Archaeology (BA)
- Subject area: Archaeology and conservation
- UCAS code: F400
- Next intake: September 2027
- Duration: 3 years
- Mode: Full time
Why study this course
Placements - home and abroad
Experience activities including digs, museum projects and lab activities.
Purpose-built laboratories
Use our suite of laboratories and access our digital illustration and photographic suite.
Fieldwork adventures
Build practical skills and put what you'll learn into practice; discover exciting locations and uncover a past world.
Global Top 100
We're Top 100 in the world for archaeology in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject.
CiFA-accredited
Our degree is accredited by The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) and University Archaeology UK (UAUK).
Archaeology allows us to better understand what it is to be human and explore the richness of the human experience.
Our BA in Archaeology brings together the sciences, social sciences and the humanities to understand people and place through the material traces left behind.
Build the knowledge and skills to investigate the past and connect it to the present, you'll explore how archaeology can inform debates in today’s society and how heritage sites and collections are managed. You’ll study the archaeology of Britain and the Mediterranean World, then shape your own path as you specialise in the places and periods - from the prehistoric to post-medieval - that matter to you.
You’ll learn through fieldwork, lab work and placements in the UK and overseas, developing practical skills in excavation, analysis and interpretation. Alongside this, you'll plan and deliver your own research project, supported by our expert staff.
By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to analyse evidence with confidence, tell compelling stories about the past, and apply your skills in archaeology and beyond.
Accreditations
Subject area: Archaeology and conservation
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
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.
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 Applied Science, Computing, Humanities, or Social Science. 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.
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) 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.
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, including 2 fieldwork or placement modules, which typically take place over the summer.
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 build strong foundations. Core modules introduce the essential skills you need for fieldwork and lab-based study.
You'll also explore the archaeology of Britain and the Mediterranean, including Egypt, Greece and Rome. Alongside this, you choose optional modules - totalling 40 credits - beyond archaeology so you can broaden your perspective and follow your interests from the start.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Analysing Archaeology | HS2125 | 20 credits |
| Discovering Archaeology | HS2126 | 20 credits |
| The Archaeology of Britain: Prehistory to Present | HS2130 | 20 credits |
| The Archaeology of Mediterranean Societies | HS7100 | 20 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Medieval Worlds, AD 500 -1500 | HS1112 | 20 credits |
| Ancient Objects Then and Now | HS3107 | 20 credits |
| The Near East, Greece and Rome, 1000-323 BCE | HS3108 | 20 credits |
| Empires East and West, 323 BCE to 680 CE | HS3109 | 20 credits |
Year two
In year 2, you'll take 80 credits of core modules. Your professional placement - which takes place during the summer between year 1 and 2 - accounts for 20 of these credits.
You'll deepen your understanding of how archaeology works in practice with core modules exploring how we interpret the past, and the social, economic and environmental contexts that shape archaeological research. You also plan and carry out your own independent research project.
Alongside this, you'll choose 40 credits of optional modules, so you can focus on the regions and periods that interest you most and continue shaping your own path.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeology. It Matters! | HS7200 | 20 credits |
| Explanation and Interpretation in Archaeology | HS7203 | 20 credits |
| Professional Placement in Archaeology or Heritage | HS7204 | 20 credits |
| Archaeology Independent Study | HS7208 | 20 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeological Illustration and Photography | HS2446 | 20 credits |
| Everyday Life in Medieval Britain c1200–1600 | HS6210 | 20 credits |
| An Introduction to Greek Art and Archaeology | HS7205 | 20 credits |
| An Introduction to Prehistoric Britain and Europe | HS7206 | 20 credits |
| An Introduction to the Archaeology of the Roman World | HS7210 | 20 credits |
Year three
In your final year, you bring everything together. You'll take one core module, with the rest of your credits made up of optional modules that let you deepen your expertise in the areas that matter to you.
Your professional placement, completed in the summer between year 2 and 3, forms an important part of your learning and helps you build real-world experience.
You can choose to complete a dissertation, giving you the chance to carry out advanced independent research and explore a topic in depth.
To keep your studies broad and balanced, at least two of your optional modules must focus on specific historical periods. You can also choose one science-based module.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Professional Placement in Archaeology or Heritage | HS7300 | 20 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Britain | HS2362 | 20 credits |
| Forensic and Osteoarchaeology | HS2423 | 20 credits |
| Museums' Collections Management | HS2441 | 20 credits |
| Spatial Technologies and Geographical Information Systems | HS2451 | 20 credits |
| Britain in the Early Medieval World | HS2456 | 20 credits |
| Advanced Professional Placement in Archaeology or Heritage | HS7300 | 20 credits |
| Archaeology Dissertation | HS7304 | 40 credits |
| Prehistoric Britain and Ireland | HS7309 | 20 credits |
| The Archaeology of Death and Burial in the Ancient Mediterranean World | HS7310 | 20 credits |
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
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, practicals, workshops, interactive classes, field trips, and one-to-one tutorials. You'll also undertake independent study and research, with guidance from tutors.
You'll learn key concepts and frameworks in lectures, equipping you for conducting independent research for seminars and to develop your own ideas in a small group environment.
Seminars can take various formats, including full-group discussion, small-group work and student-led presentations. They're a space to engage with key ideas critically with your peers, and explore your areas of interest with our expert academics.
You'll develop your archaeological skills through practical sessions and direct participation on fieldwork projects including excavations, surveys, post-excavation programmes and curation in museums.
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?
Assessment types can include essays, exams, class tests, presentations, role play assessments and portfolios.
Our assessments are designed to support you in developing your ideas, skills and competencies. The skills you develop throughout the programme will help you prepare for entry into a range of careers.
You’ll be assessed on your interrogation and contextualising skills in writing through essays, articles, open book exams and close analysis of evidence independently and in groups.
Our skills module assessments simulate real-world activities, with an optional final year project giving you the chance to make a genuinely original contribution to archaeological knowledge.
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:
KU 1: Critically evaluate the development of archaeology (including current themes and methods), in relation to a broad range of contexts, time periods and intellectual traditions.
KU 2: Design and execute an original, critical archaeological research project embedded in an appropriate theoretical framework.
KU 3: Critically appraise the role of archaeology within the wider heritage sector.
KU 4: Critically assess the cultural, environmental and social development in the past, and the ways in which archaeology can contribute to the understanding of those processes today.
KU 5: Critically evaluate the theoretical frameworks in which archaeological research is embedded
KU 6: Apply knowledge of archaeological method and theory to the examination of particular temporal and geographic contexts
KU 7: Critically interrogate the role of heritage in modern society
Intellectual Skills:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
I 1: Collate, describe and present complex and unpredictable archaeological evidence.
I 2: Critically assess and evaluate archaeological and heritage scholarship and relate these to research from other arts and humanities disciplines.
I 3: Analyse, debate and interpret multifaceted archaeological evidence (including objects, sites, buildings and landscapes).
I 4: Formulate and sustain reliable and valid evidence-based arguments, situated within relevant conceptual frameworks.
I 5: Identify and locate appropriate primary and secondary sources of evidence and analyse them critically to address questions and solve problems.
I 6: Utilise knowledge and appropriate skills and methods to critically evaluate change in the examination of particular temporal or geographical contexts
Professional Practical Skills:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
PP 1: Contribute competently to the identification, investigation and recording of archaeological sites.
PP 2: Assess the reliability, validity and significance of archaeological evidence.
PP 3: Prepare professional quality outputs for a range of audiences in the heritage sector relating to the findings of archaeological research.
PP 4: Apply archaeological skills in a professional setting.
PP 5: Critically relate archaeological knowledge and understanding to other humanities disciplines.
Transferable/Key Skills:
On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to:
T/KS 1: Communicate complex heritage information to a variety of audiences through a range of media.
T/KS 2: Comply with health and safety legislation and professional standards in a range of archaeological and heritage settings.
T/KS 3: Access, critically assess, and synthesise a range of research resources and evidence.
T/KS 4: Critically assess and ensure research integrity and the ethical delivery of research
T/KS 5: Competently apply practical IT, numeracy and presentation skills in complex situations.
T/KS 6: Comprehensively assess the ethical implications of research.
T/KS 7: Work collaboratively towards a defined goal.
T/KS 8: Listen, comprehend and reflect when presented with new information.
T/KS 9: Interpret evidence by embedding it in an appropriate theoretical framework
T/KS 10: Situate and explore discipline-specific knowledge in a global societal, environmental and economic context.
T/KS 11: Effectively communicate complex information and arguments, either individually or as part of a team.
Careers and placements
Career prospects
When you graduate from our BA in Archaeology, you’ll confidently bring together academic knowledge and hands-on experience. You’ll know how to work as part of a team, lead when it matters, communicate clearly and see the bigger picture. You’ll have developed the skills employers value across many sectors and roles.
Our graduates move into a wide range of careers. Some use their specialist knowledge in archaeology, conservation and heritage, while others take their skills into areas such as education, the civil service, business, law, finance and the charity sector.
Recent graduates now work with organisations including Amgueddfa Cymru (Museum Wales), Oxford Archaeology East, local authorities and schools. Others build careers as field archaeologists, heritage consultants, archaeological advisors and museum professionals.
While you study, we help you prepare for what comes next. You can access opportunities, advice and support through Student Futures helping you explore your options and take the next step with confidence.
Graduate careers
- Field Archaeologist
- Lecturer
- Heritage Conservationist
Placements
You'll complete two 20-credit professional placement modules, each built around a 4-week practical placements on an archaeological fieldwork, museum, archival, post-excavation or laboratory project in Britain or abroad. We generally offer experience across a wide range of periods and specialisms.
These placements help you build both archaeological and transferable skills, including teamwork, communication and leadership.
In year 2, you can choose an additional employability module to explore more tailored placement opportunities. We also work closely with local heritage organisations to offer further experience during and outside teaching time.
Fieldwork
The fieldwork projects are taken in the summers preceding Years Two and Three, allowing you to put into practice your new skills and to gain valuable practical experience. These are taught through four weeks of student participation on archaeological excavations, field-surveys, museum curatorial projects or other post-excavation, laboratory-based activities.
Next steps
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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.
