- UCAS course code
- V400
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
BA Archaeology
Study with researchers of international calibre on archaeological projects spanning the globe.
- Typical A-level offer: ABB
- Typical contextual A-level offer: BBC
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 34 points overall with 6,5,5 at HL
Overview
Course overview
- Get a broad foundation of archaeological ideas, principles and techniques and specialise in areas or periods of specific interest.
- Benefit from our dedicated archaeological laboratories, home to drones, a 3D printer and portable XRF.
- Gain hands-on insight through subsidised fieldwork and excavation projects in Herefordshire, Yorkshire, Scotland and the Mediterranean.
- Study at a top 10 UK university for Archaeology (THE World University Rankings 2024).
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 509 2871
- ug-classics@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/cahae/
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: About us
Related courses
- Archaeology and Anthropology BA (3 years)
- Ancient History and Archaeology BA (3 years)
- Archaeology and History BA (3 years)
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Compare this course
Entry requirements
A-level
ABB
Contextual offer
BBC for applicants who meet our contextual offer criteria. For further information and to check eligibility visit our Contextual Offers page.
Refugee/care-experienced offer
AS-level
Unit grade information
The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit information where available. Like all other information provided by applicants this may be taken into consideration when assessing your application. Unit grades will not normally form part of an offer conditions.
GCSE
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade C or 4 in GCSE/iGCSE English Language and Mathematics. GCSE/iGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/iGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language iGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your iGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
International Baccalaureate
34 points overall. 6,5,5 in Higher Level subjects
Other international entry requirements
Scottish requirements
Welsh Baccalaureate
The minimum grade required will normally be the same as the lowest grade listed in the A Level entry requirements.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
European Baccalaureate
We normally require 77% to include a minimum of 8.0 in at least one essay-based subject.
AQA Baccalaureate
In making offers, the University will focus on the three A Levels taken within the AQA Baccalaureate. Students need to check the standard A Level requirements for their chosen course.
The units of broader study, enrichment activities and the Extended Project are considered to be valuable elements of the AQA Baccalaureate and we would therefore strongly encourage students to draw upon these experiences within their personal statement.
Foundation year
Applicants completing the INTO Manchester in partnership with The University of Manchester international foundation programme are required to achieve ABB in academic subjects and grade A in the EAP with writing, speaking, listening and reading grade B.
Applicants completing the NCUK International Foundation year are required to achieve ABB in academic subjects and grade A in the EAP with writing, speaking, listening and reading grade B.
Please read this in conjunction with our A-level requirements, noting any pre-requisite subjects.
For all other foundation programmes please see this list of approved UK foundation programmes .
Pearson BTEC qualifications
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma: we consider the National Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Diploma with grades Distinction, Merit, plus one A-level at Grade A in an essay-based subject.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma: we consider the National Foundation Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Foundation Diploma with a Merit grade, plus two A-levels at Grade BB (one of these A-levels should be in in an essay-based subject).
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate: we consider the National Extended Certificate for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Extended Certificate with a Distinction grade, plus two A-levels at Grades BB (one of these A-levels should be in an essay-based subject).
The University of Manchester welcomes applications from students who have achieved legacy BTEC qualifications (pre-2016) such as the BTEC Extended Diploma, BTEC Diploma, BTEC Subsidiary Diploma, and BTEC Certificate. The grades required are likely to be the same or vary similar to the new BTEC qualifications (first teaching 2016, awarded 2018). Please contact the Academic School for clarification.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the academic School(s) to which you plan to apply.
OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Extended Diploma (CTEC): we do not consider the Technical Extended Diploma for entry to this course.
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Diploma (CTEC): we consider the Technical Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Diploma with grades Distinction, Merit, plus an additional level 3 qualification such as an A Level at grade A in an essay-based subject such as English Literature, History or Politics .
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Foundation Diploma (CTEC): we consider the Technical Foundation Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Foundation Diploma with grades Distinction, Distinction, plus an additional level 3 qualification such as an A Level/A Level at min. Grade B an essay-based subject such as English or History, PLUS an EPQ or AS Level at grade B.
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Extended Certificate (CTEC) : we consider the Technical Extended Certificate for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Extended Certificate with grade Distinction, plus two additional Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels at grades BB, one of which must be in an essay-based subject such as English or History.
The University of Manchester will consider applications from students who have achieved legacy CTEC qualifications (pre-2016) such as the CTEC Extended Diploma, CTEC Diploma, CTEC Subsidiary Diploma, and CTEC Certificate. The grades required are likely to be the same or vary similar to the new CTEC qualifications (first teaching 2016, awarded 2018). Please contact the Academic School for clarification.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) to which you plan to apply.
Access to HE Diploma
The specific course requirements are a minimum of 30 credits with a Distinction grade, plus 15 credits with a Merit grade, all in a Humanities-related subject.
Cambridge Pre-U
We consider applicants offering Pre-U Principal Subjects, or a mix of Pre-U and A Level subjects, provided a minimum of three distinct subjects overall is taken.
We accept Pre-U grade D3 in place of A Level grade A or Pre-U M2 in place of A Level grade B.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
T Level
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
Core Maths
The University recognises the value of Level 3 Core Mathematics qualifications. Core Mathematics is not a compulsory element of post-16 study and as a result we will not normally include it in the conditions of any offer we make. However, if a student chooses to undertake a core mathematics qualification this may be taken into account when we consider a student's application, particularly for courses with a distinct mathematical or statistical element that does not require A Level Mathematics. Academic Schools may also choose to take a student's performance in Core Mathematics into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.
Where a course requires applicants to have at least grade 6/B or higher in GCSE Mathematics we would be likely to consider a pass in Core Mathematics at a minimum grade C or B as an alternative way to fulfil this requirement. Where an A Level in Mathematics is required then Core Mathematics will not be accepted in lieu of an A Level.
A Level and GCSE Mathematics requirements for our courses vary according to subject so we advise students to contact the academic School, who will clarify whether a student's portfolio of qualifications is acceptable for entry onto the chosen course.
Home-schooled applicants
Non-standard educational routes
Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences. Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.
The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to. Further information for mature students can be found here ( http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/mature-students/ )
English language
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
- GCSE/iGCSE English Language grade C/4 or;
- IELTS 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in any one component, or;
- An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language iGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your iGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student from outside the UK and the EU must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language in order to be granted a UK visa (Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This level is often referred to as the 'B2 level'.
Additionally, our individual Schools may ask for specific English Language proficiency levels that are necessary for their academic programmes. In most cases these requirements are likely to be higher than the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found here .
English language test validity
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £26,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
- Find out more from student finance
- Eligible UK students can apply for bursaries and scholarships
- Funding for EU and international students is on our country-specific pages
- Many students work part-time or complete a student internship
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Potential candidates are expected to demonstrate why they have chosen this particular degree in their personal statement and express why the course interests them.
Applicants submitting mitigating circumstances
If you are submitting information about mitigating circumstances that have affected, or are likely to affect, your academic performance, you should include this in the referee's report.
We cannot usually take into account information that is supplied after an adverse decision has been made on an application by the admitting school.
(Examples of mitigating circumstances include family illness, problems with school facilities or an unusual curriculum followed by your school of college.)
How your application is considered
We read the personal statements and references of all applicants, paying particular attention to A-level (or IB etc.) predictions or achieved grades.
We welcome mature students with an interest in, or prior experience of, Archaeology; also to those with non-standard qualifications. We may need to interview applicants in such circumstances.
Interview requirements
We don't normally interview for this degree, except in the case of mature applicants. In considering your application, all the information on the UCAS form is taken into account, particular attention being paid to academic qualifications and predictions, to your referee's confidential report, and to your personal statement.
Returning to education
We actively welcome applications from mature students with an interest in, or prior experience of, Archaeology. We will consider applicants from a variety of educational backgrounds, whether they have completed A-levels, Access courses or other qualifications. We are sensitive to the particular concerns of mature students and can offer both full and part-time routes through the degree. Individual enquiries are welcome.
Deferrals
Deferrals are normally allowed; however, we do ask applicants to let us know as early as possible if they are intending to defer. This helps us to adjust the number of offers we make, in order to achieve the required number of students in a given year.
Re-applications
Transfers
Students wishing to transfer from other Universities will be considered on merit, providing we have enough places to accommodate them. Enquiries should be made to the admissions administrator for the subject (see contact details). We will require transcripts and a reference from your tutor.
Course details
Course description
History always interested me, but I found reading books about it a bit dull.
When I realised you could touch, interact and discover history, I instantly fell in love with Archaeology; that alongside the excellent staff really makes this course at Manchester stand out!
Jason Walton / Archaeology undergraduate
Archaeology lets you explore past humanity. It spans from prehistoric times to industrialization and globalization. And, it lets you consider key challenges of modern society. These include climate change, new technology's impact, and subtle understandings of gender, culture, and conflict.
We study past people through science. We analyze artefacts, texts, inscriptions, architecture, human remains, and landscapes. In the course, you will cover Egypt, the Near East, the Mediterranean, the British Isles, and North-West Europe.
You will work in the department of Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology and Egyptology (CAHAE). You will have a great chance to use staff expertise in material culture, ancient history, language, and literature. Staff are also experts in the fields on the subjects of social complexity, ancient writing, belief systems, and funerary rites.
You'll explore artefacts, buildings, and old texts. You'll handle our object collections in our labs and get exclusive access to the archives and experts of the Manchester Museum. You'll also go on trips to amazing sites.
Fieldwork training is integral to all our courses: you will have the opportunity to dig for at least four weeks, with your first two weeks in year one, followed by a further two weeks in year two.
Our past students have worked on sites of global importance, such as Stonehenge, Star Carr, and Easter Island. They have uncovered everything from the first British Mesolithic art to a Viking boat burial in Scotland.
Use our dedicated collections, labs, study spaces, and libraries to pursue your interests. Our award-winning teachers and top researchers will support you. You'll join our community, which is passionate about understanding the ancient world.
Special features
Experience digs in the UK and abroad
Fieldwork training is a key part of our degree. You'll be introduced to excavation by experienced archaeologists.
Placement year option
Use your subject-specific knowledge in the real world. Do this through a placement year in your third year of study. It will help you improve your job prospects, clarify your career goals, and build your external networks.
Study abroad
You may apply to spend one semester studying abroad during Year 2. You'll have the opportunity to join research teams and help make discoveries that shape our knowledge of the world.
Destination-specific specialisms could support research on Inuit material culture, Australian rock art, or Scandinavian hoards, enriching your final year dissertation.
Explore in-depth collections on campus
Use our well-equipped labs to study artefacts, architecture, and ancient texts and beliefs. We also have our own teaching collections. Plus, we have access to the exclusive archives and curators at Manchester Museum .
Outreach and engagement
You'll also have the opportunity to share your passion for archaeology through community and public engagement projects.
Teaching and learning
As an archaeology student you'll benefit from a breadth of teaching methods designed to develop your transferable skills, including:
- tutorials;
- seminars;
- laboratory sessions;
- lectures;
- fieldwork;
- group exercises;
- presentations;
- reports;
- one to one academic support sessions;
- original research guided by academic tutors.
Subsidised fieldwork includes one-day site visits as well as extensive periods of excavation in locations such as Herefordshire, Yorkshire and Scotland. You'll also be trained in our archaeological labs and museum archives to use a wide range of equipment to analyse and record objects. You can access training in digital illustration and GIS packages to support this activity and loan landscape survey and geophysics equipment for fieldwork.
Coursework and assessment
- written examinations;
- coursework essays;
- research reports;
- practical tests;
- fieldwork workbooks;
- individual projects;
- oral presentations;
- third year dissertation;
- digital posters;
- audio performances.
In addition, archaeology field training involves a variety of assessment over a range of skills and techniques.
Course content for year 1
Gain a broad-based understanding of archaeological history and the methods and theories involved in the interpretation of past societies.
Discover the process of archaeological fieldwork and the principles of excavation through lab-based study, artefact handling sessions, and hands-on field trips.
Explore additional units in archaeology from both Britain and the wider world.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Discoveries and Discoverers: Sights and Sites | CAHE10281 | 20 | Mandatory |
Doing Archaeology 1 | CAHE10502 | 20 | Mandatory |
Constructing Archaic Greek History | CAHE10011 | 20 | Optional |
From Republic to Empire: Introduction to Roman History, Society & Culture 218-31BC | CAHE10022 | 20 | Optional |
The Story of Britain: one million years of humanity | CAHE10142 | 20 | Optional |
Cities and Citizens | CAHE10232 | 20 | Optional |
Introduction to the History and Culture of Pharaonic Egypt | CAHE10651 | 20 | Optional |
Introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphs | CAHE20162 | 20 | Optional |
Standing on The Shoulders of Giants: Foundations for Study in The Arts | SALC10002 | 20 | Optional |
Ice Age to Baroque: Artworks in History | SALC10041 | 20 | Optional |
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Course content for year 2
Acquire the skills to frame your research questions, collect and analyse data, and present your results. Use this knowledge to develop a research topic of your own choice, which can include discoveries from your fieldwork.
Begin to explore period and thematic specialisms through a wide breadth of optional course units which cover huge expanses of time and space. From the prehistoric origins of farming and monuments in the Neolithic and the beginnings of civilizations in the Near East, to the classical Mediterranean world, Ancient Egypt, or mortuary archaeology through time, our specialist courses offer an amazing opportunity to pursue the topics that inspire you.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Thinking Archaeology | CAHE20112 | 20 | Mandatory |
Artefacts and Interpretation | CAHE20362 | 20 | Mandatory |
Doing Archaeology 2 | CAHE20501 | 20 | Mandatory |
Data Literacy in a Digital World | SALC20081 | 20 | Mandatory |
The Conquering Hero: The Life, Times and Legacy of Alexander The Great | CAHE20042 | 20 | Optional |
The Roman Empire 31BC - AD313 Rome's Golden Age | CAHE20052 | 20 | Optional |
Politics and Society in Classical Greece | CAHE20061 | 20 | Optional |
Social Life in Ancient Egypt | CAHE20072 | 20 | Optional |
Ancient Egyptian Literature | CAHE20091 | 20 | Optional |
From Cloud Cuckoo Land to Atlantis: Utopian thinking in the Ancient World | CAHE20141 | 20 | Optional |
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Course content for year 3
Gain an understanding of the power of the past and the importance of heritage in the modern world, addressing the issues faced by archaeologists. You also will enhance your skills in artefact analysis, learning methods of recording and interpretation of materials that will let you understand the past in greater depth.
Continue to develop your own expertise through a range of optional course units and complete a dissertation based on your own independent research.
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology and Egyptology Dissertation | CAHE30000 | 40 | Mandatory |
Artefacts and Interpretation | CAHE30362 | 20 | Mandatory |
Introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphs | CAHE20162 | 20 | Optional |
Social Life in Ancient Egypt | CAHE30072 | 20 | Optional |
Ancient Egyptian Literature | CAHE30091 | 20 | Optional |
From Cloud Cuckoo Land to Atlantis: Utopian thinking in the Ancient World | CAHE30141 | 20 | Optional |
The Emergence of Civilisation: Palaces, Peak Sanctuaries, and Politics in Minoan Crete | CAHE30332 | 20 | Optional |
Athens and Attica | CAHE30632 | 20 | Optional |
Dealing with the Dead: The Archaeology of Death and Burial | CAHE30721 | 20 | Optional |
The Roman Army and the North-West Frontiers | CAHE30881 | 20 | Optional |
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Facilities
Manchester Museum
Manchester Museum is home to important prehistoric, classical and ethnographic collections. You'll go behind the scenes to handle, analyse, and explain rare artefacts. They include one of the finest Egyptology collections in Britain.
Our ongoing collaboration is between the museum and the global archaeology staff. It offers unique chances for students to help design major exhibitions.
Whitworth Art Gallery
The Whitworth Art Gallery holds important archaeological textile collections. It also has art and sculpture on themes such as landscape. These are part of its broader, internationally significant collections.
The Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology
The Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology has a film library. It has approximately 1,500 titles. The films range from classic ethnographic to contemporary documentary and world cinema.
Archaeological laboratories
You'll learn in our archaeological labs. You'll use microscopes, digital cameras, delicate measuring tools, and portable XRF to analyse and record objects. You can also access training in digital illustration and GIS packages to support this activity and loan landscape survey and geophysics equipment for fieldwork. A dedicated technician supports our labs. They can offer training and help.
Field survey equipment
Equipment to support your studies includes three total stations and a traverse kit. Also, a sub metre GPS survey system, a drone, and pro photography gear. Several of our lab-based resources can also be used in the field, including our PXRF instrument, ProScope and 3D scanner.
Disability support
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants from the Disability Support Office. Email: disability@manchester.ac.uk
Careers
Career opportunities
A degree in Archaeology will give you the ability to communicate well. It will show a deep understanding of varied cultures and societies, preparing you for a career in many industries.
You can also apply to spend a year gaining valuable workplace experience on a work placement.
Throughout your degree and for two years after, you'll have access to dedicated support for your subject. The careers and employability page has more on how we prepare students for the workplace. Also, our undergraduate courses are designed to ease the transition into postgraduate study, if desired.
Our graduates have gone on to work in many industries. They have had positions with BBC, Google, the UK government, museums, and law firms.