Museum Studies and Archaeology

This course combines the contemporary theory and practice of museum studies with the academic and practical study of archaeology. At the University of Reading, our expertise in Archaeology starts with the earliest humans and spans up until the medieval period. We focus mainly on British, European and Near Eastern Archaeology, but also explore other regions across the world.

The Department of Archaeology also has an outstanding track record for student satisfaction, with satisfaction scores of 90-100% for the quality of our courses in every National Student Survey between 2010 and 2019.

The Department of Classics is ranked 6th in the UK for research overall and 3rd in the UK for research output (Times Higher Education Institutions Ranked by Subject, 2014, based on its analysis of Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014). 100% of the Department's research impact has been recognised as world leading or internationally excellent (REF 2014 - Classics).

Central to the course is the hands-on experience you will gain at our on-site museums. The University has three museums – including the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology – in which you can gain experience as a volunteer while you learn. As well as museums we also have a number of special collections, including art and rare books.

You will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be a museum professional by considering the environment that artefacts are displayed in, how they are catalogued and the meanings they hold for different audiences.

Our museum teaching staff are all practising professionals, including curators, conservators and archivists, and use a combination of problem-solving and enquiry based learning techniques in their teaching. You will be given the opportunity to conduct your own research throughout the course, and in your final year, you will design, create and evaluate your own exhibition.

**Placement**

This degree programme is also available as a four-year course, giving you the option of spending your third year on a placement or studying for one year at a University abroad, gaining valuable professional and international experience.

We provide opportunities for you to undertake placements in a variety of contexts.

Students opting to undertake a standard three-year degree course will also have the opportunity to take a fully-credited placement or to spend a single term at one of our partner Universities abroad. Recent options include the Universities of Malta, Aarhus (Denmark), Torún (Poland) and the University of Florida in Gainesville (U.S.A).

**Careers**

This degree can lead to a variety of careers. The course is an ideal foundation to begin your career in heritage management, commercial archaeology, and research, as well as disciplines such as teaching, business, publishing and marketing.

You will gain a broad range of subject-specific and transferable skills spanning the humanities and sciences. Employers consistently rank attitudes and aptitudes for work higher than any other factor, according to the CBI/Pearson Education and Skills survey report 2019. Our curriculum is designed with this in mind, giving you not just knowledge in subjects you are passionate about, but also the qualities that employers really care about – qualities that are transferable to a diverse range of careers.

As a Museum Studies and Archaeology graduate you will develop strong transferable skills, and gain first-hand experience in handling objects, delivering presentations, and investigating other cultures in depth. Your practical experience of archaeological techniques will also give you skills in analysis, problem-solving, working in teams and fieldwork.

You will learn to think and research like a museum professional, and your three years’ experience of working within a multifaceted organisation will make you highly employable in any sector.

We have long-established, excellent relationships with employers within the heritage, archaeology and related sectors.