This course enables students to study history from the Bronze Age Mediterranean and Near East, through the Roman Empire, middle ages, and early modern period, right up to British, European and world history in the present day. Fruitful comparisons between societies abound, and the methods by which we study them are mutually illuminating.

Oxford historians typically move on to careers in fields as varied as law, investment banking and consultancies, advertising, accountancy, the Civil Service, publishing, journalism and the media, global charity work, museums, librarianship and archive work, and teaching. Recent Ancient and Modern History graduates include a civil servant, a librarian, and a charity campaign manager. Mary-Kate, who graduated in 2006, says: ‘Through my joint course I developed skills in working flexibly and under pressure, enhanced my analytical skills and learnt to be independently minded. These have all proven to be invaluable assets in my career as a Fast Streamer for the Home Office. Being a Fast Streamer means that I’m following an accelerated training and development graduate programme.’