Program Overview

BA Museum Studies and Archaeology

The BA Museum Studies and Archaeology degree at the University of Reading offers a unique combination of museology and archaeological discovery. Students will learn the core skills of curatorship, including researching, analyzing, cataloging, interpreting, and displaying museum objects, historic buildings, and landscapes.

Overview

This degree program allows students to explore archaeological techniques and gain practical training on museum practices, perspectives, and ethics. The program covers a wide range of topics, including the investigation of artifacts, monuments, and museum collections, the development of human societies, and the role of religion and gender in social change.

Structure

The program is divided into three years, with compulsory and optional modules in each year.

Year 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • Revolutions and Transitions: The Human Journey from 6 Million Years Ago to the Present Day
  • Archaeology Today: Methods and Practice
  • Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt and Rome
  • Presenting the Past: An Introduction to Museum Studies
• Optional modules:
  • Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death
  • Contemporary World Cultures: An Introduction to Social Anthropology
  • Forensic Archaeology and Crime Scene Analysis
  • Roman History: The Rise and Fall of the Republic
  • Ancient Song
  • Chivalry: The Emergence and Impact of a Medieval Ethos
  • The Rwanda Genocide of 1994
  • Warfare in Early Modern Europe, c.

Year 2

• Compulsory modules:
  • Archaeology and Heritage: Past, Present and Future
  • Ancient Objects: Materials and Meanings
  • Museum Learning and Engagement
  • Curatorship and Collections Management
• Optional modules:
  • Prehistoric Europe: The First Million Years
  • Entertainment and Leisure in Roman Society
  • Archaeology Field School and Professional Practice
  • Bioarchaeology
  • Forensic Archaeology and Crime Scene Analysis
  • Changing the Face of the Earth: Past, Present and Future Sustainability
  • Optional Language and University-wide Modules

Year 3

• Compulsory modules:
  • Display Design, Planning and Creation: Project Module
• Optional modules:
  • Dissertation in Archaeology
  • Objects and Identities in the Roman Empire
  • Biological Anthropology
  • Post-excavation: Assessment, Analysis and Publication in the Profession
  • Emergence of Civilisation in Mesopotamia
  • The First Europeans: Archaeology of the Lower Palaeolithic
  • The Archaeology and Anthropology of Food
  • Living in Medieval Towns

Entry Requirements

• A Level: BBB
• International Baccalaureate: 30 points overall
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM
• Extended Project Qualification: accepted as part of a formal offer
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

Fees

• New UK/Republic of Ireland students: ｣9,790 (2026 entry)
• New international students: ｣25,850 (2026/27)
• Additional costs: field trips and extra resources
• Financial support: scholarships, bursaries, and student loans available

Careers

Graduates from the BA Museum Studies and Archaeology program have gone on to work in various industries, including archaeology, heritage, and museums. The program develops practical and academic skills, preparing students for the job market. Past graduates have worked for employers such as Thames Valley Archaeological Services, The Museum of London Archaeology, and the Ashmolean Museum.