Millar began his academic career as a
fellow of
Queen's College, Oxford, from 1964 to 1976. He then moved to
University College London where he was
Professor of Ancient History between 1976 and 1984. While Camden Professor, he was a fellow of
Brasenose College, Oxford. Millar served as editor of the
Journal of Roman Studies from 1975 to 1979, and as president of the
Classical Association for 1992/1993. He held various offices in the
British Academy, to which he was elected a fellow in 1976. He was chairman of the
Council for Academic Autonomy (see also
Anthony D. Smith), a group of academic activists who sought to promote
academic freedom and the separation of universities and research institutions from state control. He was an authority in the field of ancient Roman and Greek history. His accolades included honorary doctorates from the
University of Helsinki, and
the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and elected memberships in foreign academies. His first book,
A Study of Cassius Dio (1964), set the tone for his prolific scholarly production. He continued to produce important works, including
The Roman Near East (31 BC – 337 AD) (1993), a path-breaking, non-Romano-centric treatment of this area. His further work included
The Crowd in the Late Republic (1998) and
The Roman Republic in Political Thought (2002). ==Honours==