Contact information
- Ms Charlotte Frearson
- Admissions Administrator
- c.frearson@ucl.ac.uk
- +44 (0)20 7679 1494
The Archaeology of Egypt and Sudan BA at UCL is the only UK degree to combine the theory and practice of archaeology, alongside language, with the study of sites in Egypt and Sudan. This specialist degree, the first of its kind, will prepare you for a wide range of careers within the archaeology of Egypt and wider Northeast Africa, museums, heritage studies, and beyond.
Due to COVID-19, there may have been updates to this programme for the 2020 academic year. Where there has been an update, these are indicated with a red alert and a link which will provide further information.
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction.
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 28 credits awarded with Merit in the Level 3 units.
D3,M1,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects
ABB at Advanced Highers (or AB at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher)
Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A-Levels at grades ABB.
In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.
If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
The English language level for this programme is: Good
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
UCL is ranked the second best place to study archaeology in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2018.
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 (which may not run every year) include Greek Art & Architecture, Zooarchaeology, Archaeological Photography, Indigenous Archaeology, Archaeology of Human Evolution (to name but a few!)
The degree includes 70 days of partially funded fieldwork: destinations have included Belize, Spain, USA, Romania, Portugal, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Wales, Scotland, Uganda & Greece (to name a few) plus a Classical Field Study Tour (do contact the department for more details about this).
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).
Most of the degree is structured around a combination of core and optional modules. In your first year, you will receive a solid grounding in both the practical and theoretical methods in archaeology, as well as an introduction to major issues in archaeology of Nubia, Sudan and Egyptian archaeology and writing.
The second and third years provide a more advanced understanding of Egyptian archaeology and language 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 during the degree through a fieldwork portfolio, and write a 10,000-word dissertation on a detailed subject that you will choose with the help of a supervisor.
An indicative guide to the structure of this programme, year by year.
World Archaeology: From early state to Globalisation
Introduction to Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology
Introduction to Social Anthropology
Language and Script in the Archaeology of Egypt and Sudan
Field Methods
Introduction to Archaeology
Sites and Artefacts
You will select one of the two of the following optional modules:
Texts in Archaeology
World Archaeology: evolutionary origins to the earliest states
Research and Presentation Skills
Current issues in the archaeology of the Nile Valley
Introduction to the Archaeology of Sudan
Current Issues in Archaeological Theory
Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Language
You will select optional modules (worth 45 credits in total) in consultation with your Personal Tutor.
Archaeology in the World
Field Study Tour Report
Dissertation
At least 45 credits of Archaeology options
15 further credits - chosen from a range of options in consultation with the student's Personal Tutor
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.
Coursework, typically 1,500-2,500-word essays, is used to assess most modules. Most compulsory modulses and some optional modules involve an examination element too. The completion of 70 days' fieldwork is a requirement for all archaeology students.
Throughout the degree, which includes 70 days of fieldwork, students develop the ability to work collaboratively and effectively within teams as well as working independently in order to execute research. Students develop strong research and analytical skills and an appreciation of the importance of recovering primary data through practical experience.
Students learn to communicate effectively verbally, visually and in writing to diverse audiences and develop a sensitivity to different cultures.
Our graduates go on to work in a diverse range of fields from archaeology (fieldwork, research and academia), heritage, museums, the UK civil service and police, law, engineering, business - the possibilities are extremely wide and varied.
UCL is commited to helping you get the best start after graduation. Read more about how UCL Careers and UCL Innovation and Enterprise can help you find employment or learn about entrepreneurship.
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2020/21 academic year. The UK/EU 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 2020/21 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.
If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc. on this programme, please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
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.
Funding opportunities relevant to the department may appear in this section when they are available. Please check carefully or confirm with the programme contact to ensure they apply to this degree programme.
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.
We use predicted grades, references, previous academic records and the personal statement on your application to assess your suitability for the programme. You should demonstrate your interest in studying archaeology and explain the measures you have taken to sustain your interest in the past. Evidence of interests and activities beyond the school curriculum will also be of benefit.
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.
Application deadline: 15 January 2020
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.
Once an offer has been made applicants, unless living overseas, are invited to attend a Post Offer Open Day 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.
For further information on UCL's selection process see: Selection of students.
Page last modified on 12 March 2020