BA Archaeology and Anthropology (VL46)
2026 entry | view 2025 entry
Course summary
Our BA Archaeology and Anthropology course offers an exciting, interdisciplinary perspective on what it means to be human, employing archaeology alongside social, evolutionary, and linguistic anthropology.
An ability to understand the diversity of human culture, behaviour and experience across space and time is critical to tackling the key challenges of our contemporary world. Our course will provide you with the essential skills needed to explore issues of migration, sustainable development, and heritage, alongside key questions of cultural and technological change.
You will receive training in qualitative and quantitative archaeological and anthropological methodologies and gain vital archaeological experience in field and laboratory work. You will also be introduced to a range of descriptive, analytic, interpretative and visual approaches to the investigation of archaeological and anthropological material. This will prepare you to undertake fieldwork in communities locally and further afield, providing you with key transferable skills for future employment. Original research inspires all our teaching, and your degree culminates in you producing a substantial final-year dissertation on a topic of your choice.
Accreditations
Our programme is fully accredited by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CiFA) and University Archaeology UK (UAUK).
Course structure
Your first year introduces you to the fundamental theories of archaeology and anthropology. You will take units that introduce you to each of the disciplines and their specialist fields such as social, linguistic and evolutionary anthropology and archaeological science. You will take part in our own departmental training excavation, developing a wide range of practical skills, from excavation to community engagement.
Your second year allows greater specialisation as you become more familiar with the range of research methods and theoretical frameworks deployed by archaeologists and anthropologists, as well as the key questions they ask.
The third year provides an opportunity to pursue a specialist area of interest working closely with a member of staff to write a dissertation on an original topic of your choice. There is also an option to build your employability skills further by completing a work placement with an external partner such as a museum, commercial archaeological unit or national heritage organisation.
Entry requirements
We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.
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Selection process
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement are found in the University admissions policies and procedures.
- If applying with extenuating circumstances please see our policy.
- Full information about our selection processes for Archaeology and Anthropology can be found in the Admissions Statement:
Admissions statement - The admissions statement above relates to 2025 entry. The statement for 2026 entry will be available in summer 2025.