Ancient Visual and Material Culture (MA)
Explore our Ancient Visual and Material Culture Master's degree at Warwick
Warwick's Classics and Ancient History Department have expertly designed this MA to focus on the history and material culture of Ancient Greece and Rome.
Course overview
Our Ancient Visual and Material Culture MA course provides a thorough preparation in research techniques if you are considering further research in the fields of art, numismatics or epigraphy, or are working on a historical topic that involves the consideration of material evidence. It will also provide a detailed understanding of ancient visual and material culture to prepare you if you are aiming to enter a career in museums and curatorial work, or in education.
The Ancient Visual and Material Culture course includes the option to take one module taught either by the British School, Athens or by the British School at Rome. These modules focus on a different skill set for handling Ancient Greek or Roman material culture from year to year. Please note admission is subject to the discretion of the British Schools and cannot be guaranteed by Warwick.
Skills from this degree
The degree is designed to introduce you to major issues in the study of ancient material culture, and to key methodologies and approaches. It will help to develop your intellectual skills in the following areas:
- Ability to select and respond to particular methodological approaches when dealing with material culture
- Understanding of the ways in which material culture has been studied since antiquity
- Ability to present a structured chain of argument drawing together evidence into a cohesive whole
- Ability to select and apply appropriate problem-solving methodologies
- Ability to conduct independent research and analysis
It will also help to develop the following key transferable skills:
- Written and oral communication skills
- Organisational skills
- Ability to evaluate intellectual progress
- IT skills – word processing
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
Applicants will need to have achieved or be expecting to achieve a good 2:1 undergraduate degree in Classics/Ancient History/Archaeology or a relevant subject to be considered for entry.
English language requirements
You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:
- Band B
- IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
International qualifications
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.
For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.
Academic References
We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses.
You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.
View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window
Additional requirements
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Core modules
You will also choose one of the following modules:
You may also choose to study an ancient or modern language:
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:
You will take 90 CATS of optional modules.
Subject to demand, the options above usually run each year.
It is also possible to take an approved module from other Departments across the Faculty.
Teaching
There are 10, two-hour seminars held weekly or fortnightly in terms one and/or two and assessed by a 5,000 word essay on a topic of your choice, decided upon negotiation with a member of academic staff.
Seminars will comprise student-led presentations and discussion centred around pre-allocated reading and questions; others will take place in museums.
The BSA and BSR courses are taught via site and museum visits and lectures, with students carrying out independent research in the BSA or BSR libraries.
Teaching methods used for language modules vary depending on the level, but run across all three terms.
Class sizes
The classes of the taught modules comprise 5-10 students and up to 15-20 for Language classes. This size allows teaching to be tailored according to the students’ interests.
Typical contact hours
For this course, the contact hours are six hours per week.
This includes face-to-face guidance to direct you to identify your research topic and do your research.
Assessment
Most modules (apart from language modules) will be assessed by a 5,000-word essay on a topic of your choice, decided upon by negotiation with a member of academic staff. The dissertation will be a piece of work 15,000-20,000 words and built on the research carried out whilst on the programme.
Reading lists
If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platformLink opens in a new window.
You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogueLink opens in a new window.
Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.
Your timetable
Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.
Your career
Our degrees equip you with the skills and experiences needed to excel in your career. With access to exceptional career services, industry connections, and global opportunities, we’ll inspire and help you to aim high and achieve your goals. Our guidance ensures you graduate as a well-rounded professional ready for lifelong success.
The median salary for University of Warwick 2021/22 postgraduates whose main employment was full-time work in the UK was £38,000 (based on 971 respondents - 17% of the total postgraduate population)*.
Typical career paths chosen by our graduates include jobs in*:
- Museums and the heritage sector
- Education
- Publishing
- Civil service
- Further research
*Derived from the Graduate Outcomes survey, 2021/22, carried out approximately 15 months after completion of studies.
Conducted annually, Graduate Outcomes Link opens in a new window collects information on the activities and perspectives of graduates. Contains HESA data: Copyright Jisc 2024. Jisc cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data.
Helping you find the right career
Your career path is unique to you. Our university careers team offer personalised support to help you develop your skills, plan your career path, and get experience at any point during your time at Warwick, and after graduation.
Our department also has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant. They offer impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:
- What can you do with a Classics and Ancient History degree
- Careers in the Creative Industries
- Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
- Next steps after your Classics degree… hear from our Alumni
- Networking for Classics students
Discover more about postgraduate careers support at WarwickLink opens in a new window.
Classics and Ancient History at Warwick
Take your fascination with the ancient world further.
Our Classics and Ancient History department is tailor-made for a community of curiosity. Work closely with award-winning academics while carving your own path through the varied disciplines we study - from literature and history, to philosophy and art.
Share your observations, opinions and developing interests. Develop critical and creative thinking that will prove valuable for your future – wherever in the world this might take you.
Find out more about us on our website.Link opens in a new window
Our Postgraduate courses
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.
Fee Status Guidance
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
Find out more about how universities assess fee status
Additional course costs
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).
Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2025/26 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
- Core text books
- Printer credits
- Dissertation binding
- Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Scholarships and funding
Scholarships and financial support
Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.
Living costs
Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at University of Warwick.
Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.
How to apply checklist
Our how to apply checklist helps you prepare for your application.
I'm ready to apply
Learn more about the Applicant Portal.
Application deadlines
Applications for courses starting in September and October 2026 are now open.
Applications close on 2 August 2026 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.
Explore ways to connect with us
We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:
- Warwick hosted events
- Postgraduate Fairs
- Live chats
- Talk and Tours
- Department events