B.A. in Ancient History is a 3-year undergraduate course, divided into six semesters, with each semester lasting a period of six months. As an academic discipline, Ancient History is the study of mankind’s past, viz. history, society, religions, material culture, and languages of Ancient Greece, Rome, besides Indian History. Subjects range from Prehistory (c 1500 BCE) to the early medieval world (c 1000 CE).
It is one of the specializations of Bachelor of Arts (BA) that deals with the history of Greeks, Romans and related tales about their empires. The course’s curriculum covers significant historical events and personalities, such as Greek heroes in the Trojan war, rulers and citizens of Rome and its empire, makers of medieval Europe and Classic Indian History.
Students enrolled to the course are offered an advanced insight into the cultural patterns and traditions of the ancient world. The program is a critical, interdisciplinary approach to a broad range of material and textual remains.
Bachelor of Arts in West Bengal | Bachelor of Arts in Uttar Pradesh | Bachelor of Arts in Karnataka | Bachelor of Arts in Tamil Nadu |
The course has been designed to build in eligible students the requisite skills to engage in higher research in the discipline, besides pursuing the field professionally, such as studying and using literary texts, papyri, inscriptions, coins, art, and other such archaeological evidence to reconstruct and decode the ancient world academically. Students are also needed to partake in archaeological fieldwork as part of the curriculum.
The average course fee charged in India ranges between INR 30,000 and 5 lacs for the total duration. The average annual salary offered to successful graduates of the course in India ranges between INR 3 and 10 lacs.Upon successful completion of the course, graduates interested in pursuing higher studies in the discipline may go for pursuing M.A., and further Ph.D. in the subject.
B.A. in Ancient History: Course Highlights
Listed below are some of the major highlights of the course
Course Level | Graduate |
Duration | 3 years |
Examination Type | Semester System |
Eligibility | 10+2 from a recognized educational Board |
Admission Process | Direct admission. Entrance test in some cases. |
Course Fee | INR 3,000 to 18,000 |
Average Starting Salary | INR 3 to 5 lacs |
Top Recruiting Fields/Areas | Museums, Art Galleries, Tour and Travel-based organizations, Government Offices, etc. |
B.A. in Ancient History: What is it About?
B.A. in Ancient History is the study of humanity’s past, ranging from the beginning of ancient human history through to the middle ages. Subjects of study covered within this course’s curriculum are Medieval History, Ancient History, Post classical History, Greek and Roman Civilizations History, and History of India.
Enrolled students are offered an academic insight into Greek, Roman, and Egyptian history, late antiquity, archaeology, and the intellectual aspects of ancient Greece and Rome. Besides theory-based papers, the course also involves workshops, seminars, and presentations as vital components.
Top Institutes offering B.A. in Ancient History
Listed below are some of the top institutes offering the course in the country with the corresponding locations and fees charged by each.
Name | City | Average Annual Fees in INR |
Dhirendra Mahila Mahavidyalaya | Varanasi | 2,055 |
Nehru Gram Bharti University | Allahabad | 2,500 |
BPHE Society's Ahmednagar College | Ahmednagar | 44,660 |
Harish Chandra PG College | Varanasi | 18,000 |
KS Saket PG College | Faizabad | 1,200 |
CMP Degree College | Allahabad | 1,000 |
Dayanand Bachhrawan PG College | Rae Bareilly | 1,000 |
Mohammad Hasan PG College | Jaunpur | 3,000 |
Akhila Bhagya Mahavidyalaya | Gorakhpur | 3840 |
Kisan PG College | Ballia | 1,500 |
Chaudhary Mahadeo Prasad Degree College | Allahabad | 1,100 |
Sri Agrasen Kanya PG College | Varanasi | 2,000 |
Sanjay Gandhi Mahila College | Gaya | 1,800 |
Ramsundar Pandey Mahavidyalaya | Ghaziabad | 3160 |
Eligibility for B.A. in Ancient History
As a minimum criterion of eligibility, candidates aspiring to pursue the course need to have:
- completed the 10+2 level of education from a recognized educational Board, in any stream, preferably Humanities.
- attained a minimum aggregate score of 50% at the 10+2 level.
B.A. in Ancient History: Admission Process
Most institutes and universities offering the course in India follow a merit-based admission process. However, in cases of some institutes, admission to the course is made on the basis of the candidate’s performance in a relevant written test and/or a round of Personal Interview and/or performance in a relevant qualifying examination. Candidates in such cases are shortlisted based on both academic record and performance in a relevant nation-wide entrance test.
B.A. in Ancient History: Syllabus and Course Description
A semester-wise breakup of the course’s syllabus is tabulated below.
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Ancient History | Prehistory | Classical Antiquity |
Greek and Roman Civilizations | Timeline of Ancient History | Before Christ |
History and Post Classical History | Middle to Late Bronze Age | Early Ancient History |
Early Iron Age | Late Ancient History. |
B.A. in Ancient History: Career Prospects
Successful graduates of the course can find gainful career opportunities in fields like archaeology, heritage industry, museums, business, journalism, administrative services, computing, media, librarianship, teaching, further academic study, and other such areas requiring artistic academic versatility.
Historians analyze and evaluate documentary evidence, work with government agencies, public sector departments, not-for-profit organizations and such. They are also best suited for roles such Policy Analyst, Local Historian, Evaluator, and Planner, and after specialized training, Cultural Historic Preserver and Resources Manager.
Such graduates are hired in capacities such as Information Officer, Records Manager, Archivist, Genealogist, Gallery or Museum Curator, and Librarian, Newspaper and Broadcast Journalist, Administrative Officer, etc.
In terms of job roles, they organize service delivery, engage in report writing, draft procedures and policies, and such.
Some of the popular professional avenues open to such graduates are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.
Job Position | Job Description | Average Annual Salary in INR |
Archaeologist | They work closely with local authorities, advising on the archaeological implications of museums and heritage centers. They assist in preservation, conservation, display and interpretation of artefacts. Also, they collaborate with universities and research organizations, carrying out research and educational work. | 7-8 lacs |
Curator | They are responsible for assembling, cataloguing, managing, presenting, and displaying artistic and cultural collections. They are in charge of collections/ exhibits in museums and art galleries. | 5-7 lacs |
Tour Guide | They are in charge of leading groups of visitors through points of historical, cultural, or regional interest. They provide in-depth intelligence, about heritage sites and famous places in a city, frequented by tourists, vacationers, and students. | 2-4 lacs |
Archivist | They acquire, manage, and maintain documents and other materials of historical importance. They work for individuals, organizations, and nations. A large part of their work is related to making information accessible to users, increasingly in digital format. | 1-2 lacs |
Genealogist | They use a variety of public and private records, court records, immigration records, and original tax books to trace family trees and descendants. They work as consultants for their clients, and both advise and undertake lines of research. | 4-5 lacs |
Historian | They research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters. | 4-6 lacs |
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