Overview
Classics and ancient history at Newcastle has a long and distinguished international reputation. We deliver quality research and teaching. We have taught Latin and Greek since 1874, ancient history since 1910 and classical archaeology since 1931.
Our programmes cover a range of classical subjects. They include:
- material culture and history
- language and literature
- philosophy
- history of science and medicine
We have strong links with related disciplines such as history, archaeology and modern languages.
Our staff include scholars of outstanding international reputation. Our research covers all major aspects of the study of the ancient world.
Classics and Ancient History PhD and MPhil supervision is usually available in:
Ancient history and classical archaeology
- Archaeology of religion and ritual from the Bronze Age to the early Classical era
- Greco–Roman religion
- Greek ethnography
- Late Classical and Hellenistic periods: Alexander the Great and Hellenistic empires; kingship and royal ideology
- Contact and interaction between Greeks and non-Greeks
- The history and archaeology of pre-Roman and Roman Italy
- The late Roman Republic
- Institutions of the Roman world
- The social, economic and cultural history of the Roman Empire
- Roman Greece
- Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt
- The era of the tetrarchy and Constantine
- Pagan-Christian relations
- Late Roman/early mediaeval legal history
- Slavery in the ancient world
- Greek art and archaeology
Classical language and literature
- Greek poetry from Homer to the imperial age
- ‘Presocratic’ and ‘Hippocratic’ writers
- Greek tragedy, including its reception
- Ancient didactic poetry
- Second Sophistic
- Ancient linguistic thought, especially etymology
- Greek influence on later literature
- Greek and Roman music, including harmonic theory; instruments and their place in the development of Greek musical science; music and Graeco-Roman society; the representation of musical instruments.
- Greek and Roman oratory and rhetoric
- Cicero: rhetoric, philosophy, politics
- Latin poetry
- Literature and religion in Latin epic
- Time in ancient literature
- Flavian literature and culture
- Ancient historiography
- History of Classical Scholarship
- Reception of the ancient world
Philosophy and science
- Ancient philosophy, particularly epistemology and ethics,
- The exact sciences in Greek and Roman antiquity
- The history of Greek and Roman medicine
- Hippocratic medicine and the history of its reception up until the 20th century
You can find a detailed list of our Classics and Ancient History research areas.
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Important information
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Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
MPhil – Master of Philosophy
An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 – 50,000 word thesis.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
PhD – Doctor of Philosophy
A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
How you’ll learn
Delivery and teaching methods
You’ll receive regular supervision with a lead supervisor and a second supervisor.
Assessment methods
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Thesis
- Viva
Additional assessment information
We offer a wide range of projects for the thesis. These will be provided by our academics. You can also propose your own topic.
Support
In semester one of your first year, your supervisor will assess your skills training needs (eg languages, quantitative data management). We will review and discuss your training needs with you on a regular basis. We also track their efficacy yearly.
Postgraduate research student support
Our mission is to help you:
- stay healthy, positive and feeling well
- overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
- get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
- carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
- understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules
We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.
You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:
- research and professional skills
- careers support
- wellbeing
- health and safety
- public engagement
- academic development
Find out more about our postgraduate research student support
Your development
There is a lively research culture in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology. You’ll have the opportunity to get involved in our student-led Postgraduate Forum. Their activities include publishing an online peer-reviewed journal.
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) researcher development programmeÂ
Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:
- perform better as a researcher
- boost your career prospects
- broaden your impact
Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.
You’ll cover:
- techniques for effective research
- methods for better collaborative working
- essential professional standards and requirements
Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.
Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme
Doctoral training and partnerships
There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:
- Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
- Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)
Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:
- they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
- you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
- they’re often interdisciplinary
- your PhD may be funded
If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.
The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:
- Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership
Your future
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 100 for Classics and Ancient History  – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024Â
Facilities
The School of History, Classics and Archaeology has its own postgraduate suite. This provides a centre for our growing community of over 100 full and part-time postgraduate scholars.
The Great North Museum: Hancock houses a renowned collection of over 1,000 Greek and Etruscan artefacts. There is a wealth of museums and archaeological sites in the North East, including Hadrian’s Wall.
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A minimum of a 2:1 honours degree and a Master’s degree at Merit level, or international equivalent, in a related subject. We will give specific consideration to any independent research you do as part of your studies and/or appropriate professional experience.
You must submit two letters of recommendation (obligatory) and a writing sample, such as a chapter from an MA dissertation or a published paper (optional).Â
