Egyptology and Ancient History with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

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Key Course Details

UCAS Code: VV40
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer (view equivalents): CDD
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025	£ 9,250

4 Year Full Time With a Foundation Year

UCAS Code: VV40
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer: CDD - More Information
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025	£ 18,400

Egyptology and Ancient History with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

Explore Ancient Egyptian Art, History, Civilisation and Archaeology

Swansea University students at Messene Odeon

Course Overview

Egyptology and Ancient History with a Foundation Year covers the study of Ancient Egyptian language, literature, history and culture and studying this four-year BA degree opens up a range of exciting career possibilities by helping you to develop transferable skills, which are highly valued by employers.

You will explore Egyptian art and architecture, ancient Egyptian history and civilisation, archaeology, religion, sex and gender, Ancient and Middle Egypt; Greek and Roman history and society; warfare and empire; and learn a Greek, Latin or Egyptian language.

The Foundation Year gives you an exciting introduction to Higher Education, setting you up with the skills, confidence, and knowledge that you’ll need to be successful on your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after Further Education or are returning to education after a gap.

The foundation year of this four-year course will introduce you to the key concepts and knowledge you need to progress to the BA in Egyptology and Ancient History. Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, students will progress onto Year 1 of the BA.

You will have the option of spending a semester abroad during the second year in either the USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong or Singapore to enhance your student experience and career prospects.

Why Egyptology and Ancient History with a Foundation Year at Swansea?

Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula,

Ancient History at Swansea is ranked:

Top 51-100 in the World (QS World Rankings 2024)
2nd in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2025)
2nd in the UK for Teaching Quality (Times Good University Guide 2025)
Top 5 in the UK for Teaching Satisfaction (Guardian University Guide 2025)
UK Top 20 for Graduate Outcomes (Complete University Guide 2025)

Swansea University is proud to be home to the Egypt Centre, which houses over 5,000 archaeological objects from the Wellcome Collection of Egyptian antiquities.

You can gain teaching experience by leading workshops for the South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnership to enhance your student experience and career prospects or teach beginners Hieroglyphs to members of the local community during the summer.

Your Egyptology and Ancient History with a Foundation Year Experience

All Egyptology and Ancient History students work directly with artefacts in the Egypt Centre, and you can tailor your degree to suit your interests, for example, focusing on Language, Art, Religion or Archaeology.

Our interdisciplinary approach means you can make connections with a range of subject areas – from music to politics.

During your Foundation Year, you will learn the key skills you’ll need to make your degree a success while developing knowledge of your subject area and how it relates to the humanities and social sciences.

Teaching is informed by our world-leading research and you can attend seminars organised through our guest speaker programme.

You can enhance your knowledge and career prospects and take the Egyptian Collection Practicum module, a four-week session providing practical experience for students on site and have the option of studying a Dissertation or a Museum project at the University’s Egypt Centre.

You will have an personal tutor for any pastoral and academic support you may need, and the Society of Ancient Studies organises social and cultural events.

Egyptology and Ancient History with a Foundation Year Employment Opportunities

Students on this course typically develop excellent oral and writing skills and you will learn to present your ideas in a range of formats, along with strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.

Our graduates enter careers in a wide range of sectors including:

Education
Archives
Museum and heritage
Business
Media and public relations
Public services

Modules

In your Foundation Year, you will take a selection of modules that will provide you with key study skills, subject knowledge, and awareness of the importance of the humanities and social sciences. You’ll then progress to your degree.

See breakdown of modules per academic year below.

Year 0 (Level 3)

Entry Level 3 / Foundation Year

Compulsory Modules

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Academic Writing and Skills Development	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-011
Introduction to Being Human	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-012
Introduction to Research	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-015
Critical Reflection and Problem Solving	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-014
Research Essay	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-016
History, Memory and the Creation of Identity	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-018

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Introduction to Ancient Egyptian History, Society and Culture	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE120
Greek History and Society	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH100
Age of Empire: Ancient Egypt and her Neighbours	January-June (TB2)	20	CLE115
Rome from Village to Empire: An Introduction to Roman History	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH150

Optional Modules

Optional Modules - Ancient History - Semester 1

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select ONE module from EACH teaching block. To enrol in a TB2 Latin or Greek module, you should usually enrol in the corresponding TB1 module. Staff can advise on the appropriate level of Latin or Greek modules on request.

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Of Gods and Heroes - Greek Mythology	September-January (TB1)	20	CLC101
Beginning Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG101
Intermediate Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG105
Further Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG125
Beginning Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL101
Intermediate Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL105
Further Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL125
Ovid's Metamorphoses: The Transformations of Mythology	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC102
Introduction to Ancient Philosophy and Rhetoric	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC103
Beginning Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG102
Intermediate Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG106
Further Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG126
Beginning Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL102
Intermediate Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL106
Further Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL126
Fieldtrip module: The Past in its Place	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC100

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

None found.

Optional Modules

Compulsory Modules Selective - Egyptology

Choose Minimum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : You should select at least TWO (and normally THREE) of these modules. In order to take CLE226 in TB2, you must have taken CLE225 in TB1. Overall you must not exceed 60r in any one teaching block.

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Introduction to Egyptian Archaeology	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE214
Introduction to Middle Egyptian Grammar 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE225
The Age of Ramesses III	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE232
Egyptian Art and Architecture	January-June (TB2)	20	CLE220
Introduction to Middle Egyptian Grammar 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLE226	To select this module you must also select CLE225 in TB1

AND

Ancient History - Compulsory Selective

Choose Minimum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : You should select at least TWO (and normally THREE) of these modules. Select at least one module with a CLH code. To enrol in a TB2 Latin or Greek module, you should normally enrol in the corresponding TB1 module. Staff can advise on the appropriate level of Latin or Greek modules on request. Overall, you must not exceed 60 credits in any one teaching block

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Intermediate Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG203
Beginning Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG221
Further Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG225
Advanced Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG227
Marbles, Slaves and Mines, Oils Grains and Wine: Roman Economy and Society	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH2007
Archaic Greece	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH215
The Heirs of Rome: The Making of Christendom, Byzantium, and Islam in the Early Middle Ages, 400-800	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH230
Intermediate Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL203
Beginning Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL221
Further Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL225
Advanced Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL227
Intermediate Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG204
Beginning Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG222
Further Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG226
Advanced Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG228
Guided Research Project	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH2009
Gender in the Roman World	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH267
Alexander and the Hellenistic world	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH297
Intermediate Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL204
Beginning Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL222
Further Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL226
Advanced Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL228
Schools work placement: Teaching ancient history and ancient languages	January-June (TB2)	20	CLP202
The Past in the Present: Exploring Heritage Practice and Debates	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC200
History, Heritage and Classics Study Trip	January-June (TB2)	20	HHC2001

AND

Optional Modules

Choose Maximum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : You may choose a maximum of 20 credits from the following modules, to count towards the Ancient History side of your degree. Students must not exceed 60cr in any one teaching block

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Greek Romance: Sea, Sun and Sex	September-January (TB1)	20	CLC203
Reading Classical Civilisation	September-January (TB1)	20	CLC206
Roman Love Poetry	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC200
Plato's Republic	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC211

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Classics, Ancient History, Egyptology Dissertation	September-June (TB1+2)	40	CLD300

Optional Modules

Egyptology - Compulsory Selective

Choose Minimum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : You should normally select one of these CLE modules if your dissertation is on an Egyptology topic; one or two if your dissertation is on a topic which bridges Egyptology and Ancient History; or two or three if your dissertation is on an Ancient History topic. In total students need two modules per semester from this or the boxes below, alongside the dissertation

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Egyptian Collection Practicum	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE327
Ramesses III: Empire, Invasion, and Conspiracy	September-January (TB1)	20	CLE336
The Archaeology of Ancient Nubia - Egypt's Neighbour in Africa	January-June (TB2)	20	CLE350
After Empire: Pharaonic Egypt in the first millennium BCE	January-June (TB2)	20	CLE399

AND

Ancient History - Compulsory Selective

Choose Minimum Of 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : You should normally select one of these modules if your dissertation is on an Ancient History topic; one or two if your dissertation is on a topic which bridges Egyptology and Ancient History; or two or three if your dissertation is on an Egyptology topic. To enrol in a TB2 Latin or Greek module, you should normally enrol in the corresponding TB1 module. Staff can advise on the appropriate level of Latin or Greek modules on request.

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Intermediate Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG321
Further Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG325
Advanced Greek 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG327
Advanced Greek 3	September-January (TB1)	20	CLG329
Culture and Control in Roman Britain	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH381
Archaic Greece	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH393
Pompeii and the Cities of Vesuvius	September-January (TB1)	20	CLH394
Intermediate Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL321
Further Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL325
Advanced Latin 1	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL327
Advanced Latin 3	September-January (TB1)	20	CLL329
Monarchy: Ancient and Medieval	September-January (TB1)	20	HHC372
Intermediate Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG322
Further Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG326
Advanced Greek 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG328
Advanced Greek 4	January-June (TB2)	20	CLG330
Pagans, Christians, and the "Falls" of Rome	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH374
Alexander and the Hellenistic world	January-June (TB2)	20	CLH397
Intermediate Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL322
Further Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL326
Advanced Latin 2	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL328
Advanced Latin 4	January-June (TB2)	20	CLL330
Schools work placement: Teaching ancient history and ancient languages	January-June (TB2)	20	CLP309

AND

Optional Modules

Choose Maximum Of 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : You may, but do not need to, select one or two modules from this list to complete a total of 120 credits. In total students need two modules per semester alongside the dissertation

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Greek Romance: Sea, Sun and Sex	September-January (TB1)	20	CLC303
Roman Love Poetry	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC300
Plato's Republic	January-June (TB2)	20	CLC312

Entry Requirements

Our standard entry requirement is CDD-DDD at A-level or equivalent. We require a minimum of 5 passes at Grade A*-C, including Welsh/English Language. Entry requirements are flexible and all offers are made following a review of the application form, predicted/achieved grades and subjects, the reference and personal statement. The course is also a widening access programme and developed to support those who may not have been able to otherwise gain access to HE.

How You're Taught

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

Welsh Provision

No Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email astudio@abertawe.ac.uk to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

Meet Your Lecturers

Our degrees are taught by experts, who have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to our students.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Tuition Fees

Start Date	UK	International
September 2024	£ 9,000	£ 17,500
September 2025	£ 9,250	£ 18,400

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate EU/International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

Travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
Purchase of books or texts
Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

We care about our students and our aim is to ensure that you achieve the best degree classification. We have a personal tutoring system where you will be allocated a personal tutor. We also have an “open door” policy where our academic teachers are available to talk to you at any time about any queries or academic concerns you may have.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages. Enrolment on a programme with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection process. In the event you do not secure a semester/year abroad placement, you will be transferred to the standard variant of your degree scheme without a semester or year abroad.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, Fiji, Bali, the USA and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

How to Apply

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

Application Deadlines

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.