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Studying Classics and Ancient History

Study the ancient world in a welcoming and inclusive environment with an international reputation for excellence.

Our Classics and Ancient History community offers diverse expertise in topics relating to Ancient Greek and Roman history together the languages and literatures of Greece and Rome. We conduct and support research into a broad range of topics ranging from Archaic Greece to the early Byzantine period, and work together with both colleagues across the University and external partners (e.g. the British Schools at Athens and Rome, the Vindolanda Trust, the Dutch National Museum of Antiquity) to create a diverse, inclusive and nurturing environment to pursue world-leading teaching and research. 

To learn more about our staff please visit our people pages.

Long and distinguished history

Classics and Ancient History at Newcastle University has a long and distinguished history. Latin and Greek have been taught here since 1874, and we have been teaching Ancient History and Classical Archaeology since 1910 and 1931 respectively.

Our staff include scholars of outstanding international reputation. Our research covers all major aspects of the culture, history, and literature of the Greek and Roman world.

Classics and Ancient History at Newcastle has won praise for its:

  • close connection between teaching and research
  • intellectually stimulating programmes
  • innovative approach to language teaching

Our students gave a positivity score of 91% when asked if the course is intellectually stimulating

National Student Survey 2024

International reputation

Our staff include scholars of outstanding international reputation. Our research covers all major aspects of the study of the ancient world.

Classics at Newcastle has won praise for its:

  • innovative approach to language teaching
  • close connection between teaching and research

Research-led teaching

Our research was highly rated in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 and heavily informs our teaching. Many of our publications were considered world-leading or internationally excellent for originality, significance and rigour.

Excellent Facilities

You will be based in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, located at the heart of campus in the historic Armstrong Building.

You will have access to excellent study resources, including:

  • the on-campus Great North Museum, which houses an extensive collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artefacts, including the Shefton collection of Greek Art and Archaeology, an impressive coin collection, and material from Late Period Egypt
  • the Philip Robinson University Library, which houses over 800,000 books and provides access to ca. 1.8m e-books
  • the Library of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle