Master of Arts
MA Classics and Ancient History
Overview
Course overview
Develop advanced expertise in the ancient world through flexible, multidisciplinary study tailored to your interests.
- Develop transferable skills in research, analysis, communication and problem-solving that support careers in fields such as heritage, education, the Civil Service, business and law.
- Learn in a city rich in cultural resources, and utilise unique university assets, such as The John Rylands Library, 野狼社区 Museum and The Whitworth throughout your studies.
- Shape your studies around your interests across ancient languages, literature, history, archaeology and culture, with opportunities to study Ancient Greek or Latin.
- Apply to attend the residential City of Rome unit hosted by the British School at Rome.
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Study at a university ranked in the UK top 10 for Classics and Ancient History (Guardian University Guide 2026) and the top 50 globally for Arts and Humanities (Times Higher Education 2026).
Open days
The University holds regular events throughout the year, including webinars and the annual on-campus Master's Expo, all of which offer the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses from our academic and admissions staff.
We also attend a number of education fairs both in the UK and overseas throughout the year.
For more details on how you can meet us, visit out events page
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Contact name
- PG Taught Admissions
- MASALC@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- School/Faculty overview
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Ranked joint-first in the UK for Classics Research - Research Excellence Framework 2021 See:
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We normally expect students to have a First or Upper Second class honours degree or its overseas equivalent in a聽humanities-based subject area.
English language
An overall grade of IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in writing and no skill below 6.5 is required or 100+ in the TOEFL iBT聽with a minimum writing score of 25 and no skill below 22.
If you have聽obtained a different聽qualification, please聽check our聽 聽to ensure that it is accepted and equivalent to the above requirements.
English language test validity
Fees and funding
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2027, the tuition fees are as follows:
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MA (full-time)
UK students (per annum): 拢14,400
International, including EU, students (per annum): 拢31,400
The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.
Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .
Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.
International student CAS deposit
Self-funded international applicants are required to pay a deposit of 拢2500 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. Some applicants will be required to pay a higher deposit. More information on tuition fee deposits .
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.
- Learn more about - student finance options for UK students.
- Learn more about - fees and finance for international students .
- Graduates of The University of 野狼社区 and 野狼社区 Metropolitan University can receive a 10% discount on their master's degree tuition fees as part of our 野狼社区 Alumni Loyalty Discount scheme.
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
The orm includes a personal statement section (maximum 500 words) for you to demonstrate your understanding of the subject and explain your motivation for applying to this programme. Also:
- If your academic background is not directly related to the programme, you must provide an academic-standard writing sample on a topic relevant to the field.
- If English is not your first language, you should submit an academic-standard writing sample in English that is directly related to the subject.
How your application is considered
Applications are mainly聽considered on the basis of an assessment of past and predicted academic achievements, the academic reference(s) and any other supplementary evidence that supports the application. Once we have an application that is ready for a decision, the admissions tutor (often the Programme Director) will relay the decision to the admissions team, who will send you this decision.
Please note that your application is usually received by the School 24 to 48 hours after the time you submit it. If聽you have not provided聽documentation that聽allows the admissions tutor聽to make聽a decision, we will contact you.
Overseas (non-UK) applicants
We accept a range of qualifications from different countries that equate to a UK聽2.1. For these and general requirements including English language see .
If English is not聽your first language,聽please provide us with聽evidence of:聽
- an overall grade 7.0 (with a minimum writing score of 7)聽in IELTS; or
- 100+ in the IBT Internet-based TOEFL).
The other language tests we accept can be found here:
Exceptions to聽needing a language test (if English is NOT your first language)聽are:
- if you have successfully completed an academic qualification deemed by UK NARIC as equivalent to at least a UK Bachelors Degree or higher from one of the following countries:
Antigua & Barbuda; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Ireland; Jamaica; New Zealand; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; UK; USA.
Deferrals
Applicants may defer entry for 12 months provided they contact聽 MASALC@manchester.ac.uk .
Please聽note that聽applicants are subject to the fees for the entry聽year they will聽start the course.
Re-applications
Course details
Course description
Our MA Classics and Ancient History is flexible and wide-ranging.
It reflects the broad, multidisciplinary nature of the subject, which includes Latin and Greek language, the history of Greek and Roman antiquity from archaic times to the beginning of the Middle Ages, and Greek and Roman literature, philosophy, and culture.
The course is designed to introduce you to advanced study in your chosen field, develop important transferable skills that are sought-after by employers, and equip you with the skills required for doctoral research.
The course and most units within it allow you to tailor your advanced study and research-preparation to your interests, needs and existing knowledge.
We also offer a specialist route through the MA, the City of Rome pathway. This pathway involves taking a course unit at the British School at Rome, for which you prepare by studying a course on Roman social and urban history.
We expect all students to study Greek or Latin at an appropriate level. However, no existing knowledge of Latin or Greek is required, and we welcome students who want to begin their study of the ancient languages during their MA.
For any queries related to the course, please contact .
Aims
On successful completion of this MA, you will be able to:
- demonstrate the enhancement of previously acquired skills at a more critical, reflective, and sophisticated level, especially skills involving synthesising information from a variety of sources, historical and/or literary interpretation, exercising independent and critical judgement;
- understand and respect the 'otherness' of the past by developing specialist knowledge about one or more aspect of Graeco-Roman civilisation;
- describe, analyse, and assess ancient sources, including (as appropriate) literary, non-literary, visual, and material evidence;
- design and complete a substantial piece of independent research;
- work effectively as an autonomous scholar;
- understand complex problems and communicate them clearly in oral and written form, with the help, where appropriate, of visual or graphic aids.
Special features
City of Rome pathway聽
You can take a specialist route through the MA, the City of Rome pathway.
This pathway involves taking a course unit at the British School at Rome, for which you prepare by studying a course on Roman social and urban history.
Teaching and learning
You will learn through a variety of teaching methods, depending on the units you take. These can include seminars, eLearning and one-to-one sessions.
Taught units involve at least 20 contact hours consisting of student-led and tutor-led discussion, guidance and planning sessions.
You may (with the permission of the Course Director) take a Directed Reading course unit (typically delivered in six 'classroom' hours). These units come in three slightly different forms: (1) a personalised independent study unit, on a topic of your choice, (2) an enhanced Level 3 course unit, in which you attend the scheduled lectures and seminars, but you receive additional seminars at a more advanced level, and (3) a small-group (3-6 students) independent study unit on a specific advertised topic. You must apply to the Postgraduate Course Director if you wish to be considered for one of these units.
Coursework and assessment
Taught units are usually assessed by extended essay, but assessment might also include oral presentations, conference posters, commentary exercises and (particularly for language units) formal examinations.
You will also write a dissertation of 12,000 words.
Course unit details
A master鈥檚 degree is formed of 180 credits. 120 of these credits are made up of a mix of mandatory and optional courses, and students take 60 credits in each semester.
The availability of individual course units may be subject to change. Information that is sent to you in August about registration onto the course will clearly state the course units that are available in the academic year ahead.
The remaining 60 credits are awarded through a compulsory research component in the form of a dissertation. Your dissertation must be within the area of expertise of one of our staff members and you will be assigned an academic dissertation-advisor who is experienced in your chosen field.
Our core unit, 'Studying the Ancient World: Techniques and Approaches',鈥痠ntroduces you to the key research questions and methods involved in advanced study of the discipline and, in Semester 2, gives you experience in developing and presenting your own research project.
Learning Latin or ancient Greek is an essential part of this programme. If you are a beginner, you will take one of our specially designed 'intensive' modules in Latin or Greek, which will put you in a position to start reading ancient texts in the original language before the end of your MA.
If you have already studied Greek or Latin, you will continue your study of one or both languages at an appropriate level.
We also offer a specialist route through the MA, the City of Rome pathway. This pathway involves taking a course unit at the British School at Rome, for which you prepare by studying a course on Roman social and urban history.
It is possible for one of these units to be an approved unit from another subject area (for example, History or Museology).
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAHE60070 | 60 | Mandatory | |
| CAHE60510 | 30 | Mandatory | |
| CAHE60001 | 15 | Optional | |
| CAHE60022 | 15 | Optional | |
| CAHE60052 | 15 | Optional | |
| CAHE60062 | 15 | Optional | |
| CAHE60222 | 30 | Optional | |
| CAHE60301 | 15 | Optional | |
| CAHE60462 | 15 | Optional | |
| CAHE64031 | 15 | Optional | |
| Displaying 10 of 27 course units | |||
| Display all course units | |||
Facilities
Of special significance for classicists and ancient historians are the impressive collections of papyri, medieval manuscripts and early printed books held at The John Rylands Library .
The library boasts 12,500 books printed between 1475 and 1640 (including the second largest collection of works printed by Caxton), and around 45,000 printed between 1641 and 1700.
The 野狼社区 Museum houses, one of the largest university museums in the UK, hosts several collection of particular relevance to ancient historians. These include Greek and Roman coins, archaeological Roman and Romano-British artefacts and the large Egypt & Sudan collection.
If you are interested in the reception of antiquity, The Whitworth Art Gallery houses large collections of historic art, textiles and wallpaper.
We have our own collection of classical texts, translations and reference works, housed in a recently refurbished study room, which is always available for use.
Find out more on the page.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
This non-vocational master's degree teaches and develops a wealth of transferable skills that are highly sought-after by employers, and enables students to keep a very wide range of career options open. These transferable skills include researching, collating and analysing materials, critically evaluation arguments, thinking creatively, problem-solving, formulate coherent arguments in writing and verbally, group-working, critically assessing information, thinking logically, resilience, ability to prioritise, meeting deadlines and managing your own workload, awareness and appreciation of cultural differences.
Recent graduates have gone into museum and cultural heritage work or teaching. Alternatively, you might wish to pursue a different profession using your relevant skills, perhaps joining the Civil Service or working in business, law, government or management.
Researcher, Editorial Assistant, Secondary School Teacher, Museum/Gallery curator, Archivist, Academic Librarian, Lecturer, Barrister, Accountant, Civil Service, Heritage Manager, Museum Education Officer, Market Researcher, Marketing Executive, Solicitor, Journalist. These, and many more, are professions that directly draw on the skills and expertise you develop during your MA Classics and Ancient History degree.
On the other hand, if you wish to continue with your research, a PhD in Classics and Ancient History may be the next logical step. We are happy to offer advice and dedicated mentoring to help you develop your PhD topic and funding proposal for submission to 野狼社区.
The University has its own dedicated that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At 野狼社区 you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of 野狼社区 is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the .
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of 野狼社区, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our .
