Ancient and Medieval History Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Venture back to the roots of modern societies in this degree spanning Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Asia.

* How did people in the past live, work, trade and relax? Taught through a blend of literature, history and archaeology, you'll explore the transformation of the ancient world over several millennia as medieval societies such as the Vikings and the Byzantine Empire emerged.

* Study at the crossroads of history, archaeology and literature. You’ll pursue your passion for the past across a wide variety of periods, places, themes, and cultures, supported by renowned experts in a city ripe for historical exploration.

Department activities

Explore the ancient world and its effects on present day through fascinating optional modules in Ancient History, Archaeology, Heritage and Digital Humanities. Paired with expert knowledge and access to archives and texts, our degree offers you a wealth of resources.

* Delve into primary sources that have survived to the modern day – you'll receive teaching in our on-campus Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology Museum.

* Enhance your professional development with our exciting work placement opportunities with prestigious organisations including Birmingham Museums and the National Trust.

* Learn an ancient language with optional modules in Classical Greek, Latin and Ancient Egyptian.

* Explore on-campus museums and galleries including the Lapworth Museum of Geology, Winterbourne House and Garden, and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts – all free to students.

* Access our exceptional resources, including the Cadbury Research Library, consisting of over 200,000 rare books dating from 1471, as well as the Library of Birmingham, Europe’s largest regional library.

* Culture Forward brings the University, City, and region's cultural and community organisations into closer and more creative collaborations. Opportunities for students range from workshops and talks to exhibitions and performances, and from research projects to student work experience programmes.

12th in the UK Complete University Guide 2027

68th globally QS World Rankings 2027

Additional (Intercalated) Year Options

Make the most of Birmingham's connections to industry with a Year in Industry, where you can work alongside the pros and gain invaluable work experience. Get ready for global opportunities and learn a new language (or two) on our Year in Modern Languages, or learn to lead and make a difference on our Year in Civic Leadership. There’s also the option to add a Year Abroad to your degree, which you can spend living and studying with a partner university of your choice (subject to approval).