Study area_
Facts & figures
- #2 in Australia for Archaeology and History
- #26 in the world for History
- 2018 QS World University Rankings
Ancient history, languages and cultures
Explore past civilisations as you gain a new cultural perspective
Develop a deep understanding of some of the world's oldest and heritage-rich cultures, civilisations and languages, while learning new and transferable skills you can apply to many rewarding career paths.
Why study ancient history, languages and cultures with us?
- We are ranked 2nd in Australia for archaeology and history.*
- We have close ties with the University of Sydney’s Nicholson Museum, which houses a large collection of artefacts from the ancient world. The museum is regularly used as a teaching space.
- We offer a broad range of student placements, allowing you to gain hands on, workplace experience.
- As an undergraduate student you can choose from our arts and social sciences majors as well as more than 100 majors from the University’s shared pool, allowing you to gain expertise in a range of disciplines.
- You can balance your workload with our flexible study options, such as part-time study for eligible students.**
- We offer a wide range of scholarships and prizes designed to recognise potential, assist those in need and reward high achievement.
*QS World University World Rankings by Subject 2018
**Please refer to individual course requirements and visa details (for international students) regarding eligibility for part-time study.
Our study offering
Learn how to reconstruct ancient cultures from the material residues of their activities and how to interpret archaeological evidence to influence the present. Gain an understanding of the methods and thinking with which archaeologists interpret past lives. Answer the most crucial questions about prehistoric and historic societies, and experience a far-reaching focus on Australia, the broader Near East and classical Mediterranean societies.
Undergraduate
Honours
- Archaeology (Honours)
- Archaeology (Classical) (Honours)
- Archaeology (Near Eastern) (Honours)
- Archaeology (Prehistoric and Historical) (Honours)
*Available to all students studying the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Visual Arts, as well as all combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees.
Research
Ancient Greek allows you to read, in the original, works of immense cultural and literary significance by the great writers of the ancient Mediterranean world. The study of philosophy, history, drama, lyric, epic, the novel, and oratory begins in Greece, and Greek contributions to world literature are undisputed models of perfection in every later age.
Undergraduate
*Available to all students studying the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Visual Arts, as well as all combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees.
Embark on a captivating discovery of the Ancient Greek and Roman civilisations through the evidence of myths, images, inscriptions, artefacts, written history and literature. Experience the interplay between the past and the present through a re-examination of the classical world and learn to appreciate its historical and cultural importance.
Undergraduate
*Available to all students studying the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Visual Arts, as well as all combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees.
Celtic Studies focuses on the study of language, history and culture of the Celtic-speaking peoples, from prehistory to the present. Develop skills and knowledge in a subject that is highly significant to European and Australian cultural heritage.
Undergraduate
*Available to all students studying the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Visual Arts, as well as all combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees.
Research
Celtic Studies offers a wide choice of topics for research, ranging from the early history of the Celts in Europe to the present situation of the Celtic languages in the British Isles, Brittany and beyond. The research can focus on a number of disciplinary aspects, including language and linguistics, archaeology, history, literature and folklore as well as music.
You will learn to read works of immense cultural and literary significance by the iconic writers of ancient Rome. Latin is the direct ancestor of nearly 50 modern languages and a major contributor to the vocabulary of many others, including English. It was also the language of European literature, history, science, medicine, diplomacy and law for nearly 2000 years. Studying Latin opens up intellectual vistas vital for exploring the past or navigating the present.
Undergraduate
*Available to all students studying the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Visual Arts, as well as all combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees.
Through the study of Sanskrit language, the most important classical language of the Indian subcontinent, you can explore the various intellectual, literary and artistic traditions that have shaped South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan), Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Tibet and played a profound role in forming Asia as a whole.
Undergraduate
*Available to all students studying the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Visual Arts, as well as all combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees.
Where can studies in ancient history, languages and cultures lead you?
Studies across ancient history, languages and cultures will equip you with skills, knowledge and perspectives that can be used across a range of career paths. Career pathways include:
- Academic
- Archaeologist
- Human resources consultant
- Journalist
- Museum curator
- Research librarian
Grace Kane - Archaeology student
"I love the idea of being able to engage and interact with the past. I've been able to step outside the classroom and explore the archaeology and architecture of Greece and gain real fieldwork experience in Tasmania."
Download the undergraduate course guide (pdf, 4.8MB)