PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
MA Ancient History
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MA
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
N/A
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
2009
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
Faculty:
University College London in collaboration with King’s College
London and Royal Holloway University of London
Social and Historical Sciences
Parent Department:
History
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
www.ucl.ac.uk/history
(if applicable)
Method of study:
Full-time/Part-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Length of the programme:
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
Upper second in a relevant degree (or equivalent Overseas
qualification); in addition candidates are expected to be able to use
authors and sources in one or more ancient languages.
1 calendar year (full-time)
2 calendar years (part-time)
Masters level (Level 7)
N/A - None yet available at MA level
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
The structure comprises
i. a compulsory core module HISTGA01: Sources and Methods in
Ancient History: 40 credits, assessment by two coursework essays of
5,000 words.
ii. optional modules (listed in syllabus): 80 credits, assessment varies
according to module
iii. a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words on an aspect of ancient
history: 60 credits
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
Joint Board of Examiners for the MA in Ancient History, MA in
Classical Art and Archaeology, MA in Classics, and MA in Late
Antique and Byzantine Studies
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
N/A
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
(a) to provide students with a thorough grounding in key aspects of and approaches to ancient history;
(b) to introduce students to skills essential to, or highly desirable, for almost all fields of ancient history;
(c) to offer them practical training in those skills; and
(d) to introduce students to specific aspects of the ancient world at an intellectually demanding level.
In sum, it aims to equip students with the tools for further research in ancient history by developing their critical and
conceptual understanding of the field.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
1. How to assess historical evidence
critically, synthesize historical data from
printed, manuscript, archaeological,
numismatic, epigraphic, and digital
sources, solve problems of conflicting
sources and conflicting interpretations,
locate source materials and interpretative
studies, use research resources
(particularly research library catalogues,
digital data bases, other traditional and
digital resources, and major archives
relevant to antiquity).
2. Subject specific skills, for instance,
epigraphy, papyrology, palaeography,
manuscript transcription, facility with
ancient languages.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1 through the weekly seminars of the core
modules (Sources and Methods) that will run throughout
the autumn and spring terms. The broad spread of
teachers on this module, as well as the chronological
range will expose students to diverse case studies,
media, and methods of analysis. Students will be
required to attend all seminars, study extensively on
their own and, on the required module mentioned above
and on several of the optional modules, prepare nonassessed oral presentations and coursework
assignments regularly.
Acquisition of a range of 2 and 3 through the optional
modules.
3. Specific aspects of ancient political,
social, economic, religious, and
intellectual history.
Assessment:
Students will be assessed by a variety of methods:
‘unseen’ examinations, coursework essays, and the
compulsory dissertation.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
The programme aims to enable students:
(a) to engage in analytical and evaluative
discussion of a range of ancient
materials, i.e. to be precise and to be
cautious in their assessment of evidence,
and to understand through practice what
historical evidence can and cannot tell us;
(b) to discriminate between opposing
theories and interpretations (such as
setting ‘primitive’ against ‘modernising’
approaches to the ancient economy);
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of these intellectual skills is fostered in all
modules offered in the Programme in that all introduce
information that needs to be assessed critically and
demonstrate how conflicting interpretations arise from
the same information, but these skills are explicitly
emphasised in the core module (Sources and Methods).
Acquisition of these skills is developed through formal
teaching, participation in oral presentations singly and in
pairs or teams, through independent research, informal
activities, individual supervision, formal assessment and
feedback.
(c) to formulate and present judgements,
both orally and in written form, on the
basis of evidence and argument;
(d) to question interpretations, however
authoritative, and, reassessing evidence
for themselves, to follow original lines of
thought and investigation, and propose
new hypotheses as appropriate.
Assessment:
Through ‘unseen’ examinations, coursework essays,
and the compulsory dissertation.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
(a) gather, organise, and analyse
evidence and information, and make
judgements in the absence of complete
data
(b) deal with complex issues
systematically and creatively, showing
critical judgement and applying
appropriate methodologies
(c) present (non-assessed) seminar
papers
(d) listen and respond to the ideas of
others in an advanced research context
(e) choose their own coursework essay
and dissertation topics
(f) maintain a constant and responsive
rhythm of learning and research, adapting
coursework essay and dissertation topics
to the information that they discover while
working on them.
(g) use databases, digital resources and
word-processing programmes
(h) practise research techniques in a
variety of specialised libraries and
research institutes that they will not have
used as undergraduates
(i) acquire and/or improve ancient
language
(j) acquire and/or improve ability to
transcribe and edit manuscript or
epigraphic material.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Delivery of:
 (a) to (d) through weekly seminar discussions,
the production of regular seminar presentations
and coursework and teachers’ one-to-one
feedback on them, and dissertation supervision - all of which contribute to a critical dialogue
between student and teacher;

(e) and (f) through guidance in class and
dissertation supervision -- in all aspects of the
teaching and learning process, stress will be
placed on the importance of innovative and
original thinking about ancient history, and on
self-motivation;

(g) and (h) through practical instruction and
visits to libraries such as the Combined Library
of the Institute of Classical Studies with the Joint
Library of the Societies for the Promotion of
Hellenic and of Roman Studies (Senate House);

(i) and (j) through practical instruction in a range
of optional modules.
Assessment:
‘Unseen’ examination, coursework essays, and the
compulsory dissertation
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
(a) communicate material effectively in
written form, with discrimination and
lucidity in the use of language,
professional referencing, and clear layout
(b) acquisition and/or improvement of
scholarly languages
(c) use computer resources and
information technology
(d) communicate material orally in a clear,
effective and persuasive manner
(e) listen and contribute in seminar
classes
(f) reflect on their own ideas by becoming
acquainted with ideas and practices
foreign to them
(g) work constructively and adaptably with
others
(h) act autonomously in planning, timing,
and implementing tasks
(i) display the independent learning ability
required for continuing professional
development
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Transferable skills are acquired through
 participation in seminars and practical sessions
 feedback from teachers on coursework
 feedback from teachers on oral seminar
presentations
 dissertation preparation and supervision
 ‘hands-on’ instruction, library or gallery visits
and applied in
 autonomous study
 writing and submission of word-processed
coursework essays
 seminar presentations (delivered singly and in
pairs or teams) and discussion
planning, development, and production of one extended
piece of work, the dissertation
Assessment:
‘Unseen’ examination, coursework essays, and the
compulsory dissertation
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Dr Benet Salway
Name(s):
Date of Production:
November 2008
Date of Review:
October 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
November 2015
November 2015