Program Overview

Ancient History and Archaeology BA Honours

Overview

The Ancient History and Archaeology BA Honours degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute for Archaeology (CIfA) and University Archaeology UK (UAUK). This joint accreditation confirms the content of this course is current and relevant, and you'll develop knowledge and skills which employers value.

Course Details

• UCAS code: VV14
• Full time: 3 years
• Tuition fees (Year 1): Home: Not Set, International: £25,000
• Entry requirements: A-Level: ABB, IB: 32 points
• UCAS Institution name and code: NEWC / N21

Modules and Learning

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Stage 1

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Introduction to Archaeology
  • The Archaeology of Britain from the Romans to the 20th Century
  • Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology
• Optional Modules:
  • Introduction to Archaeological Science
  • Prehistoric Britain
  • The World of Latin Literature
  • Tragedy, Comedy, History: The World of Greek Literature
  • How Should I Live? An Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
  • Beginners' Greek in Action Part 1
  • Beginners' Greek in Action Part 2
  • West meets East: Greek History and Society, 776-200 BC
  • The Roman World from Romulus to Trajan
  • Beginners' Latin in Action Part 1
  • Beginners' Latin in Action Part 2
  • Global Middle Ages
  • Stuff: living in a material world
  • Global Ancient Histories

Stage 2

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Fieldwork and Post-Excavation: Archaeology in the UK
  • Archaeologies of the Roman Empire: The Roman World from Augustus to Justinian
• Optional Modules:
  • Archaeological Theory and Interpretation
  • From Lascaux to Knossos: Prehistoric Europe
  • Colonial Worlds: History and Archaeology
  • Artefacts
  • Hellenistic Empires from Alexander to Cleopatra
  • The Roman World from Hadrian to Heraclius
  • Greek and Roman Religions
  • Slavery in Greco-Roman Antiquity
  • Sacred words and dirty deeds: Thriving in Late Antiquity
  • The Mediterranean: a connected past
  • Career Development for second year students

Stage 3

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Dissertation in Archaeology: Research as Professional Practice (40 credits)
  • OR
  • Dissertation in Ancient History and Archaeology: Research as Professional Practice (40 credits)
• Optional Modules:
  • Survival and turmoil in Byzantium and beyond: Byzantine archaeology, art and text
  • Neolithic & Early Bronze Age Britain in its European Context
  • Regionality and the Fall of Rome
  • Fundamentals of Digital Humanities: Computer literacy, data analysis and GIS
  • The Sharp Edge of Empire? The Armies and Frontiers of Imperial Rome
  • City of Athens: Power, Society and Culture
  • Gods in the Material World: Religion and Material Culture in Greece, Egypt and Mesopotamia 2000BC-338BC
  • Businesswomen in the ancient world: Challenging Prejudices and Inequality
  • Career Development for final year students

Opportunities

• Study abroad: Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree.
• Work placement: Apply your practical skills, increase your confidence and gain real-life work experience to accelerate your career.

Facilities and Environment

You'll be based in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, located at the heart of campus in the historic Armstrong Building. You'll have access to excellent study resources including:

• The Philip Robinson University Library, which houses over 800,000 books and provides access to ca. 1.8m e-books
• Special Collections & Archives – a rich collection of archival material, historical medical texts and rare books
• The Great North Museum: Hancock, our on-campus museum which holds an extensive collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan artefacts.
• The Wolfson Archaeology Laboratory - with facilities for use-wear analysis of bone, stone, metal and glass, and furnaces for research in material culture or experimental archaeology.
• A Material Culture Analytical Suite kitted out with microscopes, and 2D and 3D scanning equipment.

Your Future

Our Ancient History and Archaeology degree will set you up to start a career as a professional archaeologist or to pursue a future in museum and heritage work, as well as a whole range of other careers.

Entry Requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications.

• A-Level: ABB. General Studies accepted.
• International Baccalaureate: A minimum of 32 points with three subjects at Grade 5 or above at Higher Level.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

• Tuition fees for academic year: The 2026 entry home fees have not yet been confirmed.
• Qualification: BA Honours Full time
• Home students: Full time: 3 years | Tuition fees (Year 1) Not Set
• International students: Full time: 3 years | Tuition fees (Year 1) £25,000
• Scholarships: We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships.