Archaeology BSc

London, Bloomsbury
Archaeology BSc (2024)

This programme provides training in archaeology focusing on the analysis of ancient materials and past environments, theoretical concepts and field techniques. You will learn how new scientific techniques and advances in science allow us gain new insight into important questions about past societies. You will also have opportunities to participate in current research using our extensive laboratories and wide-ranging reference collections.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
3 academic years
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£9,250
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
Programme starts
September 2025
Application deadline
29 Jan 2025
UCAS course code
F402

Entry requirements

Grades
ABB
Subjects
No specific subjects. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
GCSEs
English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Contextual offers are typically one to two grades lower than the standard offer. Grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.

Points
34
Subjects
A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.

Contextual offer

Contextual offers are typically one to two grade boundaries (equivalent to A levels) lower than the standard offer. IB Diploma grade and subject requirements for contextual offers for this programme will be published in Summer 2024.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction, 12 credits at Merit and 3 credits at Pass, all from Level 3 units.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction.

D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects

ABB at Advanced Highers (or AB at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher)

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A levels at grades ABB.

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

Access and widening participation

UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.

Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.

For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.

English language requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Course overview

The Archaeology BA and BSc share many of the same core modules in first and second year. In the second year BSc students will study a core module in ‘Applications of Archaeological Science’. In this compulsory module you will start to apply analytical techniques used to investigate archaeological questions (such as petrography, elemental analysis, archaeobotany, spatial analysis, and conservation) and discuss the development of analytical projects (research proposal, literature review, methodology, sampling, analytical results, presentation and critique). 

The BA and BSc routes also differ in the focus of optional modules, as BSc students will choose modules with greater concentration on scientific analysis. Support is provided for students developing their own analytical projects for their third year dissertation.

The first year provides a grounding in archaeological concepts, practical methods in archaeology and an introduction to major issues in world prehistory.

The second and third years provide a more advanced understanding of archaeology and theoretical approaches, and allow you to develop your own specialised interests by choosing optional modules in particular subject areas.

In the third year you are given the chance to reflect critically on your fieldwork experience and the skills you have been developing during the degree through a portfolio, and write a 10,000-word dissertation on a detailed subject that you will choose, research and write up with the help of a supervisor.

Throughout the degree you will be able to select optional modules that provide an in-depth study of particular geographical regions, time periods and archaeological materials. Optional modules will help you develop practical skills in a range of areas, from topographical surveying to archaeological photography. There are archaeology optional modules that run on a biennial basis and range from Roman Art and Architecture to Pottery Analysis; from Geoarchaeology to Zooarchaeology; from Amazonia or the Aztecs to Stonehenge, China and Early Islamic Archaeology.

What this course will give you

You will become part of a top-class institution, currently ranked third in the world for archaeology in the QS World Rankings 2022 and fifth in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2023. We offer an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming environment across all levels of study.

The Institute of Archaeology's degree programmes offer a huge variety of optional modules, covering a diverse range of archaeological topics in both a theoretical and a practical manner. Optional modules (subject to change) include Greek Art & Architecture, Zooarchaeology, The Age of Stonehenge, Human Evolution, Museum Archaeology.

The degree includes 70 days of partially funded fieldwork, including physical fieldwork in destinations across the globe and digital fieldwork.  

Teaching and learning

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) in Archaeology.

Modules

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

First year compulsory modules give you a grounding in the broad range of materials analysed by archaeologists, the practical methods of fieldwork and an introduction to social anthropology and a survey of world archaeology.

Second year compulsory modules provide you with a more advanced understanding of archaeological theories and develop your research and presentation skills.

In third year you will present a portfolio designed to encourage you to critically reflect on your fieldwork experiences. You will also write a 10,000 word dissertation, on a subject selected with the support of a supervisor. 

You will be able to select optional modules that provide an in-depth study of particular geographical regions, time periods or archaeological materials.

All students will complete 70 days of partially-funded fieldwork, which includes excavation, museum work, research and digital fieldwork. Recent fieldwork destinations include England, Wales, Scotland , Greece, Turkmenistan, Portugal, Romania, Spain, USA and Morocco.

Optional modules

The Neolithic of Europe






Geoarchaeology: Sediments, Site Formation and Palaeolandscapes

Lithic Technology

Economy and Trade in the Mediterranean Iron Age


Art and Archaeology of Early Imperial China

Indigenous Archaeology

Advanced Field Techniques

Geophysics for Archaeology


Your learning

You will be taught using a mixture of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, either field or laboratory-based. Full use is made of our extensive teaching and reference collections and close connections to the national museums and collections of London.

Fieldwork is a major component of the degree, with 70 days of partially funded fieldwork being a compulsory element.

Fieldwork includes excavation, museum work, research and digital projects that can take place all over the globe. Recent projects have taken place in England, Wales, Scotland, Greece, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Tunisia, Morocco, Turkmenistan and USA.

Each student will engage in 1200 learning hours every year, made up of teaching time (lectures, seminars and workshops), independent study, assessment and feedback. Students will also be expected to complete 70 days of fieldwork over the period of their degree.

Assessment

Coursework, typically 1,000-2,500 word essays, is used to assess most modules. Some modules also involve an examination element. The completion of 70 days of fieldwork is a requirement for all archaeology students.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

The foundation of your career

Students learn to communicate effectively verbally, visually and in writing to diverse audiences and develop a sensitivity to different cultures. They also develop excellent transferable skills providing the experience necessary to work both within the archaeology, heritage and museum sector and in numerous sectors outside of the discipline. 

Our graduates go on to work in a diverse range of fields from archaeology (fieldwork, research and academia), heritage, museums, the UK civil service, politics, police, law, engineering, business - the possibilities are extremely wide and varied. (Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 cohorts).

Employability

Throughout the degree, students develop transferable skills that are valuable across a range of job sectors. This includes both independent working and teamwork skills, research and analytical skills, planning and project management, and an understanding of the importance of recovering primary data through practical experience.

Accreditation

All UCL Institute of Archaeology undergraduate degrees are accredited by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) and Universities Archaeology UK (UAUK). On graduation students can become a Practitioner member of CIfA (PCIfA), which demonstrates the skills required for employment in archaeology, heritage and museums, as well as a commitment to maintain high professional standards, attributes that are important for employment in many sectors within or outside of archaeology.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £9,250
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400

The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2024/25 academic year. The UK fees shown are for the first year of the programme at UCL only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase. The Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2024/25 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.

Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.

Additional costs

Fieldwork costs can be covered by the department provided that students attend recommended UK based projects. Students who choose to go on other fieldwork will need to contribute to any additional charges involved.

Students normally cover the costs of their own equipment approximately £300 (trowel / tent / sleeping bag / boots / jackets etc.). Email Charlotte Frearson c.frearson@ucl.ac.uk for a more comprehensive list of equipment.

A guide including rough estimates for these and other living expenses is included on the UCL Fees and funding pages. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).

Funding your studies

Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.

Scholarships

The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.

Next steps

Your application

We are looking for students who can demonstrate an interest in the past, and the development of human societies across geographical regions, time periods and material cultures. We will refer to your Personal Statement for evidence of critical thinking, communication and analytical ability. We are keen to attract a diverse student cohort, and welcome applications from mature students.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.

Once an offer has been made applicants are invited to attend a Post Offer Open Day (in person and virtual are organised) where they will meet staff and students and will be able to see all of the facilities on site at the UCL Institute of Archaeology and UCL.

Additionally, the open day allows you to learn about our archaeological artefacts, meet specific tutors, tour UCL and the institute, and find out more about the degree programmes, resources and facilities we offer. Alternative arrangements can be made for those living overseas including Virtual Open Days and tours outside of the advertised dates. 

The UCAS application forms are assessed by a central UCL team and the Archaeology department.  The personal statement and predicted grades are used for assessment and sometimes extra information is requested. 

Got questions? Get in touch

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