This programme will allow students to explore the political, cultural and social histories of the ancient world, focussing on the likes of Persia, Alexander the Great, Sparta, the Athenian empire, the Hellenistic Kingdoms and the Roman Republic and Empire. It will also investigate the reception of ancient events, peoples and cultures up to the present day. The subject likewise has broad geographical limits: it covers the entire area eventually occupied by the Roman empire, from Britain in the north-west to Mesopotamia in the south-east, from the countries of the Rhine and Danube rivers in central Europe to the whole northern edge of Africa. Students will also have the opportunity to draw on the wider expertise of the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies in the ancient world beyond Greece and Rome.
Students will find out who both the great and the ordinary ‘invisible’ people of antiquity were, what the most impactful events were in the ancient world, as well as evaluating what evidence is available to us, what is lost, and what was never recorded in the first place. This programme will therefore enable students to develop skills in theoretical approaches, such as historiography, critical thinking and reasoning, material culture analysis, awareness of comparative thoughts and practices, and intercultural understanding.
The programme begins with structured foundational study across a number of compulsory modules in core fields within the discipline, including the politics and societies of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, archaeology, and life writing. At level 2, core modules will enable students to develop an understanding of a range of imperial regimes in the classical world and the lived experiences of the great majority of the ordinary ‘invisible’ inhabitants of the ancient world who are under-represented in our literary sources. The core module Evidence and Enquiry will enable students to develop and enhance their subject-specific skills and transferable research skills to prepare them for independent research at level 3 with the help and guidance of an academic supervisor. The programme then offers a high degree of module choice at levels 2 and 3. Students are exposed to a broad range of different fields of study within the discipline, innovative assessment methods (e.g. blogs, creative writing pieces, wikis, portfolio work, online discussion forums, student surveys, posters, computer exercises) and a considerable element of research-based learning culminating in a compulsory independent research project of their choice at level 3.
The School of Language, Cultures and Societies is an internationally-recognised research leader, with long established reputations for excellence in researching and teaching the ancient world. Leeds also has first-rate library and IT facilities, of which students are encouraged to make the fullest use, and plenty of useful resources specifically for Ancient History students. Aside from a huge array of scholarly material on the subject, the world-class Brotherton Library holds a wide variety of manuscripts, archive and early printed material, coins and other materials from the ancient world in its Special Collections, some of which students on this programme will explore in dedicated practical sessions. The University Library offers a comprehensive training programme to help you make the most of Library resources.
Students on this programme may apply for transfer to an International Degree. Those students who are accepted may participate in one of our exchange schemes or go to one of a range of universities with which the University of Leeds has established links. The opportunity to apply for a work placement degree involving a year in industry is also available.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS1100 | Ancient Lives | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS1300 | The Greek World: an Introduction | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS1400 | The Roman World: An Introduction | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS1650 | Introduction to Classical Archaeology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
The remaining 40 credits may be taken either as Discovery credits, or as choices from the optional modules listed below, or as a combination of both.
Students may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS1615 | Greek Poets | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS1625 | Roman Poets | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL1070 | World Histories | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS1030 | Advanced Ancient Greek | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS1200 | Intermediate Ancient Greek | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS1810 | Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 1) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS1045 | Advanced Latin | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS1250 | Intermediate Latin | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS1910 | Beginners Latin | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Students will be required to study the following compulsory module:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2800 | Evidence and Enquiry in Classics | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Students will be required to study at least 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2400 | Invisible Greeks and Romans | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS2600 | Virgil's Aeneid | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS2700 | Homer's Iliad | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS2900 | Ancient Empires: Power and Control | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it
Students will be required to study 20 credits, and may study up to 60 credits, from the following optional modules. Not all modules in this list will run every year.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2255 | The Worlds of Alexander the Great | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS2352 | The World of Herodotus | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS2390 | The Rise of Rome: Myth and History | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS2420 | Augustus and his Legacy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS2650 | The Image of Sparta | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS2680 | Greek Art and Society | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS2740 | Greek Religion | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS2890 | The City in the Roman World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS2926 | A Water History of the Ancient World | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS2927 | Time, Space and Place in the Greek and Roman Worlds | 20 | Not running in 202627 |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules. Not all modules in this list will run every year.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2120 | Traversing Time: The Voyage of Argo | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS2125 | Writing Love in the Ancient World | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS2220 | Classical Receptions in the Brotherton Archives and Special Collections | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS2450 | Screening Antiquity | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS2595 | Heroines: Representations of Mythological Women from Antiquity to the Present | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS2750 | Happiness and the Good Life in the Greek and Roman Worlds | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS2760 | Thinkers and Storytellers: Myth and Reason in the Ancient World | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS2790 | Greek Tragedy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS2924 | Ancient Comedy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS2925 | The Ancient Novel | 20 | Not running in 202627 |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2200 | Intermediate Ancient Greek (Level 2) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS2810 | Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 2) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS2260 | Intermediate Latin (Level 2) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS2910 | Beginners Latin (Level 2) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules. Students may take no more than a total of 60 discovery credits offered by other programmes of study over Levels 2 and 3.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Students will be required to study the following compulsory module:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS3200 | Major Research Project | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Students will be required to study 20 credits, and may study up to 80 credits, from the following optional modules. Not all modules in this list will run every year.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS3004 | A Water History of the Ancient World | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3006 | Time, Space and Place in the Greek and Roman Worlds | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS3150 | The Worlds of Alexander the Great: From Pella to Punjab | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS3352 | The World of Herodotus | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS3390 | The Rise of Rome: Myth and History | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS3420 | Augustus and his Legacy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS3650 | The Image of Sparta | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS3680 | Greek Art and Society | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS3740 | Greek Religion | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS3890 | The City in the Roman World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students will be required to study 20 credits, and may study up to 80 credits, from the following optional modules. Not all modules in this list will run every year.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS3001 | Ancient Comedy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS3002 | The Ancient Novel | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS3003 | Thinkers and Storytellers: Myth and Reason in the Ancient World | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS3005 | Happiness and the Good Life in the Greek and Roman Worlds | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| CLAS3007 | Writing Love in the Ancient World | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS3120 | Traversing Time: The Voyage of Argo | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS3220 | Classical Receptions in the Brotherton Archives and Special Collections | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| CLAS3450 | Screening Antiquity | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS3595 | Heroines: Representations of Mythological Women from Antiquity to the Present | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| CLAS3790 | Greek Tragedy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS3230 | Intermediate Ancient Greek (Level 3) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3815 | Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 3) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3835 | Advanced Ancient Greek | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAS3260 | Intermediate Latin (Level 3) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3915 | Beginners Latin (Level 3) | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| CLAS3935 | Advanced Latin | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules. Students may take no more than a total of 60 discovery credits over Levels 2 and 3.
Last updated: 07/05/2026 14:51:07
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