Information for International Students Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History
Program Overview
Students of Ancient History study the Greek and Roman cultures of antiquity, including Christian-influenced late antiquity (approx. 1st millennium BC to 7th century AD). Students on the Bachelor's degree course in Ancient History acquire basic knowledge of the history of events and geography of antiquity as well as insights into the most important methods of historical analysis and interpretation. The Bachelor's degree in the major subject teaches students the ability to collect and critically discuss existing historical source material and to evaluate it in a contextualizing manner. Students generate an in-depth understanding of historical contexts on the basis of exemplary topics and practice interdisciplinary working methods in contact with neighboring subjects. In addition to these subject-specific qualifications, graduates possess a range of key skills:
- They are able to work on complex topics independently and in a results-oriented manner
- They have experience in interdisciplinary and multilingual work
- They have experience in evaluating multicultural contexts
- They are able to analyze political and social structures
- They have a command of multimedia and target group-oriented forms of presentation based on practiced oral and written expression skills
Course Outline
The Department of Ancient History and Epigraphy offers a B.A. course in Ancient History that can be studied as a 1st or 2nd main subject (50%) or as a subsidiary subject (25%).
Alongside evidence of a good working knowledge of English and another modern foreign language, certified knowledge of Latin (e.g. Latinum) is required by both B.A. courses (main and subsidiary) for participation in the In-Depth modules and the Source Analysis module in the main courses (50%).
Students unfamiliar with a second modern foreign language can acquire the requisite proficiency by the beginning of the 4th study semester. In the main (50%) B.A. course in Ancient History, the Latinum certificate can be acquired by the beginning of the 4th study semester in the framework of the Subject-Specific Language Skills module. Proficiency in ancient Greek is required for the M.A. course in Ancient History but not for the B.A. courses.
Students taking the subsidiary B.A. course (25%) in Ancient History cannot acquire the Latinum in the B.A. course itself. Accordingly, it is advisable for students not yet in possession of the Latinum (or equivalent) to combine Ancient History as a subsidiary with subjects in which the Latinum is an integral part of the B.A. course.
The B.A. course in Ancient History is designed to establish the fundamental knowledge required for scholarly engagement with the Greek and Roman civilisations of Antiquity. Heidelberg University’s Centre for Ancient Studies assembles Ancient History and almost all its neighbouring disciplines of in one building. Accordingly, the Department of Ancient History and Epigraphy has every opportunity for close interdisciplinary cooperation with other ancient studies subjects like Classical Archaeology, Classical Philology or Egyptology. A traditional focus of the Department is intensive training in auxiliary ancient-studies-related subjects like epigraphy, papyrology and numismatics.
Enrolment
Admission to the course is not restricted. Enrolment is conducted via the heiCO-Portal of the University for all courses. There are special regulations for international applicants, please see the pages of the International Relations Office and the Information for International Students. Tuition Fees at Heidelberg University are payable at the beginning of each semester.
Issues arising in connection with examinations, credit transfer and academic credential recognition are dealt with by the relevant examinations board/office.
For more information, consult the academic advisor, currently Dr. Wolfgang Havener.