School: History, Classics & Archaeology

Taught programmes

Research programmes

About the School

As one of the largest of its kind in the UK, the University of Edinburgh’s School of History, Classics & Archaeology is one of the great world centres for the study of the human past. The University of Edinburgh is ranked We are ranked 13th in the world and 3rd in Europe for arts and humanities (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018).

This allows us to offer an unrivalled and wide-ranging portfolio of programmes, while our diverse and energetic research culture covers many periods, areas and themes. Our home is the William Robertson Wing, an A-listed building in Edinburgh’s Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage site – that provides state-of-the-art research and study facilities.

Be inspired by world-class research

We cultivate interdisciplinary research collaborations that bring experienced academics, early career and postdoctoral researchers and postgraduates together. Our research groups include digital humanities, intellectual history, material culture and science, medicine and technology. With a research tradition in archaeology, classics and history that we trace back to the 18th century, we offer a stimulating study environment built on a solid foundation of research excellence.

Many of our researchers are global experts in their field and the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 rated 83 per cent of our history research and 67 per cent of our classics research either 4* world leading or 3* internationally excellent in the overall quality profile. In both these areas we were ranked in the top 5 universities in the UK by research power (Research Fortnight REF 2014).

History

History at Edinburgh is one of the largest and most distinguished centres of its kind. In fact, we hold the oldest established Chair in Scottish History. Our teaching offers a rich diversity of topics, delivered by a multinational group of historians whose interests cross many periods, regions and specialisms, from Scotland and Renaissance Italy through to contemporary political history and non-European history.

Classics

Classics at Edinburgh continues a tradition that goes back to the University’s foundation in 1583. Our teaching covers all the major disciplines in the field: Greek and Latin literature and thought; Greek and Roman history; and Classical art and archaeology. With around 20 permanent academic staff, we are one of the largest, most wide-ranging classics centres in the UK.

Archaeology

Archaeology at Edinburgh has a long tradition going back to the 19th century. Our first Abercromby Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology was the distinguished prehistorian, Vere Gordon Childe. Edinburgh has research and teaching expertise in European, Mediterranean and Near Eastern archaeology (including Egyptology), and bioarchaeology (human and animal osteoarchaeology). Staff direct fieldwork projects in the UK, Europe, the Mediterranean, Egypt and Turkey.

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