Archaeology

Archaeology at Cambridge

Students at the Department of Archaeology are part of a diverse research community. Our course encompasses Archaeology, Assyriology, Biological Anthropology and Egyptology. Its flexibility means you can either specialise from Year 1, or opt for a broad start before concentrating on up to two subjects from the second year.

• Archaeology uses material evidence, from molecules to monumental structures, to explore the human past and understand past societies.
• Assyriology is the study of the languages, cultures, history and archaeology of ancient Mesopotamia (Sumer, Babylonia and Assyria).
• Biological Anthropology investigates human evolution and diversity, biology and behaviour, and the interaction between biology and culture.
• Egyptology is the study of the history, languages, society, archaeology and religion of ancient Egypt.

Teaching and resources

Our Archaeology degree is one of the most dynamic of its kind. The research we do ranges widely across time and locations, from discovering where the gold from Tutankhamen's mask came from, to studying the population genetics of south-east Asian islands, to uncovering the impact of plague on medieval Cambridge. Our staff are at the forefront of research, involving students through fieldwork and research projects. Over the course of your degree, you might find yourself studying the behaviour of chimpanzees, learning about our oldest human ancestors, translating Egyptian hieroglyphs, learning about radiocarbon dating, or examining imagery in a Babylonian poem.

Our excellent resources include the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (a dedicated professional field unit), a well-equipped IT suite, purpose built laboratories and dedicated libraries. In addition, the Duckworth Collection of human and primate skeletal remains and fossil hominin casts, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and the Fitzwilliam Museum provide access to collections of primary sources of world importance.

Course Outline

You have between six and eight lectures and one or two supervisions each week. You may also have language classes, seminars and/or practicals.

You're assessed each year through written exams and coursework. Some papers include assessed practicals/fieldwork. Most students write a 10,000 word dissertation in Year 3.

Year 1 (Part I)

You pick three from several core archaeology, language and biological anthropology options. Your fourth can be another core subject paper, or you can choose a psychology, social anthropology, politics and international relations or sociology option.

Years 2 and 3 (Parts II)

You can pursue one of four single-subject tracks as detailed below. The tracks can also be combined, allowing you to study Archaeology and Biological Anthropology or Assyriology and Egyptology.

Archaeology

In Year 2 (Part IIA), you take three papers in theory and practice, data analysis, and the archaeology of a particular period or region. The fourth paper is either another period/region option, a biological anthropology paper or a paper chosen from another course such as Classics or Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS).

You complete four weeks of fieldwork before starting Year 3 (Part IIB). In Year 3, you write a dissertation and study advanced archaeological thought, archaeology in the wider world, plus additional options from within this track or from another course such as Classics or HSPS.

Assyriology

You take four papers in Year 2 (Part IIA): Akkadian language, Mesopotamian archaeology and Mesopotamian culture are required. The fourth paper could be Sumerian language (when offered) or chosen from other course options (one can be from Classics or HSPS).

You undertake a four-week study tour and/or fieldwork before starting Year 3 (Part IIB). In Year 3, you take four papers. Akkadian language, Mesopotamian archaeology and Mesopotamian culture are required. The fourth paper can be your dissertation, Sumerian language (when offered), another paper in Archaeology, or one from another course such as Classics or HSPS.

Egyptology

In Year 2 (Part IIA), you take papers in Egyptian language and archaeological methods and concepts, plus two papers on society, religion and death in Ancient Egypt.

You undertake a four-week study tour and/or fieldwork before starting Year 3 (Part IIB). You take three papers: one Egyptian language paper, one Egyptian archaeology paper and a third on either Egyptian language or Egyptian archaeology. You will also write a dissertation.

Biological Anthropology

In Year 2 (Part IIA), you take a paper on data analysis and interpretation, plus two papers from: human ecology and behaviour, human evolution, and comparative human biology. You select your fourth paper from options offered elsewhere in this course, or from another course such as Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) or HSPS.

In Year 3 (Part IIB), you take a paper on major topics in human evolutionary studies and write a dissertation. You also take further papers chosen from a range of areas including biological anthropology, archaeology and PBS.

The application process

The Cambridge application process is slightly different to other universities. You still need to apply through UCAS, however, at Cambridge the process starts earlier to give us time to collect and consider all of the application information. The steps below and the following pages will guide you through the process.

You’re going to be studying to a very high level for several years so make sure you choose a course you’re personally interested in and will really enjoy studying! Check, also, that you meet the entrance requirements of the course you want to study.

Most applicants need to take a written admission assessment as part of the application process. Some applicants will also be asked to submit examples of their written work.

Please check the type of assessment required for your course as early as possible as some assessments require you to be registered before the UCAS application deadline (15 or 30 September).

Where would you like to live when you’re here? In your UCAS application, you can apply directly to one of our 29 Colleges or make an open application. 

You need to submit your UCAS application by 15 October – our institution code is CAM C05. Please note:

• Earlier or later deadlines may apply for Mature Students, Foundation Year and Organ Scholarship applicants.
• There's an additional application form if you're applying for the Graduate Course in Medicine.
• You can’t apply to both the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford in the same year.
• Some applicants will be required to submit an academic transcript.

After you’ve submitted your UCAS application, you will need to fill in an additional Cambridge-specific application form, which we’ll send you a link to by email.

Everyone with a good chance of being offered a place is invited to attend an interview. If you decide to apply, you can find videos and full information on what to expect and how to prepare, in our interviews section.

We’ll advise you of our decision before the end of January.