Program Overview

---

Archaeology-Palaeoecology

Overview

This course offers a Single Honours degree programme examining the human past from a scientific perspective, including the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in working with archaeological material and undertaking fieldwork. Archaeology explores a wide range of evidence that documents the human past – from artefacts, monuments and settlements to entire landscapes – and from these interprets how societies have adapted and developed. Modules focus on different periods of World, European and Irish/British archaeology, from human origins to modern times and heritage. Queen's University Belfast is one of the best places to study Archaeology in the UK, scoring third place for student experience in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 and second place for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2025. Palaeoecology studies environmental evidence to assess the impact of natural events and human activities on landscapes, climate and changing environments. Modules examine themes such as ancient environments, evolution, economic and climate change. The combined disciplines progressively develop general and specific knowledge and skills, through excavation, fieldwork, overseas fieldtrips, laboratory and practical work. A wide range of career options are available to our graduates including careers in commercial archaeology, survey, heritage management and many more, both within and beyond the heritage sector.

Archaeology-Palaeoecology highlights

• World Class Facilities
• Student Experience
• Global Opportunities
• Internationally Renowned Experts

Course Structure

• Introduction
• Stage 1
• Stage 2
• Stage 3
• Supplement – Optional Additional Year

Modules

• Introduction To World Archaeology
• Archaeological Excavation
• Environmental Change: past, present and future
• Ancient Humans and Landscapes
• Themes in Historical Archaeology
• Europe in Prehistory
• Palaeoenvironmental Techniques
• Archaeological Excavation
• Thinking through Things Theorizing Global Archaeology
• The Archaeology of Islands (Residential Fieldtrip Module)
• Archaeology in Practice
• From St Patrick to the Plantation: The Archaeology of Historic Ireland
• Ireland in Prehistory
• Landscapes and Geographical Information (GIS)
• Archaeology/Palaeoecology Dissertation
• Independent Project
• The Archaeology of Ancient Greece (Residential Fieldtrip Module)
• Digital Archaeology: Engagement and Interpretation
• Critical Thinking and the Past
• Volcanoes: environmental and societal impacts
• Geoforensics
• Society, Death and Disease

Entrance requirements

• A level requirements: BBB + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4
• Irish leaving certificate requirements: H3H3H3H3H4H4/H3H3H3H3H3 + if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade O4 in Mathematics
• Access Course: Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 65%. GCSE Mathematics grade C/4 or equivalent in Access Course.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: 32 points overall, including 6,5,5 at Higher Level + If not offered at Higher Level/GCSE, then Standard Level grade 4 in Mathematics.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma: QCF BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3) with overall grades DDD + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.
• Graduate: A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4

How we choose our students

Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by the School of Natural and Built Environment. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at:

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI): £4,855
• Republic of Ireland (ROI): £4,855
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB): £9,535
• EU Other: £26,600
• International: £26,600

Additional course costs

The cost of travel and entrance fees for one-day or half-day field trips across all academic years is included in the course fee, but students are expected to pay for subsistence costs.

Career Prospects

Studying for an Archaeology and Palaeoecology degree at Queen’s will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions. Graduates from this degree at Queen’s are well regarded by many employers (local, national and international) and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline, including Archaeology.

Prizes and Awards

In addition to the prizes and awards available to all QUB students, a number of prizes and scholarships are available specifically to undergraduate students in Archaeology and Palaeoecology; normally these are awarded on an annual basis:

• The Basil Wilson Prizes
• The Kerr Fieldwork/Visit Award
• The Kerr Final Year Dissertation Prize
• The Kerr Meritorious Performance Prize
• The Kerr Prize (one each at Stages 1, 2, and 3)
• The Kerr Undergraduate Scholarship

Degree Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

How to Apply

Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at:

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.