Archaeology and History (BA)
- Subject areas: Archaeology and conservation, History
- UCAS code: VV14
- Next intake: September 2027
- Duration: 3 years
- Mode: Full time
Why study this course
Purpose-built laboratories
Use our suite of laboratories and access our digital illustration and photographic suite.
Global Top 100
We're Top 100 in the world for archaeology in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Placements - home and abroad
Experience activities including digs, museum projects and lab activities.
Fieldwork adventures
Build practical skills and put what you'll learn into practice; discover exciting locations and uncover a past world.
Interactive careers workshops
Hone your career skills and gain valuable insights into roles and sectors fit for you.
Our BA in Archaeology and History will develop your knowledge and critical understanding of the political, social, economic, and cultural structures of past societies.
You’ll gain a wealth of transferable skills and knowledge, and creative, critical and employability skills that employers want, within the sector and beyond.
We’ll introduce you to the archaeology of Britain and the Mediterranean with opportunities to develop proficiency in a range of archaeological skills, including practical and professional skills on a 4-week placement.
History will take you on a journey - from the rise of ancient empires and 20th century Germany to the witch-hunts of Renaissance Europe and Revolutionary Russia. Our range of optional modules means you can shape your degree to your interests and ambitions.
Spanning time, place and perspectives, you'll gain intellectual skills such as the ability to assess different forms of evidence critically, to evaluate different interpretations of the evidence, to construct arguments based on evidence, and to express opinions clearly and powerfully in speech and in writing. You'll also develop skills which remain important in the digital age: creativity, empathy, critical thinking, persuasive communication skills and the ability to challenge and question.
Subject area: Archaeology and conservation
Subject area: History
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as acceptable alternative international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
ABB-BBC
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
32-30 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.
GCSE and other essential requirements
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.
English language 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.
Criminal convictions
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 subjects. We will consider BTECs in alternative subjects alongside other academic qualifications and any relevant work or volunteer experience.
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.
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Interview or selection process
As per Cardiff University admissions policy. “Non-traditional” applicants (such as those returning to education via an Access course) might be interviewed for entry.
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 should be prepared to invest in some key texts and to cover the costs of basic printing and photocopying for you own use. You may also want to buy copies of other books, either because they are particularly important for your modules or because you find them particularly interesting.
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 and to cover travel for UK placements.
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, full-time degree which provides you with the skills, training and knowledge to succeed, whether applying for postgraduate study, for employment in archaeology and the heritage sector or for employment outside of the discipline.
You’ll study 120 credits each year - 60 credits in archaeology and 60 credits in history. With substantial optionality in all 3 years, your optional choices will cover a range of themes, methods and periods, to give you the flexibility to tailor the degree to your interests.
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
In year 1, you’ll study the archaeology of Britain - from the first humans to the 20th century - and be introduced to ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. You’ll also be introduced to key archaeological field skills and will participate in fieldtrips to key heritage sites in south Wales and western England.
Our history modules will equip you with the skills for advanced study and introduce you to historical themes that may be unfamiliar. Two core modules introduce you to frameworks which underpin historical study and the different ways of writing history. You’ll explore the big debates and how we understand global connections and historical change, challenging how you think beyond set time periods and regional or national borders.
Optional modules on medieval, early modern and Welsh history allow you to extend your historical knowledge and skills through a variety of periods and regions.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History in Practice Part 1: Questions, Frameworks and Audiences. | HS1119 | 20 credits |
| Discovering Archaeology | HS2126 | 20 credits |
| The Archaeology of Britain: Prehistory to Present | HS2130 | 20 credits |
| Global Histories | HS6101 | 20 credits |
| The Archaeology of Mediterranean Societies | HS7100 | 20 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Inventing a Nation: Politics, Culture and Heritage | HS1109 | 20 credits |
| Medieval Worlds, AD 500 -1500 | HS1112 | 20 credits |
| Renaissance, Reformation and Revolution | HS1117 | 20 credits |
| History in Practice Part 2: Sources, Evidence and Argument. | HS1120 | 20 credits |
| The Near East, Greece and Rome, 1000-323 BCE | HS3108 | 20 credits |
Year two
In the summer between year 1 and 2, you’ll undertake a 4-week placement on an archaeological excavation or with a heritage organisation.
Core modules in history introduce you to the key theoretical approaches and methods that have influenced historical writing. Optional modules allow you to explore themes across a narrower time range as you build your critical thinking skills.
During this year, emphasis shifts towards different ways of using evidence and giving you a deeper understanding of the kinds of evidence historians use and ways of using that evidence beyond the boundaries of academia. You will also take 2 further optional modules in archaeology focusing on specific periods and regions.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Reading History | HS6201 | 20 credits |
| Professional Placement in Archaeology or Heritage | HS7204 | 20 credits |
Year three
In your final year, archaeology optional modules allow you to focus on areas of archaeological method or allow you to develop a particular understanding of a particular period or region. History modules challenge you to think more deeply about the nature of historical developments. You develop your skills at analysing sources and writing history through studying a range of specialist modules on offer.
You also have the option to complete a dissertation, a major piece of independent research, guided by a supervisor, in which you explore a question from the perspectives of history and archaeology.
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
We create a friendly, supportive environment where you feel heard and valued throughout your degree. From day one, you’ll meet regularly with your lecturers in one-to-one sessions, giving you the space to grow, ask questions and shape your learning.
Our teaching is led by leading researchers working across archaeology, heritage and history. They bring the latest ideas into your course, including their own work, so you engage with research that’s shaping the field right now.
You’ll learn through interactive lectures, discussion-led seminars, workshops and small-group tutorials. These sessions are designed to help you take part, share ideas and build confidence. Many modules include field trips, and you’ll complete a 4-week professional placement - on an archaeological excavation or with a heritage organisation - so you gain practical, real-world experience.
Seminars and workshops sit at the heart of your learning. You’ll explore key topics, debate different perspectives and work closely with staff and other students. In your 2nd and 3rd years, you’ll take on an independent project, supported by expert supervision and one-to-one guidance.
How will I be supported?
You'll be supported by your personal tutors throughout your studies. They’re there to talk through academic and personal matters, help you reflect on your progress and guide your development. You’ll meet regularly, with extra support available when you need it. Professional services teams are available for advice and wellbeing support.
You'll also have access to a range of student services and support, co-located in the Centre for Student Life. This includes services relating to Advice and Money, Student Futures, Counselling, Health and Wellbeing, the Student Disability Service, Academic Study Skills and Student Mentoring.
We use our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) - Learning Central - across all modules to bring your learning together, with easy access to course content and resources. As you progress, we support your independent research and optional dissertation through regular one-to-one supervision, helping you plan your work, track your progress and develop your ideas.
How will I be assessed?
Your assessments are designed to reflect how historians and heritage professionals work in the real world. Alongside essays, you’ll complete a range of tasks including source analyses, research projects, presentations and reviews.
Many assignments let you explore creative and practical approaches. You might design a museum exhibition, create a guide to using historical sources, or produce podcasts and digital content for social media. Some projects are collaborative, giving you the chance to work as part of a team, while others help you develop your own voice for different audiences.
In your history modules, longer essays give you the space to explore key historical questions and debates in depth, helping you shape your ideas and build strong, evidence-based arguments.
Every assessment helps you grow your skills and confidence. You’ll learn how to connect your knowledge to local, national and global issues, and explore new ways to ask questions and solve problems.
We support you to think critically, work collaboratively and present clear, well-supported arguments. These are skills you’ll use in careers in history, heritage and beyond.
We guide you through every stage of assessment, especially in your first year. You’ll learn what’s expected, how your work is marked and how to use feedback to keep improving.
Our approach is designed to help you progress. You’ll start with smaller, structured tasks, then take on more independent work as your confidence grows. Regular feedback, both individually and in groups, gives you the chance to reflect on your progress and build on what you’ve learned.
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:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
KU1: Critically appraise the role of archaeology within the wider heritage sector.
KU2: Apply knowledge of archaeological method and theory to the examination of particular temporal and geographic contexts
KU3: Engage critically and conceptually with the changing assumptions and methods that archaeologists and historians use to explain the past;
KU4: Demonstrate systematic knowledge and understanding of the complexity and diversity of situations, events, and mentalities in particular temporal and geographical contexts
Intellectual Skills:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
IS1: Collate, describe and present complex and unpredictable archaeological information
IS2: Analyse, debate and interpret complex evidence (including objects, sites, buildings and landscapes).
IS3: Critically relate historical and archaeological knowledge and understanding to other humanities disciplines.
IS4: Utilise knowledge and appropriate skills and methods to identify and critically evaluate historical change in the examination of particular temporal or geographical contexts;
IS5: Formulate and justify arguments about a range of historical issues, problems, and debates using historiographical ideas and methods;
IS6: Identify and locate appropriate sources, reflect upon their nature, and analyse them critically to address questions and solve problems.
Professional Practical Skills:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
PS1: Contribute competently to the identification, investigation and recording of archaeological sites.
PS2: Assess the importance of archaeological sites and materials.
PS3: Apply archaeological skills in a professional setting.
PS4: Ask cogent and focused questions and pursue answers to these questions through structured enquiry, selecting and interrogating an appropriate range of evidence
Transferable/Key Skills:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
TS1: Demonstrate critical thinking, reasoning, and the ability to assimilate and summarise complex information and ideas though the independent selection and critical analysis of an appropriate range of evidence;
TS2: Summarise and critically appraise the relative merits and demerits of alternative views and interpretations and evaluate their significance;
TS3: Present complex findings and arguments clearly, concisely, and persuasively in a variety of formats;
TS4: Show enterprise skills to solve problems and analyse diverse, partial or ambiguous evidence using critical thinking, initiative, and creativity;
TS5: Effectively communicate complex information and arguments, either individually or collaboratively as part of a team.
Careers and placements
Career prospects
You’ll graduate with the academic and practical skills employers want, from teamworking and leadership to communication and critical thinking.
Graduates from our BA in Archaeology and History progress into a wide range of careers, leading to work in the heritage sector for commercial archaeological companies, local and national heritage bodies, museums and archives. Transferable skills could also take you into the public and private sectors in finance, publishing, law, journalism, advertising and marketing.
Placements
You’ll undertake 4 weeks of placement on an archaeological excavation or with a heritage organisation in the summer between year 1 and 2.
Further opportunities for diverse, bespoke placements are offered in year 2 via a module focusing on translating your theoretical skills into the workplace. We also have close links with local heritage organisations, offering 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.
