The cultures and societies of the Middle East have been deeply influential in shaping European and western values. In spite of this, the region and its peoples are often misunderstood and represented. Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilizations is the study of the historical origins as well as contemporary culture of a wide range of societies of the region, providing students with an insight into the contemporary Middle East and to the challenges of diversity and multiculturalism in an increasingly globalized world.

Ancient History and Archaeology are both concerned with understanding social, political and cultural experience in the past. This course offers students the opportunity to range across these two broad disciplines. Students will study the Greek and Roman worlds by working with historical and literary documents alongside the material remains of ancient sites and artefacts. All material is studied in translation and no knowledge of Greek or Latin is required, but there are opportunities to take introductory modules in the languages.