Graduate Certificate of Ancient History
PostgraduateMAQ-HIS-GCE2025
Use your imagination to form meaningful and original perspectives
Study the art, architecture, religion and literature of ancient civilisations to develop an understanding of cultural history. Specialise in Ancient Greece, Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Israel, Early Christianity, Coptic Studies or Ancient Languages.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 20 July 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 6 months full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Graduate Certificate of Ancient History
About this degree
On successful completion, you will be able to
- Understand recent developments in one or more of the following specialised bodies of knowledge: Ancient Greece, Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Israel, Early Christianity, Coptic Studies, Ancient Language.
- Apply research principles and methods relevant to Ancient World studies in one or more of the fields of archaeology; art and architecture; epigraphy; historiography, language and literature; material culture; numismatics.
- Understand, respect and display professional (academic), ethical and sustainability principles and values.
- Evaluate theoretical, methodological, historical and linguistic information and scholarship about ancient Egypt and the Near East and/or Greece, Rome and Late Antiquity.
- Integrate knowledge, imagination, and evaluation as a foundation for creative learning behaviour.
- Communicate ideas about Ancient History studies clearly, coherently and with reference to evidence.
- Utilize research methods and tools, balancing creativity and initiative with knowledge of the subject and scholarship
- Apply knowledge and skills in a professional manner
The course will provide pathways for you, to further studies in Ancient History, support specific professional development needs (eg for teachers) or preparing you for entry into the Master of Ancient History in an online mode.
You will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of a complex body of knowledge in a range of the disciplines offered: Ancient Greece, Rome, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Israel, Early Christianity, Coptic Studies, and Ancient Languages.
In addition to the coursework offered through a program of online seminars, you may conduct research in your chosen field.
Recommended study pattern
Complete 4 essential subjects:
- AHIX6100 Ancient Languages Foundation
- AHIX6200 Ancient Language Studies: Foundation in Ancient Language
- AHIX6201 Ancient Historiographical and Historical Studies: Foundation
- AHIX6202 Archaeological and Historical Studies: Foundation in Archaeology or History
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate of Ancient History students must complete four subjects.
A student who is taking an unduly long time to complete a program of study may be excluded from further enrolment. An unduly long period of time is considered to be effective enrolment longer than 4 years for Graduate Certificates.
On completion of admission you are bound by the University Terms and Conditions and must comply with present and future By-laws, Rules, Codes, and Policies, Procedures and Schedulesof Macquarie University.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Applications are due the Friday two weeks prior to the close of enrolment date for the study term you are applying for.
Note: Once you have been admitted into your degree, you must enrol in at least one subject in the study term immediately following admission, and you must remain enrolled past the census date. If not, your admission will lapse and you will need to re-apply for the degree again. Deferment is not available for OUA students.
Visit Studying a degree through OUA for further information.
Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy will not be permitted to register in Macquarie University degrees offered through OUA. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $12,280
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 11
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 10
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
AQF level 7 bachelor's qualification or recognised equivalent
The required standard of English for this program is:
Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each band, or equivalent.
All applicants to coursework programs at Macquarie University are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.
For more information on accepted equivalents, please see English Language Requirements.
You may be eligible for credit against individual units in your course at Macquarie if you have additional postgraduate-level study or qualifications beyond those required for admission.
For more information see our Recognition of Prior Learning page or submit an enquiry.
Career opportunities
The Graduate Certificate Of Ancient History will provide further career development for established professionals; in particular, teachers of Ancient History at high school level who wish to expand their knowledge base.
The degree will prepare students for subsequent entrance into a Graduate Diploma of Arts with a Specialisation in Ancient History or MA in Ancient History, Egyptology, or Coptic Studies at Macquarie University. These future awards will in turn provide an ideal qualification for relevant professions such as research assistant/associate, gallery, archival or museum curator, writer/editor, librarian/information specialist, tertiary or secondary teacher, travel and tour guide operator or for administrative careers in the public or private sector.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Archivists, Curators and Records Managers | $93K to $120K | Up 12% |
| Secondary School Teachers | $93K to $120K | Up 2.7% |
| Social Professionals | $75K to $93K | Up 0.4% |
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Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.