Program Overview

Archaeology-Palaeoecology and Geography

Overview

This course offers a Joint Honours degree programme examining the human past and the diverse environments human societies inhabit, from a scientific perspective, including the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in working with archaeological material and undertaking fieldwork.

Course Structure

• Introduction: All students normally take six courses per stage (a stage equals one academic year of full-time study), each covering a distinct theme.
• Stage 1: Themes covered in Stage 1 include an introduction to world archaeology, environmental change, and principles and processes of physical geography.
• Stage 2: At Stage 2, students explore in more detail the themes introduced at Stage 1 and develop both their theoretical background knowledge and their practical skills.
• Stage 3: At Stage 3, students dedicate a substantial part of their time to their chosen dissertation project, drawn from any of the disciplines underpinning this degree programme, and building on the knowledge and skills they have acquired through Stages 1 and 2.

Modules

• Environmental Change: past, present and future (20 credits)
• Introduction To World Archaeology (20 credits)
• Human Geography: Society, Economy and Population (20 credits)
• Earth Systems (20 credits)
• Human Geography: Society, Power and Culture (20 credits)
• Archaeological Excavation (20 credits)
• Themes in Historical Archaeology (20 credits)
• Europe in Prehistory (20 credits)
• Ancient Humans and Landscapes (20 credits)
• Geographical Research Skills (20 credits)
• Thinking through Things Theorizing Global Archaeology (20 credits)
• Palaeoenvironmental Techniques (20 credits)
• Global Environmental Change (20 credits)
• The Archaeology of Islands (Residential Fieldtrip Module) (20 credits)
• Geography and Employability (0 credits)
• Urban Landscapes (Fieldwork) (20 credits)
• Archaeology in Practice (20 credits)
• Exploring Dynamic Environments (Fieldwork) (20 credits)
• Space, Culture and Mobility (Fieldwork) (20 credits)
• Geomorphology (20 credits)
• From St Patrick to the Plantation: The Archaeology of Historic Ireland (20 credits)
• Ireland in Prehistory (20 credits)
• Landscapes and Geographical Information (GIS) (20 credits)
• Contemporary Approaches to Geographical Enquiry (20 credits)
• Archaeological Excavation (20 credits)
• Cultural and Political Geography (20 credits)
• Geography Dissertation (40 credits)
• Geographical Independent Research Essay (20 credits)
• Independent Project (20 credits)
• Geography At Work (40 credits)
• Archaeology/Palaeoecology Dissertation (40 credits)
• Ice Cold Environments (20 credits)
• Health Geography (20 credits)
• The Archaeology of Ancient Greece (Residential Fieldtrip Module) (20 credits)
• Remaking Cities (20 credits)
• Digital Archaeology: Engagement and Interpretation (20 credits)
• Environmental Catastrophes (20 credits)
• Health, Environment and Climate Change (20 credits)
• Spaces of neoliberalism and inequalities (20 credits)
• Climate Change (20 credits)
• Geography, Science and Society (20 credits)
• Volcanoes: environmental and societal impacts (20 credits)
• Society, Death and Disease (20 credits)
• Spaces of Urbanisation in Emerging Economies and Sustainable Development (20 credits)
• Geoforensics (20 credits)
• Critical Thinking and the Past (20 credits)
• Environmental Geopolitics (20 credits)
• Sustaining the Biosphere (20 credits)

Entrance Requirements

• A level requirements: BBB normally including A-level Geography + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4
• Irish leaving certificate requirements: H3H3H3H3H4H4/H3H3H3H3H3 normally including Higher Level grade H3 in Geography + 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% normally including 65% in relevant modules. 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. RQF BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 GLH at Level 3) with overall grades DDD + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4. Extended Diploma/National Extended Diploma must be relevant.
• Graduate: A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree, provided any subject requirements are also met.

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.
• Students participating in the four-week field excavation module at Stage 1 are expected to supply their own waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear.
• At Stage 2 students may choose optional modules that have associated field trip costs ranging from £50 to £500. Alternative non-field based options are available at no cost.
• If students choose to take a supplementary Additional Year that incurs travel costs (either locally or abroad), they will be required to fund these.
• A limited amount of funding may be available to contribute towards these additional costs, if the placement takes place through a government student mobility scheme.

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).
• The advisory closing date for the receipt of applications for entry in 2026 is Wednesday 14 January 2026 (18:00).
• Applications from UK and EU (Republic of Ireland) students after this date are, in practice, considered by Queen’s for entry to this course throughout the remainder of the application cycle (30 June 2026) subject to the availability of places.
• Applications from International and EU (Other) students are normally considered by Queen’s for entry to this course until 30 June 2026.