2026/27 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BA Ancient History and Philosophy

Programme overview

Programme code
BA-AHIS&PHIL
UCAS code
V150
Duration
3 Years
Method of Attendance
Full Time
Programme manager
Emma Stafford
Contact address
E.J.Stafford@leeds.ac.uk
Total credits
360
School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme
Languages, Cultures and Societies / Classics
Examination board through which the programme will be considered
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups
Classics and Ancient History (including Byzantine Studies and Modern Greek)
Philosophy

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

A joint honours degree allows you to study the same core topics as students on each single honours course, but you’ll take fewer optional modules so you can fit in both subjects. Classical texts are taught in translation, so you don’t need to have studied an ancient language. However, we offer Ancient Greek and Latin in every year of the degree if you want to learn or continue with either.

Students on this programme will benefit from contact with leading scholars in their field in both of the partner subjects. The Schools of PRHS and LCS are both internationally-recognised research leaders in their fields, with long-established reputations for excellence in research and teaching.

Ancient History offers you the chance to explore the Ancient Greeks and Romans and the people they envied and emulated, traded with and invaded through studying their literature, architecture, art, material culture and a range of other sources. You’ll study the civilisations of ancient Greece, Rome, Persia and beyond, and how they have been received and interpreted by other cultures. You’ll gain an understanding of life in these unique societies as they evolved, as well as developing your own interests through investigating the Athenian empire, Sparta and the Peloponnesian League, and Rome from Republic to Empire.

With philosophy at Leeds, you can explore fundamental questions about how we understand the world: what’s the difference between belief and knowledge? Why are we here? How do we know what we know – and can we ever know anything at all? Through core and optional modules you’ll learn how to construct arguments and study key topics such as ethics and logic, as well as specialist knowledge in topics from ancient and moral philosophy to the ethics of life and death, philosophy of language or aesthetics.

Throughout the course, you will develop valuable interpretative and analytical skills, as well as becoming a confident researcher. You will demonstrate these qualities in when you undertake a Final Year Project on a topic of your choice in either Philosophy or Ancient History.

Students on this programme may apply for transfer to an International Degree. The opportunity to apply for a work placement (Industrial Degree) is also available. Classics at Leeds has exchange links with Verona University (Italy) and modern language classes are available before you go to prepare you for the experience. There are also opportunities at our partner universities across the world where courses are taught in English.

At Level 3, all students will take a 40 credit capstone project appropriate to their degree programme. Alongside the capstone projects, students will be able to take 80 further credits of optional specialist modules.

Year 1

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS1615Greek Poets20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CLAS1625Roman Poets20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL1260How To Do Philosophy20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Optional Modules

Students will be required to study at least 20 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
PHIL1080The Good, The Bad, The Right, The Wrong20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL1090Knowledge, Self and Reality20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

The remaining 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 20 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
PHIL1005The Mind10Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL1007Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion10Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHIL1015Thinking About Race10Semester 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 the following optional module:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS1100Ancient Lives20Semester 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:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS1030Advanced Ancient Greek20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS1200Intermediate Ancient Greek20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS1810Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 1)20Semesters 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:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS1045Advanced Latin20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS1250Intermediate Latin20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS1910Beginners Latin20Semesters 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.

Discovery Modules

Students may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules.

Year 2

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

To be eligible for a joint honours award, students must pass at least 40 credits at level 2 and 40 credits at level 3 in each of the named subjects.

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory module:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS2800Evidence and Enquiry in Classics20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Optional Modules

Students will be required to study at least 20 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS2400Invisible Greeks and Romans20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CLAS2900Ancient Empires: Power and Control20Semester 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 at least 40 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
PHIL2615How Do You Know? Topics in Epistemology20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHIL2631God, Thought and the World: Topics in Philosophy of Religion20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL2906Do the Right Thing: Topics in Moral Philosophy20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHIL2915How to Live Together: Topics in Political Philosophy20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL2925Reality Check: Topics in Metaphysics20Semester 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 40 credits from the following optional modules. Not all modules in this list will run every year.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS2120Traversing Time: The Voyage of Argo20Not running in 202627
CLAS2125Writing Love in the Ancient World20Not running in 202627
CLAS2220Classical Receptions in the Brotherton Archives and Special Collections20Not running in 202627
CLAS2450Screening Antiquity20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CLAS2595Heroines: Representations of Mythological Women from Antiquity to the Present20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CLAS2750Happiness and the Good Life in the Greek and Roman Worlds20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CLAS2760Thinkers and Storytellers: Myth and Reason in the Ancient World20Not running in 202627
CLAS2790Greek Tragedy20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CLAS2924Ancient Comedy20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CLAS2925The Ancient Novel20Not running in 202627
MODL2045From Inferno to the world. Reading Dante’s Divine Comedy in a global context20Semesters 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 from the following optional modules. Not all modules in this list will run every year.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS2255The Worlds of Alexander the Great20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CLAS2352The World of Herodotus20Not running in 202627
CLAS2390The Rise of Rome: Myth and History20Not running in 202627
CLAS2420Augustus and his Legacy20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CLAS2650The Image of Sparta20Not running in 202627
CLAS2680Greek Art and Society20Not running in 202627
CLAS2740Greek Religion20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CLAS2890The City in the Roman World20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CLAS2926A Water History of the Ancient World20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS2927Time, Space and Place in the Greek and Roman Worlds20Not 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:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS2200Intermediate Ancient Greek (Level 2)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS2810Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 2)20Semesters 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:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS2260Intermediate Latin (Level 2)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS2910Beginners Latin (Level 2)20Semesters 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.

Discovery Modules

Students may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules.

Year 3

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

To be eligible for a joint honours award, students must pass at least 40 credits at level 2 and 40 credits at level 3 in each of the named subjects.

Optional Modules

Students will be required to study ONE of the following modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS3200Major Research Project40Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
PRHS3000Independent Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science40Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
PRHS3001Integrated Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science40Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

If CLAS3200 is taken, students will be required to study at least 40 credits from the following optional modules (Baskets A and B); if either PRHS3000 or PRHS3001 is taken, students may study up to 40 credits from Baskets A and B:

BASKET A Generalist

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
PHIL3011Philosophy of Language20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL3012Ancient Philosophy20Not running in 202627
PHIL3015Non-Western Philosophy20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL3125Continental Philosophy20Not running in 202627
PHIL3322Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHIL3700Feminist Philosophy20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHIL3723War, Terror and Justice20Semester 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.

BASKET B Applied

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
HPSC3113History and Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHIL3013Bioethics20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL3016Philosophy of Work and Play20Not running in 202627
PHIL3310Philosophy of Sex and Relationships20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL3855Philosophical Issues in Technology20Semester 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.

If either PRHS3000 or PRHS3001 is taken, students will be required to study at least 40 credits from the following optional modules (Baskets 1-4); if CLAS3200 is taken, students may study up to 40 credits from Baskets 1-4:

Basket 1: students may study up to 40 credits from the following. Not all modules in this list will run every year.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS3001Ancient Comedy20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CLAS3002The Ancient Novel20Not running in 202627
CLAS3003Thinkers and Storytellers: Myth and Reason in the Ancient World20Not running in 202627
CLAS3005Happiness and the Good Life in the Greek and Roman Worlds20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CLAS3007Writing Love in the Ancient World20Not running in 202627
CLAS3120Traversing Time: The Voyage of Argo20Not running in 202627
CLAS3220Classical Receptions in the Brotherton Archives and Special Collections20Not running in 202627
CLAS3450Screening Antiquity20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CLAS3595Heroines: Representations of Mythological Women from Antiquity to the Present20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3045From Inferno to the world. Reading Dante’s Divine Comedy in a global context20Semesters 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.

Basket 2: students may study up to 40 credits from the following. Not all modules in this list will run every year.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS3004A Water History of the Ancient World20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS3006Time, Space and Place in the Greek and Roman Worlds20Not running in 202627
CLAS3150The Worlds of Alexander the Great: From Pella to Punjab20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
CLAS3352The World of Herodotus20Not running in 202627
CLAS3390The Rise of Rome: Myth and History20Not running in 202627
CLAS3420Augustus and his Legacy20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CLAS3650The Image of Sparta20Not running in 202627
CLAS3680Greek Art and Society20Not running in 202627
CLAS3740Greek Religion20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
CLAS3890The City in the Roman World20Semester 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.

Basket 3: students may study up to 20 credits from the following:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS3230Intermediate Ancient Greek (Level 3) 20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS3815Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 3)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS3835Advanced Ancient Greek20Semesters 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.

Basket 4: students may study up to 20 credits from the following:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
CLAS3260Intermediate Latin (Level 3)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS3915Beginners Latin (Level 3)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS3935Advanced Latin20Semesters 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.

Discovery Modules

Students may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules.

Last updated: 07/05/2026 16:55:57

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team