BA (Hons) Ancient History with Philosophy · RHULBachelor's degree · 3 years
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Royal Holloway, University of London · Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Ancient History with Philosophy Bachelor's degree at Royal Holloway, University of London

BA (Hons) Ancient History with Philosophy at RHUL. The university, founded in 1879, is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and this course holds Silver status in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023).

BA (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
82%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

Combines the study of the ancient Greek and Roman world with the exploration of fundamental questions about how we understand the world. From the provider’s course page.

BA (Hons) Ancient History with Philosophy is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at RHUL, based in Egham Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.

For History graduates from this provider, 82% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 44% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £27,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for History, see the sections below.

Course evidence score

The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.

8.8
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent89

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Excellent82

Moderate evidence Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 82% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Exceptional92

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 92% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Curriculum & modules

Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.

Year 1 5 modules
  • Greek History and the City StateCore
    Module details

    In this module you will develop an understanding of the Greek World in the Classical Period. You will look at the key events in Greek History from 580 to 323 BC and place these in their historical context. You will consider historical problems and critically examine information and accounts set out in the Greek sources as well as in the works of modern historians. You will analyse a range of sources materials, including inscription, historiography and oratory, and develop an awareness of potenti

  • Key Themes in Roman HistoryCore
    Module details

    In this module you will develop an understanding of the development of Roman politics and society over the extended period of Roman history, from early Rome through to the emergence of the Medieval World. You will look at the chronology and development of Rome, examining key themes in the interpretation of particular periods of Roman history, including the rise and fall of the Republic and the Imperial Monarchy. You will consider the difficulties and methological issues in the interpretation of

  • Studying Classical AntiquityCore
    Module details

    In this module you will develop an understanding of how different classical disciplines interrelate. You will focus on specific academic skills such as avoiding plagiarism, approaching and evaluating a range of ancient evidence, using library and other resources, critically evaluating modern scholarship and theoretical approaches, and relating academic study to employability.

  • Introduction to Modern PhilosophyCore
    Module details

    The 'new philosophy' of the seventeenth century set the modern philosophical agenda by asking fundamental questions concerning knowledge and understanding and the relation between science and other human endeavours, which subsequently became central to the European Enlightenment. This module aims to familiarise you with the origins of empiricist and rationalist/idealist thought, focussing on the work of Descartes and Locke. The module will enable you to develop your close reading skills, and wil

  • Introduction to Ancient PhilosophyCore
    Module details

    In this module you will develop an understanding of ancient philosophical ideas and the ways in which philosophical arguments are presented and analysed. You will look at the thought and significance of the principal ancient philosophers, from the Presocratics to Aristotle, and examine sample texts such as Plato's 'Laches' and the treatment of the virtue of courage in Aristotle, 'Nicomachean Ethics' 3.6-9.

Year 3 15 modules
  • Extended Essay (Dissertation)Core
    Module details

    The Extended Essay is a unit of independent study under the supervision of a member of staff. Students are required to write a long essay of 8,000 to 10,000 words.

  • Gender in Classical AntiquityOptional
  • Greek Law and LawcourtsOptional
  • AugustusOptional
  • The Roman Republic: A Social and Economic HistoryOptional
  • The Rise of the Roman Empire: An Economic and Social historyOptional
  • Alexander the GreatOptional
  • The City from Augustus to Charlemagne: The Rise and Fall of CivilisationOptional
  • Modern European Philosophy 1: Husserl to HeideggerOptional
  • Modern European Philosophy 2: Critical Theory and HermeneuticsOptional
  • Philosophy and the ArtsOptional
  • The Varieties of ScepticismOptional
  • The Philosophy of ReligionOptional
  • Philosophy and LiteratureOptional
  • The Good Life in Ancient PhilosophyOptional
Year 2 5 modules
  • The Rise and Fall of the Roman RepublicOptional
    Module details

    The Roman Republic occupies a special place in the history of Western civilisation. From humble beginnings beside the river Tiber, the Romans expanded to dominate the classical world. Their armies defeated Carthage and the successors of Alexander the Great, and brought all the surrounding peoples under Roman rule. Yet the triumph of the Republic was also its tragedy. Political and socio-economic crisis plunged Rome into a descending spiral of civil war as rival warlords struggled for supremacy,

  • Rome and its Empire from Augustus to CommodusOptional
    Module details

    For almost half a millennium, the Roman empire ruled over the ancient Mediterranean world. This module surveys the golden years of imperial Rome, from the achievement of sole rule by the first emperor Augustus (31 BC - AD 14) to the murder of Commodus (the white-clad emperor from Gladiator) in AD 192. At its peak, Rome's empire spanned from Hadrian's Wall in Britain south to North Africa and east to Syria, enclosing the Mediterranean Sea within a single dominion. We analyse the political, social

  • Greek History to 322 BCOptional
    Module details

    In this module you will develop an understanding of the Greek World in the Classical Period. You will look at the key events in Greek History from 580 to 322 BC and place these in their historical context. You will consider historical problems and critically examine information and accounts set out in the Greek sources as well as in the works of modern historians. You will analyse a range of sources materials, including inscription, historiography and oratory, and develop an awareness of potenti

  • Spinning the Past: Greek Historiography from Herodotos to DiodorosOptional
    Module details

    This module will introduce you to the genre of Greek historiography, from Hecataeus of Miletus (who wrote in the early fifth century B.C.E.) to Diodoros of Sicily (who wrote in the first century B.C.E.). The module will provide you with an overview of the genre, its relationship with other literary genres (including the Homeric epics and drama), and with the narrative techniques adopted by the Greek historiographers. We shall discuss in what ways the philosophical and political agendas of indivi

  • Historiography of the Roman WorldOptional
    Module details

    The module aims to cover the full chronological range of Roman historiography from the Republic to the Empire, to educate the students in the broad sweep of Roman historiography and Roman history.

Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.

Course in depth

What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.

What you'll study

This course combines the study of ancient Greek and Roman history with philosophical enquiry into how we understand the world. In Year 1, you'll usually start with foundational modules on historical sources, archives and argument-building, alongside broad surveys of medieval, early modern and modern world history. Year 2 typically moves to focused thematic study through primary sources, historiography and methods, and public history in museums and heritage. In Year 3, you'll pursue advanced document-led research and specialist options such as modern history, medieval studies, global and imperial history, social and cultural history, public history and heritage, or archival research, culminating in an original dissertation based on primary evidence.

Who it's for

This course suits students with strong interest in ancient civilisations and philosophical thought who wish to develop research and analytical capabilities. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent qualifications, with typical UCAS tariffs falling between 96 and 111 points. The course is taught in English and delivered full-time over three years. It's designed for those considering academic research, heritage and cultural sectors, or roles requiring rigorous critical analysis and written communication.

Careers & job market

Across History courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically range from £23,500 to £31,000, rising to £25,500–£36,000 after five years. These figures reflect broader outcomes for History graduates and vary by individual circumstances and career choices. Check the university's funding pages for information on bursaries and scholarships.

University & format

This is a 3-year full-time BA (Hons) degree taught at Royal Holloway, University of London, a higher education college located on the Egham Campus. Instruction is in English. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and degrees are nationally recognised. The course holds Silver status in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 for teaching quality.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
94%
Learning opportunities
88%
Assessment and feedback
84%
Academic Support
95%
Organisation and management
87%
Learning resources
90%
Student voice
83%

Share of students responding positively.

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

PlacementPublished placement option

Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent98% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 96 - 111 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check RHUL's official course page for the current offer.

Who gets in

What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.

UCAS tariff of entrants

Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.

Qualifications held on entry

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent98%
a Baccalaureate2%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Accessible entry

Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.

Will you get in? Plot your grades

Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.

Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.

Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesBCCA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeV1V5quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code V1V5). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write your personal statement

    A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results day & confirmation

    On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask RHUL whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£26,800 / yr

Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).

Check fees at RHUL →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 3 years

2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.

Starting on or after 1 January 2027?

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.

Paying for it

  • Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
  • Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
  • Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All RHUL funding →
No verified named award is shown for this provider yet.

That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.

We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.

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Still deciding what to study?

StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What History graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£27,000£25,000 – £30,00030
3 years after£25,500£21,000 – £30,500255
5 years after£31,000£25,000 – £40,000275

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

82%
in work or further study 15 months on
44%
in highly skilled work or study
92%
continue past their first year
70%
find their work meaningful
55%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in history · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs History nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£27,000
£23,500 – £31,000
After 3 years LEO
£25,500
£20,400 – £28,800
After 5 years LEO
£31,000
£25,500 – £36,000
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £19,000 – £37,500

National figures for History graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.

Work out your pay

Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.

What happened to 100 students?

Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.

82 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

60% working10% working and studying10% in further study44% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 30; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.

Value compared with similar courses

How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with History courses at the same study level.

This course £31,000Peer median £30,000Middle 50% £27,000–£34,500
57th percentile

Compared with 1,423 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.

UK occupations graduates enter

Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.

  • Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 12% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
  • Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
  • Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824

Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 35; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.

Job market & outlook

How History graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

85%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across History courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
90%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How AI is changing the work

AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.

What AI takes off your plate

  • Routine information gathering
  • First-draft writing and summaries
  • Standard analysis and admin
  • Repetitive processing tasks

More human than ever

  • Judgement and original thinking
  • Working with and leading people
  • Owning and sense-checking AI output
  • Ethics and accountability

The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.

Roles & employers

Where History graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.

Where they work

  • Museums & archives
  • Heritage bodies
  • Schools
  • Civil service & media

Is this course right for you?

The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.

💷

Student finance

For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.

📈

Where graduates go

82% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £27,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.

🎯

Your entry chances

Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.

Official-data snapshot

Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.8 out of 10: NSS 88.7% · in work or study 82% · continued 92%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

Royal Holloway and Bedford New College

All students13,115
International16.7%
Aged 25+11.4%

Historical, philosophical and religious studies across the UK

Students76,495
Aged 25+26.6%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Egham Campus

437 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 131Shoplifting 80Anti Social Behaviour 59Other Theft 40Public Order 34

Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.

Is History right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to RHUL from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is £26,800 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.

English language

Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.

Student visa

You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.

Scholarships & funding

Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check RHUL’s funding pages.

Living costs

Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.

Working while you study

A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.

Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with RHUL and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is historically accessible, accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 96 - 111 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by RHUL. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For History graduates from this provider, 82% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 44% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £27,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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