Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Egyptology and Ancient History

Entry requirements


A level

B,B,B

Access to HE Diploma

D:21,M:24

Access to Humanities Course

We recognise the EPQ as an excellent indicator of success. If you are predicted a Grade B or above in the EPQ, you will receive an offer with a one grade reduction, to include your EPQ with a grade B.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSEs: English/Welsh Language Grade C

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

32

International students will also require a score of 4 at Higher Level English Language or Literature, or 5 at Standard Level English Language or Literature.

UCAS Tariff

120

Swansea University will accept the Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate as fully equivalent to one A-Level.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subjects

Classical studies

Egyptology

This three-year Egyptology and Ancient History degree covers the study of Ancient Egyptian language, literature, history and culture.

You will explore Egyptian art, architecture, history and civilisation, archaeology, religion and gender alongside the political, social and cultural history of the Greek and Roman world.

Our interdisciplinary approach will give you the freedom to tailor your degree according to your specialist interests as you progress.

Your studies will be enriched by practical experience at Swansea’s award-winning Egypt Centre, our on campus museum which contains over 5,000 Egyptian antiquities. You can also gain further teaching experience as part of the South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnerships or by teaching Hieroglyphs or Latin to schools and the local community. During the second year of your course there will also be the opportunity to study abroad for a semester. All these experiences are designed to enhance your student experience and career prospects further.

Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, teaching is informed by our world-leading research. You will be part of a close-knit student community and can get involved in a wide range of clubs and societies including the Egyptological Society and Ancient World Society which run events and trips throughout the year.

This three-year Egyptology and Ancient History degree covers the study of Ancient Egyptian language, literature, history and culture. You will explore Egyptian art, architecture, history and civilisation, archaeology, religion and gender alongside the political, social and cultural history of the Greek and Roman world.Our interdisciplinary approach will give you the freedom to tailor your degree according to your specialist interests as you progress. Your studies will be enriched by practical experience at Swansea’s award-winning Egypt Centre, our on campus museum which contains over 5,000 Egyptian antiquities. You can also gain further teaching experience as part of the South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnerships or by teaching Hieroglyphs or Latin to schools and the local community. During the second year of your course there will also be the opportunity to study abroad for a semester. All these experiences are designed to enhance your student experience and career prospects further. Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, teaching is informed by our world-leading research. You will be part of a close-knit student community and can get involved in a wide range of clubs and societies including the Egyptological Society and Ancient World Society which run events and trips throughout the year. Egyptology at Swansea University is ranked 2nd in the UK for course satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2023), and Top 10 in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2023). Graduates have progressed to careers in sectors such as education, archives, museums and heritage, business, media and public relations and public services. Please visit our course page for more information:
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/culture-communication/classics-ancient-history-egyptology/ba-egyptology-ancient-history/

Modules

Your first year of study is made up of compulsory modules covering a range of themes. Compulsory modules are studied by all students on the programme, meaning you are automatically enrolled. Examples of compulsory modules include:

- Introduction to Ancient Egyptian History, Society and Culture
- Greek History and Society
- Age of Empire: Ancient Egypt and her Neighbours
- Rome from Village to Empire: An Introduction to Roman History

Your second and third years will comprise entirely optional modules from a expansive range of subject areas. Examples of optional modules in recent years have included:

- Introduction to Egyptian Archaeology
- Egyptian Art and Architecture
- The Greek Romance: Sea, Sun and Sex
- The Archaeology of Ancient
- Nubia - Egypt's Neighbour in Africa
- Alexander and the Hellenistic world
- The Athenian Democracy

Your final year will include an compulsory independent dissertation project.

For the full programme structure and module breakdown, please visit our webpage at https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/culture-communication/classics-ancient-history-egyptology/ba-egyptology-ancient-history/

Assessment methods

We offer a variety of assessment methods within our programmes. In addition to traditional examinations and essays, examples of alternative assessment include:

- Essays
- Presentations
- Source Analysis

Throughout your undergraduate Classical Studies degree, you will develop excellent research and analytical skills and learn to present your ideas effectively both verbally and in writing. For full breakdown of course structure and assessment please visit our course page https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/culture-communication/classics-ancient-history-egyptology/ba-egyptology-ancient-history/
or get in touch with us at [email protected]

The Uni


Course location:

Singleton Park Campus

Department:

History and Classics

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

91%
Classical studies

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Classics

Teaching and learning

91%
Staff make the subject interesting
91%
Staff are good at explaining things
87%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
82%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

87%
Library resources
98%
IT resources
89%
Course specific equipment and facilities
71%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

97%
UK students
3%
International students
55%
Male students
45%
Female students
74%
2:1 or above
2%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

Archaeology

Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.


Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

95%
UK students
5%
International students
33%
Male students
67%
Female students
79%
2:1 or above
6%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Classics

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£16,800
low
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education
29%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

14%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
11%
Other elementary services occupations
10%
Teaching and educational professionals

This is a category for graduates taking a wide range of courses that don’t fall neatly into a subject group, so be aware that the stats you see here may not be a very accurate guide to the outcomes for the specific course you’re interested in. Management, finance, marketing, education and jobs in the arts are some of the typical jobs for these graduates, but it's sensible to go on open days and talk to tutors about what you might expect from the course, and what previous graduates did.

Archaeology

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£17,500
med
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

17%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
10%
Business, finance and related associate professionals
10%
Public services and other associate professionals

Want to do a job in the arts - with lots of the great outdoors? Try archaeology! There don't tend to be many archaeology undergraduates out there (just under 700 graduated in 2015) - but it's quite a popular subject at postgraduate level. In fact, over a quarter of archaeology graduates take some kind of further study when they graduate - usually more study of archaeology. When you look at the stats, be aware that junior jobs in archaeology are not always well paid at the start of your career, and that temporary contracts are not uncommon. Thankfully, though, unpaid work, whilst not completely gone, is less common than it used to be. The archaeology graduates of 2015 found jobs in archaeology, of course, but also management and heritage and environment work, as well as more conventional graduate jobs in marketing and the finance industry.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Classics

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£17k

£17k

£22k

£22k

£26k

£26k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Archaeology

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£17k

£17k

£22k

£22k

£26k

£26k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
University of Kent | Canterbury
Classical Studies
BA (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 120-128
Nearby University
Cardiff University | Cardiff
Archaeology and Ancient History
BA (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 120-128

Share this page

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here