Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies
UCAS code: VV14
COURSE OVERVIEW
*Subject to revalidation
- Choose from a broad range of themes and periods and use both historical and archaeological evidence in your studies
- Develop deep theoretical and cultural knowledge sought after by employers in many industries
- Discover the importance of teamwork, personal research and fieldwork
Our Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies degree takes you on a highly engaging and fascinating adventure through time. From the Bronze Age to the Crusades and beyond, it’s an absorbing three-year journey exploring the archaeology, history, art and religion in the British Isles, continental Europe and the Mediterranean.
The course has a multidisciplinary approach to the human past, and is led by expert faculty from two of Winchester’s leading teaching and research departments, Archaeology, Anthropology and Geography and History. You can choose modules from the whole range of modules in Archaeology, Classical Studies and History that cover the Bronze Age to the medieval period, for example: The Greek World (Archaeology), The Glory of Athens and the Shadow of Sparta (Classical Studies), Roman Britain (Archaeology), The Pax Romana (Classical Studies), The Archaeology of Conflict (Archaeology) and Societies at War – England and France, 1189-1529 (History).
Although the library is likely to be your main base as a student, you won't need to be a bookworm. You can, for example. take practical classes in Archaeology to learn how sites are located and surveyed, or study human skeletal remains to research the health of past populations
In Year 1, you are introduced to the methods and approaches of archaeology, while also developing your knowledge of how documentary sources are used to study the past. Throughout Year 2, you focus on independent learning, choosing from a range of thematic studies such as Food and Drink in Medieval and Early Modern Britain and the Archaeology and Anthropology of Death, as well as period studies covering later prehistory, Classical Greece and Ancient Rome, and the Middle Ages.
In Year 3, you will write an 8,000 to 10,000 word study on a topic of your choosing. This is an opportunity to examine primary source material and use both historical and archaeological approaches to address a problem of the archaeological and historical past. In addition, you pick from a range of in-depth courses in including popular modules such as The Celts, Minoans and Myceneans, the Wars of the Roses and Murder in the Ancient City, and in which use both ancient sources and archaeological evidence.
Graduates have entered fulfilling archaeological careers in museums, heritage sites and local authorities. However, the programme also provides a wide range of skills that are highly relevant to a number of non-archaeological careers, such as conservation, education and the civil service. Our graduates are highly sought after by employers in all industries, who value their deep theoretical and cultural knowledge.
Find out more about the Department for Archaeology, Anthropology and Geography and the Department of History.
Careers
Graduates pursue careers in teaching, archives, field archaeology and museums.
The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment and further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021, HESA.
Pre-approved for a Masters
If you study a Bachelor Honours degree with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.
*Subject to revalidation
This course is subject to revalidation. 'Revalidation' is the process by which the University refreshes its existing provision. Revalidation assesses the quality and standards of the programme to ensure it continues to provide a distinct, high quality academic experience for students, enabling them to acquire the necessary academic knowledge, understanding, general and subject-specific skills required to pursue a graduate level career.
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Suitable for Applicants from:
UK, EU, World
Placement
If you decide to complete an optional History Work/Volunteering Placement it may incur travel costs, which are dependent upon where you undertake the placement (if local it may be zero, but costs go up when public transport is used to travel). You will have a say in where their placement is located.
Field Trips
You will have the option to participate in either a four day-long Archaeology or History field trip module in your second year of study. You can also take the Classical Studies summer school in either Greece or Rome between your second and third year (additional costs apply).
Study Abroad
Our BA (Hons) Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies course provides an opportunity for you to study abroad in the United States of America (USA).
For more information see our Study Abroad section.
Learning and Teaching
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.
You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars etc.), you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.
Independent learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.
While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.
Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 216 hours
Independent learning: 984 hours
Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 228 hours
Independent learning: 972 hours
Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 228 hours
Independent learning: 972 hours
*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.
Location
Taught elements of the course take place on campus in Winchester.
Teaching hours
All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.
The University library is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Assessment
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:
Year 1 (Level 4)*:
71% coursework
25% written exams
4% practical exams
Year 2 (Level 5)*:
74% coursework
13% written exams
13% practical exams
Year 3 (Level 6)*:
42% coursework
43% written exams
15% practical exams
*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.
Feedback
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
Further information
For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures section.
Entry requirements
2023 Entry: 104-120 UCAS tariff points
Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A-Levels: BCC-BBB from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
- BTEC/CTEC: DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
- T Level: Merit in a T Level
In addition to the above, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.
In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSE’s are required:
- GCSEs in Mathematics and English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further.
If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:
- IELTS Academic at 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
- We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT.
If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on their website which may be of interest.
Course enquiries and applications
Telephone: +44 (0) 1962 827234
International students
International students seeking additional information about this programme can send an email to International@winchester.ac.uk or call
+44 (0)1962 827023
Visit us
Explore our campus and find out more about studying at Winchester by coming to one of our Open Days.
Year 1 (Level 4)
Modules Credits
| Introduction to Archaeology | 15 | |
|
This module forms an introduction to the principles and methods upon which the study of archaeology is based. No prior knowledge of the subject is assumed or expected. The philosophical distinctiveness of the subject is outlined, and the various sub-divisions within archaeology (e.g. environmental archaeology, experimental archaeology) are examined. This leads on to an assessment of the methods of establishing chronological sequences in archaeology, and an overview of the methods to be examined in more detail in later modules. These thematic lectures are buttressed by the use of sessions looking at case studies of recent research projects within the Department in order to help draw together and assist understanding of the key themes. Parallel study skills sessions alongside this lecture series allow you to develop quickly the key skills needed in an HE environment. |
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| The Archaeology of the Historic Period | 15 | |
| World Prehistory | 15 | |
|
This module provides an introduction to the development of humans from hominid origins to the development of written forms of communication. Therefore, although the module has a single chronological starting point (c 7.5 my BP), it has a variable end point depending upon the part of the world under discussion. The module addresses the main stages of human evolution and development, starting with the separation from the Honinidae (the human family) from the Pongidae (the apes), the transition from Australopithecines to Homo and eventually to modern humans, and covering the origins and development of crucial human processes such as technology, social systems, art, farming and urbanisation. The significance of the independent invention of key developments (such as agriculture) in different parts of the world will be stressed. By these means, the student will gain a greater awareness of the main sequences of human development on a world scale, be able to better appreciate the 'time lines' of the prehistoric periods and will understand how the prehistory of the British Isles is a connected sub-set of that of both continental Europe and the world as a whole. |
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| Introduction to Material Culture | 15 | |
|
Archaeologists deal with things. These things (material culture or artefacts) are a way of understanding the lives of the humans who made them. This course presents you with a detailed background to the main categories of material culture that you might encounter on any archaeological sites; these items include: stone tools, pottery, coins, metalwork etc. You will learn about the technology behind these artefacts, and crucially how things that we make do not just have a simple function, but also encode important symbolic information as well. By the end of this course you will look afresh at the way humans make and give meaning to even the most mundane and everyday items. |
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| Case Studies 1: Sources and Approaches in History | 15 | |
| Case Studies 2: Independent Study | 15 | |
| Optional Modules | ||
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Optional Credits
| Introduction to Archaeology | 15 | |
|
This module forms an introduction to the principles and methods upon which the study of archaeology is based. No prior knowledge of the subject is assumed or expected. The philosophical distinctiveness of the subject is outlined, and the various sub-divisions within archaeology (e.g. environmental archaeology, experimental archaeology) are examined. This leads on to an assessment of the methods of establishing chronological sequences in archaeology, and an overview of the methods to be examined in more detail in later modules. These thematic lectures are buttressed by the use of sessions looking at case studies of recent research projects within the Department in order to help draw together and assist understanding of the key themes. Parallel study skills sessions alongside this lecture series allow you to develop quickly the key skills needed in an HE environment. |
||
| The Archaeology of the Historic Period | 15 | |
| World Prehistory | 15 | |
|
This module provides an introduction to the development of humans from hominid origins to the development of written forms of communication. Therefore, although the module has a single chronological starting point (c 7.5 my BP), it has a variable end point depending upon the part of the world under discussion. The module addresses the main stages of human evolution and development, starting with the separation from the Honinidae (the human family) from the Pongidae (the apes), the transition from Australopithecines to Homo and eventually to modern humans, and covering the origins and development of crucial human processes such as technology, social systems, art, farming and urbanisation. The significance of the independent invention of key developments (such as agriculture) in different parts of the world will be stressed. By these means, the student will gain a greater awareness of the main sequences of human development on a world scale, be able to better appreciate the 'time lines' of the prehistoric periods and will understand how the prehistory of the British Isles is a connected sub-set of that of both continental Europe and the world as a whole. |
||
| Introduction to Material Culture | 15 | |
|
Archaeologists deal with things. These things (material culture or artefacts) are a way of understanding the lives of the humans who made them. This course presents you with a detailed background to the main categories of material culture that you might encounter on any archaeological sites; these items include: stone tools, pottery, coins, metalwork etc. You will learn about the technology behind these artefacts, and crucially how things that we make do not just have a simple function, but also encode important symbolic information as well. By the end of this course you will look afresh at the way humans make and give meaning to even the most mundane and everyday items. |
||
| Case Studies 1: Sources and Approaches in History | 15 | |
| Case Studies 2: Independent Study | 15 | |
| Optional Modules | ||
|
||
Year 2 (Level 5)
Modules Credits
| Research Methods | 15 | |
| Thinking Through Theory | 15 | |
| Reading History | 15 | |
| Optional Modules | ||
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Optional Credits
| Research Methods | 15 | |
| Thinking Through Theory | 15 | |
| Reading History | 15 | |
| Optional Modules | ||
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Year 3 (Level 6)
Modules Credits
| Extended Independent Study in Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies | 30 | |
|
This double module is an 8-10,000 word dissertation in ACMS. It enables students to apply their knowledge of archaeological and historical theory and practice, in order to produce a piece of independent interdisciplinary research which shows clarity of expression, logical argument and creative thought. |
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| Optional Modules | ||
|
||
Optional Credits
| Extended Independent Study in Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies | 30 | |
|
This double module is an 8-10,000 word dissertation in ACMS. It enables students to apply their knowledge of archaeological and historical theory and practice, in order to produce a piece of independent interdisciplinary research which shows clarity of expression, logical argument and creative thought. |
||
| Optional Modules | ||
|
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Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing, for full-time students entering the programme in Year 1. Optional modules are listed where applicable. Please note the University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. For further information please refer to the terms and conditions at www.winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions.
The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed above.
Progression from one level of the programme to the next is subject to meeting the University’s academic regulations.
2023 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £9,250 | £14,700 |
| Year 2 | £9,250 | £14,700 |
| Year 3 | £9,250 | £14,700 |
| Total | £27,750 | £44,100 |
| Optional Sandwich Year* | £1,385 | £1,440 |
| Total with Sandwich Year | £29,135 | £45,540 |
If you are a UK student starting your degree in September 2023, the first year will cost you £9,250**. Based on this fee level, the indicative fees for a three-year degree would be £27,750 for UK students.
Remember, you don't have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year. If finance is a worry for you, we are here to help. Take a look at the range of support we have on offer. This is a great investment you are making in your future, so make sure you know what is on offer to support you.
UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £77.08 and a 15 credit module is £1,156. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £6,935.
International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £122.50 and a 15 credit module is £1,837.
* Please note that not all courses offer an optional sandwich year. To find out whether this course offers a sandwich year, please contact the programme leader for further information.
**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.
Additional Costs
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:
Optional
Field trip
Students will have the option to participate in a four day-long Archaeology field trip module in their second year of study. Indicative cost is £150. Week-long History Fieldtrip in Year 2 - costs vary depending on location and number of students going on the trip. Indicative costs: £300-£700.
Dissertation work
Students working on dissertations in Year 3 may incur costs (mainly travel) of visiting archives, dependent upon the specific nature of the dissertation and availability of online resources for a specific subject. This would typically involve either travel to a local archive (e.g. Southampton, Portsmouth or further afield if the student chooses to study a locality away from Winchester) or a national archive, usually in London (TNA, British Library, Women's Library, etc.). If the dissertation work is based in Winchester then costs will be far less.
Placement
If students decide to complete an optional History Work/Volunteering Placement it may incur travel costs, which are dependent upon where the student undertakes the placement (if local it may be zero, but costs go up when public transport is used to travel). Students will have a say in where their placement is located. Indicative costs: £0 - £300 dependent on location of placement and number of visits required.
Mandatory
Excavation
Students are required to undertake four-week compulsory fieldwork for BA/ BSc Archaeology and BSc Archaeological Practice (only two weeks for Combined Honours) which takes place over the summer after Year 1, with a further four weeks' optional fieldwork in the summer after Year 2 (compulsory for BSc Archaeological Practice). Students opt to do the fieldwork at one of the Department's research/ training projects. Local projects have no direct costs for student participants. Students who opt to join department-approved research projects elsewhere, either regionally or internationally, may have to cover project-specific costs. At the highest end of this spectrum are the projects in Barbados (Indicative cost: £1200 for two weeks); and Georgia (Indicative cost: £1500 for four weeks) where the costs include flights, food and accommodation for the duration of the project.
Printing and Binding
The University is pleased to offer our students a printing allowance of £5 each academic year. This will print around 125 A4 (black and white) pages. If students wish to print more, printer credit can be topped up by the student. The University and Student Union are champions of sustainability and we ask all our students to consider the environmental impact before printing.
Books
Some modules require students to have access to books with an approximate cost of £100 if bought new over the course of a year (but texts can often be purchased at considerably reduced rates second hand). Mandatory modules might also require some core texts. Indicative cost: £150 per academic year.
Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards section.
Key course details
- UCAS code
- VV14
- Duration
- 3 years full-time; 6 years part-time
- Typical offer
- 104-120 points
- Location
- On campus, Winchester
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