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Ancient Languages BA

London, Bloomsbury

Study the Ancient Languages BA and benefit from world-leading expertise through this degree that incorporates multidisciplinary learning. You’ll learn Hebrew and either Greek or Latin, plus up to three additional languages from a wide choice. Taught at UCL with access to incredible library resources at the British Library, the British Museum and SOAS, graduates have gone into a range of careers in fields including international development, education and the media. 

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
3 academic years
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£9,535
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£29,800
Programme starts
September 2026
Application deadline
14 Jan 2026
UCAS course code
0R8U
Apply via UCAS

Entry requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications
Grades
ABB
Subjects
An ancient or modern language at grade A, unless an ancient and a modern language are offered at GCSE at grade C or above.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Grades
BCC more about contextual offers
Subjects
An ancient or modern language at grade B, unless an ancient and a modern language are offered at GCSE at grade C or above.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Points
34
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5, to include an ancient or modern language at grade 6 unless an ancient and a modern language are offered at GCSE at grade C or above.

Contextual offer

Points
30 more about contextual offers
Subjects
A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5, to include an ancient or modern language at grade 6 unless an ancient and a modern language are offered at GCSE at grade C or above.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction, 12 credits at Merit and 3 credits at Pass in the Level 3 units. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your Access to HE syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects, with D3 in an ancient or modern language

A,B,B at Advanced Highers (or AB at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher), including an ancient or modern language at Advanced Higher.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.
Check your Access UCL Scheme eligibility

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview

The Ancient Languages BA provides students with an unrivalled opportunity to develop advanced knowledge of the ancient languages and cultures of the Near East and Europe. Undertaking this degree will unlock the key to a rich and varied range of past civilisations and to engage with them in their original languages, which include Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Akkadian, Sumerian, Ugaritic, Aramaic, Syriac, and Egyptian. 

Our degree is designed to give you advanced-level training in a diverse selection of ancient languages, as well as an excellent grounding in transferrable skills such as critical thinking, academic writing, historical, literary, and philological methodologies, and more. Along the way you gain a deep understanding of historical and comparative linguistics, as well as the ability to analyse texts from the Greco-Roman and Ancient Near Eastern world. You also discover how much ancient languages and texts can teach us about broader concepts such as religion, society, politics, war, and human nature, and how they intersect with other academic disciplines like archaeology and anthropology. 

The Ancient Languages degree is flexible and allows you to tailor your studies to your own interests. Throughout your studies, you are taught by leading experts in the field and benefit from small class sizes with numerous opportunities for interaction and discussion with your tutors and fellow students. You also have the support of a personal tutor who will help you choose your courses and is available to give advice on other aspects of your academic experience. You can also choose to complete a dissertation in your final year on a relevant topic of your choosing, guided by a specialist in the area. 

You will have the chance to take part in our extracurricular events, which include departmental conferences and seminars on pioneering areas of ancient languages research, field trips to view cuneiform tablets at the British Museum, and an Ugaritic and Akkadian tablet-making workshop with your tutors. We are confident that you will enjoy the friendly and welcoming atmosphere in the department, and that you will quickly feel at home with us. 

What this course will give you

At a global top ten university for the arts and humanities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 by subject), our programme is unique in the UK. It combines concentrated study of Greco-Roman and Semitic philology, in addition to other ancient Indo-European and Afroasiatic languages, and provides students with an unparalleled insight into the key linguistic and textual traditions of the ancient world.

Based within UCL Hebrew & Jewish Studies and UCL Greek & Latin, departments with world-renowned reputations, you will also have access to the teaching facilities and expertise available university-wide, including in archaeology, ancient history and linguistics.

You will enjoy access to a remarkable collection of ancient language resources in the UCL and SOAS Libraries, as well as to the special collections in the British Library and British Museum.

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Ancient Languages.

Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

In Year 1, you will take modules in Biblical Hebrew, either Latin or Greek, and introductory historical linguistics. In addition, you will be able to start studying a third and, if desired, fourth ancient language, drawn from an extensive selection. Ancient language modules include intensive study of texts spanning diverse literary genres including historical narrative, prose fiction, poetry, mythology, and religion. Alternatively, you can choose a limited number of modules from a wide range of disciplines including archaeology, history and linguistics.

In Year 2, you will continue your study of Biblical Hebrew and Greek or Latin. You will also begin or continue study of a third (and possibly fourth or fifth) ancient language. Again, you have the opportunity to choose a module from another discipline.

In Year 3, you will take advanced modules in Biblical Hebrew or Ugaritic and Greek or Latin. You may also continue study of a third (and possibly fourth or fifth) ancient language, an option from another discipline, or a dissertation.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Compulsory modules




Optional modules






Compulsory modules



Optional modules






Compulsory modules

Ugaritic



Your learning

Teaching will be delivered by a combination of lectures, seminars and small-group tutorials. You will be expected to undertake independent reading/study, to consolidate what is being taught and to broaden your individual knowledge and understanding of the subject.

Typical contact hours vary between 8-12 hours per week, depending on the year of study and module choice, and include lectures, seminars, practice-based activities and e-learning activities. Students will also undertake self-directed study (25-30 hours per week) by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions in class.

Assessment

Most language modules are assessed by examinations (including oral examinations) and coursework. Non-language modules are assessed by exams and coursework including presentations, quizzes and essays.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

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Hebrew and Jewish Studies information video

Watch this video to find out more about Hebrew and Jewish Studies at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.

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The foundation of your career

Popular career paths for ancient language graduates include teaching and education (24.7%),  accountancy and financial services (11.1%), publishing, journalism or translation (8.6%), performance and creative arts (4.9%), hospitality, leisure and tourism (4.9%), policy and government (3.7%) and academic research and HE (3.7%).

Employers of our graduates include Fulham Study, Advantage schools trust, Amazon, the Civil Service, AMJ International and the British School at Athens. Some graduates pursue careers that make special use of their language skills, including translating, interpreting and teaching, while others continue with graduate training, further study or academic research.*  

*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-2022 cohorts.

Employability

You will gain skills such as critical thinking, oral and written communication and time-management, as well as the mental agility and versatility that comes with learning languages.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £9,535
Tuition fees (2025/26) £29,800

Fees are for Undergraduate 2025/26 entry and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases and are subject to the passing of secondary legislation. Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2025/26 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL Library as hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions. For field trips, students are expected to pay the entrance fee to any admission-charging exhibition or museum visited by a class; the tutor will usually negotiate a group discount where significantly cheaper than the individual student discount. Students can purchase an annual Student Art Pass, providing free or reduced-priced entry to museums and major exhibitions. Full-price tickets for exhibitions and museums range in cost, but are generally around £15 a ticket.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

UCL Hebrew and Jewish Studies awards a range of annual prizes and scholarships of varying amounts to current students for academic excellence and/or financial need. Please view the study page of our website for more information.

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

Your application

We seek to select candidates who, in addition to academic achievement, have the motivation and passion for language learning, for inter-cultural inquiry, and who have a deep commitment to developing and finessing their language proficiency to an advanced level.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

The selection process is conducted on the basis of your UCAS application and personal statement. If you receive an offer of a place on the programme, you will be invited to visit the UCL Hebrew & Jewish Studies and UCL Greek & Latin departments, as well as take a tour of the campus.

Apply via UCAS
Application guidelines
Download prospectus

Got questions? Get in touch

Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Hebrew and Jewish Studies

jewish.studies@ucl.ac.uk

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