14Jun
UndergraduateDurham University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework.These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Open days
Course summary
Have you ever wondered what it was like to live in an ancient civilisation? Are you fascinated by what the civilisations of the past can teach us about the present? This course gives you a good overview of the world of archaeology, but also allows you to focus in particular on the great ancient civilisations of Europe, the Near East and Asia, including Ancient Greece and Rome, Egypt, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. This degree offers great flexibility, with options to take modules from other departments, including Classics and Ancient History. Depending on your module choices you may even be able to receive professional accreditation from the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. Using archaeological techniques and approaches, this course puts the heritage of Greece and Rome under the lens. Drawing on the latest research, it also provides a chance to explore Egypt and North Africa, as well as the lesser-known civilisations of the Near East and South Asia. The course provides an exciting mix of traditional scholarship and field-based skills. The course offers an optional study abroad element, where you may spend the third year of a four-year course studying at an overseas university. You can also put your learning into practice by applying to add a placement year to your degree.
Modules
Year 1 Core modules: Ancient Civilisations: Sources, Approaches and Methods* gives you a grounding in a range of scientific methods and techniques used in contemporary archaeology, and will help you develop a critical awareness of the potential and limitations of each. Archaeology Practicals introduces field and laboratory techniques for the recording and analysis of primary materials, sites and monuments, using group work wherever possible. Cities in Antiquity provides you with a broad overview of the archaeology of the Greco-Roman world from 800 BC to AD 400. It also gives you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and to practice your evaluative skills through essay writing and a written examination. Examples of optional modules: Archaeology in Britain; Discovering World Prehistory; Ancient Civilisations of the East; Medieval to Modern: An Introduction to the Archaeology of the Medieval to Post-Medieval World. Year 2 Core modules: Professional Training* (requires three weeks of fieldwork in the summer before starting Year 2) uses practical experience to give you an understanding of the objectives and operation of a fieldwork project and how data and material produced by archaeological projects is processed. Developing Archaeological Research* develops your understanding of research design and the practical skills necessary for archaeological research. You will develop skills in graphics, illustration and presentation techniques as well as learning the basic theory behind research design. Ancient Mediterranean Civilisations: East and West gives you a broad overview of the archaeology of the Mediterranean from 750 BC to AD 700. It also allows you to develop your knowledge and to practice your evaluative skills through essays and seminar presentations and a written examination. Examples of optional modules: Advanced Skills; Prehistoric Europe: From Foragers to State Formation; Becoming Roman: from Iron Age to Empire in Italy and the West; Archaeology of Medieval and Post-medieval Britain in its European Context; The East Mediterranean in the Bronze Age; Scientific Methods in Archaeology. Year 3 (Year 4 if undertaking a placement or year abroad) Core modules: Archaeology Dissertation* significantly develops your skills in independent research, the analysis and presentation of evidence and how to structure a persuasive argument. This will involve writing an extended dissertation in your chosen specialist area of archaeology. Specialised Aspects in Archaeology will help you develop an understanding of specialised aspects of archaeology, chosen from a list of topics representing the main areas of research in the Department. Examples of optional modules: Advanced Professional Training (requires three weeks of fieldwork in the summer before starting Year 3); Current Archaeology; Interpreting Heritage; Museum Representation. All modules marked with * form part of an Accredited CIfA pathway.
Assessment method
On this course you will be assessed through your coursework, traditional skills and presentations, as well as through hands-on practical exercises, including archaeological fieldwork. In the final year you will write a dissertation, led by independent research and supported by one-on-one supervision.
How to apply
31Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- VQ48
- Institution code:
- D86
- Campus name:
- Durham City
- Campus code:
- O
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - AAB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD
Access to HE Diploma - D: 30 credits M: 15 credits
Scottish Higher - AAABB
Scottish Advanced Higher - AAB
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 36 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015) - Not accepted
Extended Project - Not accepted
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H2, H2, H2, H3
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - D3, D3, M2
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DDD
T Level
Our contextual offer for this programme is A level BBC (or equivalent). To find out if you’re eligible, please visit: https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply/what-happens-to-your-application/contextual-offers/.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
English language requirements
Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses. It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course. Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.
English language requirements
https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
| EU | £25750 | Year 1 |
| England | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
| International | £25750 | Year 1 |
Additional fee information
There may also be additional course costs for things like books (if you want to purchase them), field trips etc.
Provider information
Durham University
The Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE