BAAncient and Medieval History

Study location	United Kingdom, Birmingham
Type	Bachelor courses, full-time
Nominal duration	3 years
Study language	English
Awards	BA
Course code	V116

Entry qualification	High school / secondary education (or higher) The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original.

Language requirements	English IELTS: 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each skill) CAE: 176 (with a minimum of 169 in each skill)

Other requirements	At least 1 reference(s) must be provided. A motivation letter must be added to your application.

More information	birmingham.ac.uk/..y-ancient-medieval.aspx

Overview

Interested? To learn more about this study programme, entry requirements and application process, please contact one of our consultants in a country nearest to you.

Programme structure

First year
The first year represents a foundation year in which core skills and knowledge for historical enquiry are gained. While those two things can never be separated, the emphasis is on skills in the modules Practising History A and B (10 + 10 credits) and the Ancient History Project A and B (10 + 10 credits). Each of these four modules centres on a different topic, and helps develop your skills for university-level history. Broader survey modules help you to familiarise yourself with ancient and medieval history. Discovering the Middle Ages and Living in the Middle Ages (20 + 20 credits) explore fundamental themes and issues focused on the key periods concerned and indicate the kinds of questions historians explore and some of the methods they employ in answering them. Introduction to Greek and Roman History (20 credits) alongside the Ancient History/Classics/Archaeology option module (10 + 10 credits) (for example Early Civilisations: Egypt and Ancient Western Asia or Byzantium/Barbarians and the Transformation of the Roman World), do the same. As you would expect, the first year serves as a springboard for your studies in second year.

Compulsory modules:

Practising History A: Skills in History
Practising History B: Approaches to History
Ancient History Project A
Ancient History Project B
Discovering the Middle Ages
Living in the Middle Ages
Introduction to Greek and Roman History
Optional modules:

Ancient History/Classics/Archaeology option
Detailed descriptions of first year Ancient and Medieval History modules
Second year
In the second year the emphasis on small group teaching and independent learning increases. Two compulsory modules help to develop you as a historian of the ancient and medieval worlds. Ancient and Medieval History in Theory and Practice (20 credits) addresses questions to do with the nature of history and historical knowledge, particularly as they relate to the ancient and medieval worlds. Research Methods (20 credits) gives you first-hand experience of the work of a historian as you learn to identify and frame a valid, intellectually coherent research question.

You also take two medieval history options (Options A and B) (20 + 20 credits). You then choose 40 credits of Ancient History modules (either a seminar and an option or two options) from the wide range on offer for year 2 students or one Ancient History option (20 credits) and a Professional Skills module (20 credits).

Compulsory modules:

Ancient and Medieval History in Theory and Practice
Research Methods
Medieval Option A
Medieval Option B
Optional modules:

Choose one of the following:

Two Ancient History Options (or a seminar and an Option)
Ancient History Option and a Professional Skills Module
Detailed descriptions of second year Ancient and Medieval History modules
Year abroad
You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year then you will be invited to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year. Find out more.

Final year
In the final year, you write your 12,000 word dissertation (40 credits), an individual research project using primary sources to answer a historical question which you have developed since year 2 and which is supervised by an appropriate specialist. For medieval history, you get to choose a medieval history Special Subject (20 + 20 credits). For ancient history, as in the second year, you choose either a seminar and an option or two options (40 credits) from the wide range on offer in the Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology.

Compulsory modules:

Dissertation
Special Subject A and B
Optional modules:

Ancient History modules

Career opportunities

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Postgraduate study