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Archaeology and Heritage Science (BSc)

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An Egyptian archaeological artefact
Archaeology and Heritage Science (BSc)

Why study this course

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Placements – home and abroad

Up to 8 weeks of professional placement in the field or at a heritage organisation across the programme, allowing you to apply and develop your scientific skills in a professional, authentic setting.

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Global Top 100

We're Top 100 in the world for archaeology in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

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Expert-led

Staff with extensive professional and laboratory experience integrating cutting edge archaeological and heritage science across academic and commercial environments.

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Rich in resources

Materials, purpose-built and newly refurbished laboratories, analytical instrumentation, equipment and library resources to undertake meaningful independent scientific research.

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Hands-on

You will have the opportunity to work directly on archaeological and historical objects from museum collections and ‘live’ projects led by experts and conducted to professional standards.

As a BSc in Archaeology and Heritage Science student, you’ll develop critical, analytical and transferable skills that prepare you for professional, scientific, academic and research careers - whether in the exciting and rapidly advancing area of archaeological science and conservation science or in a wide range of other fields and sectors. We have particular strengths in relation to bioarchaeology (the study of human and animal remains, ancient DNA and isotope analysis), materials science (ceramics, metals and glass), digital archaeology, and field techniques.

This programme will offer you a robust understanding of analytical techniques and deliver practical experience in their application and data processing, as well as the ability to design and communicate research that employs scientific analyses to address archaeological, conservation, and broader heritage-based questions. We’ll enable you to follow your passions and nurture your curiosity, exploring topics that matter to you. Through a combination of science, skills and thematic or period-based modules, you’ll be able to situate your scientific training within the archaeological and heritage contexts of your choice. You’ll develop a broad understanding of the archaeology of Britain and the Mediterranean world from early prehistory to historic periods, coupled with the opportunity to specialise in your areas of interest. 

A core component of our programme is a professional placement, typically on an archaeological excavation, though placements are wide-ranging (e.g. laboratories, museums, etc). These memorable placements take place in the summer following year 1, in the UK and overseas, developing your skills in an authentic context. An additional optional placement is available following year 2. As well as practical skills honed in a professional environment using our excellent, purpose-built and lab facilities, you’ll develop key research skills through the second-year independent project. Supported by one of our expert staff, you’ll plan and undertake an archaeological or heritage scientific research project on a topic of your choosing. 

Subject area: Archaeology and conservation

Entry requirements

We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:

A level

BBB-BCC

Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.

  • Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application. Eligible students will be given an offer that is lower than the standard offer (usually the middle or lower end of the advertised grade range).
  • Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional consideration in the selection process.

Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.

International Baccalaureate

31-29 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.

Baccalaureate Wales

From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.

You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.

We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.


We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.

GCSE

Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.

IELTS (academic)

At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.

TOEFL iBT

At least 90 overall with a minimum of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking.

PTE Academic

At least 69 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.

Trinity ISE II/III

II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.

Other accepted qualifications

Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

  • access to computers or devices that can store images
  • use of internet and communication tools/devices
  • curfews
  • freedom of movement, including the ability to travel to outside of the UK or to undertake a placement/studies outside of Cardiff University
  • contact with people related to Cardiff University.

Other qualifications from inside the UK

BTEC

DDM-DMM in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Humanities, or Social Science. We will consider BTECs in alternative subjects if you are also taking an A-level (excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking).

T level

Acceptance of T Levels for this programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic School. Consideration will be given to the T Level grade/subject and grades/subjects achieved at GCSE/Level 2.

Qualifications from outside the UK

See our qualification equivalences guide

Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.

Tuition fees for 2027 entry

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.

Learn how we decide your fee status

Fees for home status

We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2027/28 academic year.

1 Home status tuition fees are charged at the maximum fee set by the Government each year. If the tuition fee cap changes before you start your course, we’ll email you to let you know. We’ll explain any changes to your tuition fees, and allow you to withdraw without penalty if you decide not to study with us.

Tuition fees may increase for subsequent years of your course if the fee cap changes. Learn what happens if tuition fees increase.

Fees for overseas status

We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2027/28 academic year.

Additional costs

You’ll need suitable clothing (e.g. waterproofs and suitable footwear) for field trips and some fieldwork placements. 

Travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for fieldwork placements are covered by the School as required. This varies depending on:

  • where the placement takes place, whether it is within or near Cardiff or further afield, 

  • when it takes place, whether it is during teaching semesters and within normal residency time or during the summer and outside of normal residency time.

Course specific equipment

You will need suitable clothing (e.g. waterproofs and suitable footwear) and sometimes accommodation (e.g. tent and sleeping bag) for field trips and fieldwork.  The University has funds available for students experiencing financial difficulties in purchasing this equipment.

Accommodation

We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.

Living costs

We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.

Course structure

This is a 3-year degree which provides you with the skills, training and scientific knowledge to succeed, whether applying for postgraduate study, for employment in archaeology and the heritage sector or for employment outside of the discipline. It combines academic, scientific and practical skills and allows you to follow your interests and passions.

You’ll study 120 credits of modules in each year. The core 20-credit professional placement module, which usually takes place in the summer period between year 1 and 2. You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a second, optional, professional placement module in the summer period between years 2 and 3.

You’ll have core modules and additional optionality in all 3 years, with optional modules both in archaeology and other disciplines, covering themes, methods and periods, to give you the flexibility to pursue a bespoke pathway.

Year of Study Abroad

You can apply to transfer to our four-year BSc Archaeology and Heritage Science with Year of Study Abroad during your second year subject to you achieving the following criteria:

  • successfully progressed from Year 1 of the programme without failing any module(s); and 
  • maintained an average grade of no less than 60%

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2027/2028 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2027.

Year one

Year 1 provides a solid grounding in the principles of archaeological practice and the themes and methods of scientific analysis in archaeology and heritage.

The core modules will introduce you to the archaeological methods used in the field and laboratory and develop knowledge of the archaeology of Britain and of Mediterranean Societies (e.g. Greece and Rome). These core modules are common across the BA in Archaeology and BSc in Archaeology and Heritage Science, giving you the option to transfer from one programme to another for year 2 if you want to.

Optional modules will allow you to place your studies into a wider context and explore your interests, taking modules in archaeological conservation or focusing on the interdisciplinary study of the humanities.

Year two

The core modules focus on the application of archaeological and heritage science methods and the understanding of frameworks for archaeological interpretation, during your second year.

Your professional placement accounts for 20 of these credits and takes place during the summer period between your first and second year (with the written in assessment in year two). The remaining core modules will cover the application of archaeological and heritage science, and archaeological explanation and interpretation. You’ll apply your skills and knowledge through the undertaking of an independent archaeological and heritage science research project, fully supported by an academic supervisor.

Optional modules enable you to specialise in the skills, regions or themes which most interest you.

Year three

The core modules will focus on areas of bioarchaeology and materials science.

Optional modules allow you to develop more specialised skills in the application of specific archaeological and heritage science methods and enhance your understanding of the archaeology of specific regions and periods. If you decide that you’d like to pursue a career in archaeological conservation, then completion of three conservation-based option modules will mean that you can apply for direct entry into year 2 of the MSc in Conservation Practice programme.

Should you wish, you can choose to complete an independent research project (dissertation). This is undertaken with the support of an academic supervisor, which allows you to develop in-depth knowledge of your study area and to develop skills in the application of archaeological and heritage research methods, culminating in a scientific journal article for assessment.

The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.

Learning and assessment

You’ll develop in a high-quality learning environment, supported by a student-orientated approach to the acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Teaching is delivered via lectures, laboratory sessions, interactive workshops and tutorials, in addition to visits to relevant local sites and resources, such as the Amgueddfa Cymru- Museum Wales and local heritage organisations. You’ll be taught by expert academic staff and engage with external speakers.

Lectures take a range of forms but generally provide a broad structure for each subject, an introduction to key concepts and relevant up-to-date information. You’ll also receive bespoke training in scientific techniques, which includes developing practical skills in various scientific applications in archaeology and heritage. In addition, you’ll gain health and safety, and laboratory conduct skills. 

In workshops and seminars, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss themes or topics in smaller groups, to receive and consolidate feedback on your individual learning and to develop skills in oral presentation. You’ll also receive supervision to support you in completing the independent science project and optional dissertation but are also expected to engage in considerable independent study.

How will I be supported?

All modules make extensive use of Cardiff University’s Virtual Learning Environment, on which you’ll find course materials and links to related materials. You’ll be supervised when undertaking your year 2 independent research project and optional dissertation. Supervision will include scheduled regular meetings to discuss progress, provide advice and guidance; and provide written feedback on draft contents.

Assessment and feedback 
The criteria by which you’re assessed will be available to you in the Virtual Learning Environment and clearly explained in advance. You’ll receive formal written feedback on all assessments, in addition to oral feedback on assessed oral/poster presentations, provided within a maximum of four weeks from submission.

Personal Tutor

You’ll be assigned a Personal Tutor, who is able to advise you on academic and pastoral matters in a confidential and informal manner. Personal Tutors meet with you regularly to discuss progress and provide advice and guidance and are available for consultation at other times as needed. Opportunities for you to reflect on your abilities and performance are made available through a structured programme of Personal Development Planning and through scheduled meetings with Personal Tutors. We offer one-to-one time in set office hours during teaching weeks, and welcome email contact. Our professional services team is also available for advice and support. 

Facilities 

You’ll be provided with access to our wide-ranging analytical laboratories as part of your teaching. These provide a full suite of equipment for scientific sample preparation and analysis and are among the best facilities in UK archaeological departments. The library also has a superb set of digital and paper resources.

How will I be assessed?

All modules have been designed to provide a high-quality academic experience. The type of assessment varies from module to module, but includes essays, examinations, class tests, presentations, role play assessments and portfolios.

In all cases, our assessments are designed to support you in developing your ideas, skills and competencies. The skills developed and assessed throughout the programme prepare you for entry into a range of graduate careers. Individual and group feedback on assessments and other learning provides you with the opportunity to reflect on your current or recent level of attainment.

Assessment of the thematic modules is directed towards the ability to interrogate and contextualise evidence in writing. Approaches are diverse, to ensure distinct pathways and experiences and include essays, articles, open book exams and close analysis of evidence independently and in groups. The skills modules all have authentic assessments which simulate real-world activities in the relevant areas.  Progression is built into the assessment strategy so that each format and difficulty is matched to the progressive development of skills and knowledge you gain as you deal with more complex issues and build research skills through the degree. Coursework and modular data are provided electronically, and assessments are submitted electronically.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:

Knowledge & Understanding:

  • Assess the problems and potential of applying different scientific approaches and theoretical frameworks to archaeological and heritage data. 
  • Apply archaeological and heritage science techniques and use primary/secondary data to address independently defined research questions.
  • Appraise the role of archaeological and heritage science in the preservation and conservation of the archaeological record.
  • Critically assess the relationship between cultural, environmental and social development in the past, and the ways in which archaeology can contribute to understanding of these processes today.
  • Define and interpret the archaeology of a variety of regions and chronological periods.

Intellectual Skills:

  • Collate, describe, present and analyse complex and unpredictable scientific data.
  • Evaluate archaeological and heritage science scholarship and relate these to research from other scientific disciplines.
  • Evaluate the application of analytical methodologies and the resultant data in archaeological and heritage research.
  • Develop and employ evidence-based analysis, argument and interpretation.

Professional Practical Skills:

  • Comprehend and apply appropriate methodologies to the identification of archaeological sites using scientific approaches.
  • Comprehend and employ appropriate methodologies for the excavation and recording of archaeological sites, artefacts and ecofacts.
  • Comprehend and apply scientific methods to the analysis, interpretation or conservation of historical or archaeological materials.
  • Generate scientific/technical reports on primary/secondary data from the examination of archaeological or historical artefacts and ecofacts.
  • Assess the health and safety and ethical implications of field and laboratory research in accordance with professional standards.

Transferable/Key Skills:

  • Communicate complex scientific information to a variety of audiences through a range of media.
  • Comply with health and safety legislation and professional standards in a laboratory environment and externally.
  • Utilise and apply practical IT, numeracy and presentation skills in complex situations.
  • Work collaboratively towards a defined goal.
  • Listen, comprehend and reflect when presented with new information.

Careers and placements

Career prospects

Our graduates progress into a wide range of careers using the skills gained throughout their degrees. Some choose to pursue professions making direct use of their discipline expertise, whilst others enter the public or private sectors, from teaching to graduate-level management.

Recent graduates have gone on to professional roles in archaeology, the heritage sector, teaching and education, the civil service and the military, banking and insurance, the law, human resources and the charity sector, with employers ranging from Amgueddfa Cymru-Museum Wales and Oxford Archaeology East, to County Council authorities and schools. Those who have followed a path into archaeology and heritage are working in roles, such as field archaeologists undertaking excavations, surveys or post-excavation work, as heritage consultants, local authority archaeological advisors, conservators and museum curators.

During your degree you can take full advantage of the wide range of opportunities provided by the University careers service, Student Futures, including bespoke meetings with a School-specific careers advisor, work experience placements, professional networking and other tailored support.

Placements

You’ll benefit from one core 20-credit professional placement module. This involves a 4-week practical placement (usually during the summer period between year 1 and 2) on an archaeological fieldwork, museum, archival, post-excavation or laboratory project in the UK or abroad. We generally offer a wide range of projects covering various archaeological periods and heritage specialisms. Placements are tailored to develop both archaeological, heritage, and transferable skills (e.g. teamwork, communication, leadership). 

An optional second placement (usually undertaken between year 2 and 3) allows you to focus in more detail on areas of interest or specialism. Staff also have close links with a range of local heritage and other organisations, which offer placement opportunities both in and outside semesters.

Fieldwork

The Years Two and Three fieldwork projects are taken in the summer preceding those academic years.  The Fieldwork projects are taught through four weeks of student participation on archaeological excavations, field-surveys, museum curatorial projects or other post-excavation, laboratory-based activities.

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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.