Archaeology and Ancient History

Description

This programme provides the opportunity to study the ancient civilisations of Egypt and Western Asia, as well as Greece and Rome, and prehistoric societies in the Mediterranean and Britain. By interpreting historical and archaeological evidence together, we can build a rounded picture of the life and culture of these ancient societies.

The Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity is a lively environment where students find friendly encouragement to follow their own particular interests in the past, and where they can gain the necessary skills to equip them for a variety of careers in the future. We place a distinctive emphasis on the combination of archaeological and historical approaches in the study of the ancient world, and the range of expertise available ensures that a wide choice of periods, countries and cultures may be studied. To a large extent you can build your own degree through choice from the options available.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

This programme integrates archaeological and ancient historical approaches to the study of societies and cultural life in the past. By drawing upon the methods and insights of both disciplines, it is possible to develop more diverse and broader interpretations of ancient societies, and to investigate aspects of these that would be closed to one or the other discipline in isolation.

Diversity and choice are key characteristics of the degree, which offers a wide range of optional courses in different periods, areas and methods of study, alongside core courses covering both archaeology and ancient history. The programme allows for a very high degree of flexibility and is ideal for those interested in the past, but currently undecided if they would like to focus on archaeology or ancient history.

Past human cultures are explored both in multidisciplinary terms (using historical sources and archaeological evidence to study themes such as burial practices and society, and the ancient City), and in detailed studies of particular periods and regions. The range of period and area specialisms among teaching staff is extremely wide, with optional lecture and seminar courses reflecting this diversity, including:

• Palaeolithic archaeology
• British and European prehistory
• Mediterranean Archaeology
• Egyptian archaeology and history
• Ancient western Asia
• Minoans & Mycenaens
• Dark Age and Classical Greece
• The archaeology of the Roman Empire
• Roman Britain
• Anglo-Saxon England
• The Vikings
• Early medieval Europe

Small-group teaching is an integral part of the degree, with a Project or Seminar module in each year of the programme. Topics are chosen by students from a wide range of more than 20 specialist research subjects, with seminar or laboratory classes of no more than 12 students.

The Study Tour in the 2nd Year is a unique course involving group project design and travel to sites, museums and landscapes of a selected region, funded by a grant from the Institute. Study tour groups regularly go to Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Italy and France, other countries in central and northern Europe, and Britain and Ireland.

Individual research is an especially important feature of the 3rd Year, when students pursue their own special interests in their dissertation research, supervised by a member of staff.

Archaeology and Ancient History: Year 1

In your first year you gain a firm grounding in the history and archaeology of the ancient world through introductory lecture courses ranging from the history and archaeology of the ancient civilisations of Egypt to the theory and practice of archaeology and the study of human societies and cultural change. You also gain practical experience through archaeological field training.

[each module 20 credits]

• Introductory Archaeology Module (Covering key archaeological sites and discoveries, from the origins of humans to battlefield archaeology)
• Project Work (Two small-group seminar courses chosen from a wide range of about 20 special topics)
• Fieldwork Training
• Mediterranean Archaeology
• Multi-disciplinary Subject (Choice of three subjects each year: e.g. Death and Burial, the Ancient City, Warfare)
• Optional Module (Choice from a wide range of courses, including modules such as Early Civilisations: Egypt and Western Asia, Introduction to Greece and the Greeks, Introduction to Greece and Rome, Barbarians and the transformation of the Roman World)

In your second year you may choose a historical core module investigating Greek and Roman society, or one which will provide you with expertise in major archaeological sub-disciplines and professional techniques (for example, forensic or environmental archaeology). You also choose from a range of options in history, archaeology, literature, culture, language, myth, religion, art and philosophy. A special feature of the second year is the study tour abroad, a research project undertaken with financial support from the University

• Archaeology Core Course or Ancient History Core Course (40 credits. Students must take one Archaeology course and one Ancient History Core, but are free to choose which order they take these courses)
• Seminar Option (small-group seminar series, chosen from a wide range of about 20 period/region/thematic archaeology topics)
• Multi-disciplinary Subject (Choice of three subjects each year: e.g. Death and Burial, the Ancient City, Warfare) or Special Study (small group courses specifically for second years, a range of choices are offered e.g. Archaeology of Early Christian Europe, British Prehistory: new discoveries and interpretations)
• Optional Modules (40credits)
  (Choice from a wide range of courses, including the possibility of taking an ancient language or a second year of Field Training, most options are 20 credits)

Archaeology and Ancient History: Year 3

In your final year you may choose either an archaeological core module or a historical one this time focusing on Ancient Egypt and Western Asia. You also make your choice from our menu of options. The highlight of the final year is your dissertation: a substantial research project on a subject of special interest to you.

• Dissertation (40 credits)
• Archaeology Core Course or Ancient History Core Course(40 credits. Students must take one Archaeology course and one Ancient History Core, but are free to choose which order they take these courses)
• Seminar Option (small-group seminar series, chosen from a wide range of about 20 period/region/thematic archaeology topics)
• Optional Module (Choices available will vary each year but include subjects such as: Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Archaeology, Heritage Management, The Roman Army)

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 CAE score : 80(Grade A) TOEFL iBT® test : 93

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: ABB

International Baccalaureate Diploma: 34 points

International students:

Standard English language requirements apply: IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band; TOEFL IBT 93

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Birmingham.