Archaeology
University of Nottingham
UCAS Code: V400 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
University of Nottingham
UCAS Code: V400 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
AQA Certificate in Mathematical Studies (Core Maths)
If you have already achieved your Core Maths Qualification at grade A you will automatically be offered one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject. If you are still studying for your Core Maths Qualification you will receive the standard course offer, and also an alternate offer with a condition of one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject if you achieve an A grade in your Core Maths Qualification. Core Maths qualifications offered by other exam boards are also considered for an alternative offer.
Access to HE Diploma
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Extended Project
If you have already achieved your EPQ at Grade A you will automatically be offered one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject. If you are still studying for your EPQ you will receive the standard course offer, with a condition of one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject if you achieve an A grade in your EPQ.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English grade 4 (alpha grade C)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
or 555 in 3 Higher Level Certificates
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
and A Level grade B.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
and A Level grades BC.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Advanced Higher
including Scottish Highers BBBBB.
Scottish Higher
This qualification is only acceptable when combined with Advanced Higher grades BB and above.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
This qualification is considered alongside other UoN accepted qualifications such as A Levels.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
We are constantly making new discoveries that change our understanding of past human societies.
At Nottingham, archaeology covers the human story from prehistory to the development of the modern world. Using your foundation knowledge from year one, you will select specialist modules such as human bones or medieval castles to complete your degree.
On this course, you will complete 20 days of archaeological fieldwork. This includes taking part in an approved excavation project, or a related placement, in the UK or overseas.
In the core module, 'Communicating the Past' you will consider how best to present heritage to the public, working in groups to create an interactive activity based on your studies. Recent project titles have included:
- Europe’s Ice Age Hunter-Gatherers – museum exhibition design
- Hadrian’s Wall – an Archaeology Escape Room experience
- HMS Royal George – a digital shipwreck tour
- Seeking out Nottingham’s Past – an Archaeology puzzle game
- Travel the Apennine Way – Roman Board Game
We work closely with the British Geological Survey and the University Nanoscale and Microscale Research Centre, and offer artefact-handling sessions and educational projects at the on-campus University Museum.
Throughout the course, you will gain an understanding of archaeological theory and practice, and a broad view of human culture from around the world. You can also take subsidiary modules from other departments – such as history, philosophy or history of art – or study a language.
Modules
Our first-year core modules are designed as an introduction. Even if you haven’t studied archaeology before, we’ll build everyone's knowledge to the same level, so you can progress through to year two.
You will take 120 credits of modules each year.
In year one, you will cover the general principles and scientific methods of archaeology. You will also study some of the key aspects and periods. You will choose from a range of optional modules, some of which include elements of ancient history and classical civilisations. You may also choose from a range of complementary modules in other subjects.
You’ll have at least 12 hours of timetabled contact a week through lectures, seminars and tutorials.
You must pass year one, but it does not count towards your final degree classification.
On this course, you are required to complete 20 days of archaeological fieldwork or other professional experience.
In year two, you will study our core 'Communicating the Past' and 'Archaeology: Theory and Practice' modules. You will explore a range of thematic and period-based optional modules, as well as those with practical components. You may also choose from a range of complementary modules in other subjects.
You’ll have at least 10 hours of timetabled contact a week through lectures, seminars and tutorials.
You must pass year two, which counts as 33% towards your final degree classification.
In year three, you will undertake your own research project and dissertation. You will also choose 60-80 credits of archaeology modules covering a wide array of archaeological topics and periods from prehistory to the medieval world. Some modules include elements of ancient history and classical civilisations. Further options can be taken from a range of complementary modules in other subjects.
You’ll have at least eight hours of timetabled contact a week through lectures, seminars and tutorials.
You must pass year three, which counts as 67% towards your final degree classification.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University Park Campus
Department of Classics and Archaeology
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if the overall teaching satisfaction score here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Archaeology
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Archaeology
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Want to do a job in the arts - with lots of the great outdoors? Try archaeology! There don't tend to be many archaeology undergraduates out there (just under 700 graduated in 2015) - but it's quite a popular subject at postgraduate level. In fact, over a quarter of archaeology graduates take some kind of further study when they graduate - usually more study of archaeology. When you look at the stats, be aware that junior jobs in archaeology are not always well paid at the start of your career, and that temporary contracts are not uncommon. Thankfully, though, unpaid work, whilst not completely gone, is less common than it used to be. The archaeology graduates of 2015 found jobs in archaeology, of course, but also management and heritage and environment work, as well as more conventional graduate jobs in marketing and the finance industry.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Archaeology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£21k
£27k
£34k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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