial practices, and the module will be structured around the integration of different materials: archaeological, linguistic, anthropological, genetic and sociological evidence will all be considered.

Rites, Religions and Ritual 

This module examines the archaeological evidence for religion, ritual and belief, drawing on case-studies from a range of religious and spiritual traditions. Attention in particular will be paid to the links and contrasts between different classes of evidence from different periods and places, such as surviving monuments, artefacts, art, architecture and iconography. A fieldtrip to relevant archaeological site, monument or museum will form part of this module.

Comparative Studies in History

Comparative perspectives are vital for understanding the past. They prevent one society’s experiences of historical developments from being seen as typical. Comparisons highlight the various ways in which people have experienced historical change. In this module, students will explore historical issues across various countries, communities or cultures showing the numerous ways societies react to a broad range of issues. In doing so, students will develop a more rounded picture of continuity and change in different contexts. Comparative topics covered may include: popular protest throughout medieval Europe; the middle ages in computer games; chivalry and knighthood across medieval Europe; early modern witchcraft and supernatural beliefs in the British Isles, continental Europe and America; war crimes in Germany and Japan; memory of the Holocaust; ideologies in British and French colonial empires; and fascism in Italy and Spain.

Popular Culture in the Classical World: Leisure, Culture and Entertainment 

This module will focus on aspects of Greek and Roman cultural history including sports and games, pastimes, entertainment, comedy theatre, and other aspects of daily life from the point of the contemporary spectator and participant, contemporary commentary, and, where relevant, later reception and comparison. ‘Fun and games’ in antiquity tended to involve much more than ‘bread and circuses’ (panem et circes), one’s leisure activities were also indicative of social class and moral character. Themes explored might include the ritual origins of sport, festivals, and cultural activities as aspects of religious ritual and civic life; the political use of public sport or theatre as propaganda; and leisure and cultural activities as indicators of status, social/economic class, and moral character. Students may be tasked to compare and contrast traditions and attitudes across Greek and Roman contexts, review contemporary sources (both written and material), and to consider later reception of these activities, as well as engage with current scholarly approach and debate on the topic.

 

Entry requirements

104-120 points

Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:

  • A-Levels: BCC-BBB from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
  • BTEC/CTEC: DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
  • International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
  • T Level: Merit in a T Level

 

Additionally, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.

In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSE’s are required:

GCSE English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further.

If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on the UCAS website which may be of interest.

International points required

If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:

  • IELTS Academic at 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
  • We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT.

If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by contacting our International Recruitment Team via our International Apply Pages.

2025/6 Course Tuition Fees

  UK / Channel Islands /
Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland 

International

Year 1* £9,535 £16,700

Additional tuition fee information

*(UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland) £9,535 for the 25/26 academic year. Fees for future academic years will be determined in line with our Terms and Conditions. The fee is currently subject to a governmental fee cap for each academic year. It is our policy to charge tuition fees at the level of the cap set by the Government. If the cap set by the Government changes, then we may increase our Fees in line with governmental policy.

*(International) £16,700 for the 25/26 academic year. Fees for future academic years will be determined in line with our Terms and Conditions. We decide the annual level of increase of our Tuition Fees by taking into account a range of factors including the cost of delivering the course and change in governmental funding.

Remember, you don’t have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year.

UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £79.45 and a 15 credit module is £1,191. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £7,145

International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £139.14 and a 15 credit module is £2,087.

 

Additional costs

As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.

There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:

Mandatory

Books
Some modules require students to have access to books with an approximate cost of £100 if bought new over the course of a year (but texts can often be purchased at considerably reduced rates second hand). Mandatory modules might also require some core texts. Indicative cost: £150 per academic year.

Optional

Field trip
Students will have the option to participate in a three day-long residential archaeological field trip module in their second year of study. Indicative cost: £150. For the week-long History Fieldtrip in Year 2 - costs vary depending on location and number of students going on the trip. Indicative costs: £300-£700.

Dissertation work
Students working on dissertations in Year 3 may incur costs (mainly travel) of visiting archives, dependent upon the specific nature of the dissertation and availability of online resources for a specific subject. This would typically involve either travel to a local archive (e.g. Southampton, Portsmouth or further afield if the student chooses to study a locality away from Winchester) or a national archive, usually in London (the National Archive, the British Library, Women's Library). If the dissertation work is based in Winchester then costs will be far less.

Placement
If students decide to complete an optional History Work/Volunteering Placement, this may incur travel costs, which are dependent upon where the student undertakes the placement (if local it may be minimal, but costs go up when public transport is used to travel). Students will have a say in where their placement is located. Indicative costs: £0 - £300 dependent on location of placement and number of visits required.

SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS

We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To find out if you are eligible, see our Scholarships and Awards page.

CAREER PROSPECTS

Graduates have entered fulfilling historical and archaeological careers as teachers, in museums, heritage sites, archives and local authorities. However, the programme also provides a wide range of skills that are highly relevant to a number of other careers, such as conservation, education and the civil service. Our graduates are sought after by employers in all industries, who value their deep theoretical and cultural knowledge.

Pre-approved for a Masters

If you study a Bachelor Honours degree with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.

OUR CAREERS SERVICE
"I really enjoyed history at school and was particularly passionate about the ancient and medieval aspects. There's such a wide choice of modules at Winchester and you're able to specialise in the periods that interest you the most." Tim Lester, Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies

Come visit us

learn more

SEE OUR OPEN DAYS

View all
13 September 2025
11 October 2025
01 November 2025