Archaeology with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

Our BA Archaeology equips you with understanding of the diversity of the human past through studying the material culture, architecture and landscapes of past people. Covering a time span from the earliest humans to the contemporary world, you will gain hands-on experience with collections, a critical encounter with heritage on fieldtrips, and archaeological practice in the field.

Why choose this course?

• This course is ideal if you have a keen interest in understanding the past through people’s relationships with things and places.
• Practical experience is a key element of this degree. You will complete our London-centred archaeological field school alongside professionals from Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) on the module Thames Through Time.
• You will benefit from our close links with the heritage sector, including various London museums.
• You can choose option modules which offer you the opportunity to work directly on collections of artefacts and records of archaeological excavations with the experts who excavated those sites. You can also decide to take modules related to the environment and environmental law to allow you to graduate with a BA Archaeology with Environmental Studies.

What you will learn

You will learn about the practice of archaeology as well as archaeology’s own past: how and why we know what we know about past societies.

You will learn the wide range of methods and sources used by archaeologists, including objects, buildings and landscapes, and how these are put into practice. You will also gain experience of working with artefacts, images and maps, including utilising digital sources for the study of the human past. You will learn to understand, but also question, accepted narratives about the human past, and how to engage with those narratives by analysing archaeological data sets.

You can follow your interests choosing from a range of different option modules, including the opportunity to take environmental studies modules to minor in this subject.

How you will learn

This course is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening.

You will also work with a dedicated supervisor to design your own dissertation project putting the skills developed during your degree into practice.

Foundation Year

If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. Find out everything you need to know about Foundation Years.