Ancient Civilisations Distance learning (MA)

The MA in Ancient Civilisations is a unique programme, which is available both on campus and as a distance learning degree.

This offers students interested the ancient world the opportunity to study various aspects of the history, archaeology, and culture of diverse ancient civilisations from ancient Egypt to Mesopotamia, from Classical Greece and Rome to ancient China, from the Bronze Age Aegean to the Celts of western Europe.

Why choose this course?

• If you would like to learn more about the archaeology, history and religion of diverse cultures of the ancient world beyond Greece and Rome, this programme is ideal for you.
• You’ll be able to choose from a wide range of topics taught by experienced university lecturers who are specialists in their fields.
• Flexibility in learning: the MA is available both on campus and as a distance learning course. You can choose to study from the comfort of your own home using our VLE (virtual learning environment) and the course content and reading material we provide or in a more traditional classroom environment (also supported by VLE).
• You’ll have the opportunity to explore ancient Egyptian religion, the Neolithic and Bronze Age of the Near East, Chinese religion, the Celts, the art of Mesopotamia and the Near East, as well as the important civilisations of Greece and Rome, and will learn how to debate various interpretations of the past that have been put forward by archaeologists, ancient historians, and other scholars.
• You’ll gain research skills which will be a sound basis for further study, as well as a range of important skills which can be easily transferred to the workplace.

Course Overview

This unique multidisciplinary masters degree allows students to study a wide variety of subjects drawing from the following fields: Near Eastern and Aegean Archaeology, Ancient History, Egyptology, Celtic Studies, Chinese Studies, the Old Testament, gender studies, religion, and iconography.

No previous knowledge of the ancient world is required for this programme, drawing as it does from a variety of different disciplines and intellectual approaches.

In Part One each module is worth 30 credits and in addition to the compulsory module HPAH7011 Theory and Methodology students have a choice from the list of optional modules noted below (one of which has to be drawn from the first three modules).

In Part Two students are given the opportunity to research in detail a topic which has particularly appealed to them and write an extended dissertation (for 60 credits). They will be allocated a supervisor to help guide them through their dissertations.

Career Opportunities

This programme is ideal for those who want to learn more about the ancient world, but there are also some more practical module choices to help students improve their job prospects.

Many of the students who undertake the course on a part-time basis are already in employment and wish to gain a postgraduate qualification as a possible means to promotion or change of job role.

Former students include journalists, writers, storytellers, teachers, lecturers, editors and people who work in the tourist or heritage industries.

Good first degree in a relevant subject