University of Edinburgh School of History, Classics and Archaeology

The School of History, Classics and Archaeology belongs to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. It sits in the William Robertson Wing of the Old Medical School buildings on Teviot Place. Classics teaching began in 1583, soon after the university’s foundation. The school holds the oldest established Chair in Scottish History. It also has the oldest Chair of Classics, created in 1708 from earlier chairs of Greek and Latin. Three research centres focus on modern history, global history, and medieval and Renaissance studies. The school is worth visiting for its long academic tradition and influential staff. Vere Gordon Childe held the first Abercromby Chair of Archaeology here. Later holders included Stuart Piggott. Notable graduates range from Prime Minister Gordon Brown to archaeologist Lord Abercromby. The school has more than 150 academic staff and nearly 1,500 undergraduates. About a quarter of students come from outside the United Kingdom. Inside the William Robertson Wing, visitors find lecture rooms and seminar spaces. The building sits among the university’s central campus on Teviot Place. Outside, the city of Edinburgh offers cafés, libraries and historic streets. The school publishes the Journal of Lithic Studies, adding to its scholarly presence.