I chose to study Ancient History at Swansea over the same course at other Universities because of the location, cost of living and reputation.
-Aiden Kee, Ancient History
I have chosen to study Egyptology and Classical Civilisation at Swansea University for a number of reasons. What struck me first about the department was the accessibility of the lecturers and the support offered by them to build upon your chosen degree. Whether it is essay support or extra-curricular opportunities, the department is always ready to help you achieve your aims. This is also made possible by having smaller classes for each module, making you feel like a valued member of the student body rather than just another number. This is definitely something to celebrate!
The modules offer a variety of academic perspectives that make sure that there is something for everyone. I chose to study ‘Middle Egyptian Language for Archaeology’ as my optional choice in my first semester and then ‘Rome: Village to Empire’ so that I get to explore multiple aspects of my degree from historical to lingual.
The course is kept interesting by the lectures, always making sure that you’re intellectually challenged by the content but never lost. This is supported by some amazing opportunities offered by the department such as the chance to study abroad as well as be involved in unique projects alongside other students and lecturers, which has made this particular course all the more interesting as well as gaining valuable experiences.
I cannot recommend the department enough and I am so glad that I have decided to spend the three years of my degree here!
'As an international student from The USA I was drawn to Swansea because in America Egyptology, my passion, is only taught at PhD level. I wanted to explore the topic in-depth as an undergraduate student and Swansea has proven the perfect fit! One of my favourite things about the department is the flexibility of module options. It is so awesome to take modules pertaining to your chosen degree straightaway. In America, general classes (English, Science, Math, etc.) are compulsory so you actually don’t start studying your chosen degree until second year. So far, I have particularly enjoyed the modules Ancient Egyptian Language for Archaeology, Greek and Roman Art and Architecture, and Ancient Egyptian History and Civilization. My first year at Swansea increased my confidence in my work habits and subject knowledge. Not only have my research, writing, and presentation skills improved but I can apply these skills to other areas of my life. The department is friendly, making it easy to make friends and get to know the lecturers, and the staff supportive and helpful. I have attended many departmental social events, such as bowling and laser tag, but my favourite was the second semester study trip to the Bay of Naples in Italy. It was incredible and something I will always remember. It was so fun to visit places that you had studied in class. My decision to study at Swansea has been the best!'
'I chose to study Ancient History at Swansea over the same course at other Universities because of the location, cost of living and reputation. Whilst all of these reasons have proven sound, I would now cite different ones for why studying at Swansea was the right decision for me. The relatively small size of the department means I feel known and valued by the lecturers, whereas I know friends on other courses and at other Universities can feel relatively anonymous. This is added to by the abundance of social events organised within the department, which the lecturers attend, as well as the yearly study trip which I have been lucky enough to go on. Being able to pick my lecturers brains’ at sites which are central to their area of research has been an amazing opportunity and experience.
Furthermore, I have been able to take modules that have allowed me to explore a wide range of issues. For example, the module ‘Being Greek’ engaged with the issues surrounding ‘identity’ relevant to both the ancient world and today. Exploring wider issues like this in the context of Ancient History has really been an unexpected bonus of my degree and has really interested me and been useful outside the course.'
'Continuing my studies at Swansea was a decision that came easily to me. By the end of my undergraduate degree I had made great progress in my studies and I was confident that I could continue developing my research skills as a postgraduate. Swansea had not only been a great working environment for me, but one in which I was comfortable and familiar.
Our department offers a fantastic variety of modules covering a broad range of topics across the ancient world, enabling any student to find and pursue areas of interest. I particularly enjoyed the modules on ‘Roman Houses and Households’, ‘Royal Space: The King and His Palace in the Ancient World’ and ‘Postgraduate Greek’. Furthermore, my undergraduate dissertation enabled me to explore a topic that interested me the most – Greek athletics.
One of the best things about our department is that it is incredibly personal. Over the course of my degree I have developed great friendships with a number of students, but also working relationships with many of the lecturers. This has not only benefited me academically, but has made my experiences here studying my favourite subject far more enjoyable.'
'I began my undergraduate studies enrolled on the Egyptology and Ancient History degree course. I enjoyed learning about Rome and Greece, both very interesting and stimulating subjects, but having studied some Egypt-focused modules I soon realised that I wanted to study Egyptology. The flexibility of the department at Swansea meant that I was able to change to Egyptology single honours during my second year. Learning about these aspects of the ancient world was great and lessons were always fun and informative. The lecturers were all amazing and encouraged all students to never give up - they helped me achieve my dreams through their knowledge and teaching expertise. I greatly enjoyed studying at Swansea and after graduating I soon secured employment working on a very exciting and important local project called the Gower Unearthed Project. Our goal is to recreate a round house, to see how Iron Age Celts would have lived, and to investigate their belief system and interaction with the world around them. Once built it will be open to the public. In my role as academic researcher, I research Celtic history and my findings will be included at the site on leader boards.'
“Since studying a BA in Classical Civilisation and Latin at Swansea University I am now an Editorial and Production Assistant for a magazine company. I applied for a different role, however the company loved my CV and thought that I would be a great asset to their editorial team. The role involves a lot of reading, writing and editing. My degree helps me with this role as it gave me a good understanding of grammar and the ability to read and interpret a wide range of articles. The teaching at the Classics department in Swansea is fantastic and I still receive ongoing support from my old lecturers. The confidence I gained during my time at Swansea University has been crucial for me to travel and find a job I truly enjoy.”
'My MA studies in Ancient Egyptian Culture here at Swansea has gone so quickly! It’s been great studying here as part of a warm and close-knit community, where lecturers know your name and you have the chance to learn more about the subject you love. Having an on-campus museum of Egyptian antiquities which is actively incorporated into the syllabus is amazing, and being able to hold millennia-old objects in my hands as part of the course is an incredible experience that beats any classroom picture! As for the future... my time here has made sure that it’ll be exciting!'