Ancient, Medieval and Modern History

Course details
This joint degree enables you to combine modules from our Ancient History course with modules in medieval and modern History offered by the Department of History.
The balance between the two departments is broadly equal, but by the third year you can weight your choice of modules more to one side than the other, depending on your interests.
In the Department of History, you will study modules in medieval, early modern and late modern history, with electives available in the study of cultures from around the globe.

You will bring all your knowledge and skills together in your dissertation. You will be able to concentrate your studies in an area that fascinates you, and really blossom as an independent learner. Through this you will engage, at an advanced level, with creative research at the forefront of these historical disciplines.

You will be encouraged to attend an extensive programme of research-related activities in both departments, including research seminars, public lectures from high-profile guest speakers, and events organised by the student-run History Society and Classics Society.

Why Durham University?
Explore the artistic, historical, literary, linguistic, cultural, scientific, and philosophical aspects of the Greek and Roman world, studying in one of the largest and most vibrant departments in the UK at the heart of a World Heritage Site.
We offer a range of flexible and challenging degree courses designed with the twenty-first-century student in mind. Each with a different emphasis, depending on which area you prefer to put at the centre of your studies: ancient languages, ancient history or ancient culture.
We also offer joint honours courses with the departments of Archaeology and History.

Rankings
3rd in the UK Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
5th in the Guardian University Guide 2026
5th in the UK Complete University Guide 2026
Top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2026

Careers Opportunities
Classics and Ancient History
Our students acquire many skills which are readily transferable to a whole range of professions. You will learn to search for, gather, and process information, to evaluate evidence and to express yourself clearly and succinctly, both verbally and in writing.
Classics graduates have progressed to careers as diverse as computing, the Civil Service, gold dealing, teaching, journalism, law, accountancy, public relations and the theatre.

History
Our aim is to make you better at thinking, speaking, and writing for yourself; and better at critically assessing the words that others speak and write.
Thinking analytically, arguing clearly and concisely - these are fundamental skills in many jobs.
Our graduates have gone on to find successful careers in a wide variety of fields. They work in teaching at schools and universities, in museums and galleries, in law, finance, banking and accountancy, the Civil Service, the charity sector, media, journalism, and the military and further study.

Course Modules

For current information please scroll to the bottom of the page for Provider Information and select Visit our Course Page under Course Contact Details.

We use various types of assessment, designed to test the different skills you have gained through your studies: essays, exams, commentaries, translations, presentations, and projects.

In your final year, you will write a dissertation on a subject of your choice, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills in independent learning and research and your ability to tie together areas of learning from across the entire course.