BA Ancient History and Archaeology / Course details

The study of people lies at the heart of our courses, such as exploring how the Roman Empire used architecture as a political statement.

Yet we also use scientific methods to examine ancient objects, human remains and landscapes. You will study ancient Mediterranean empires alongside the archaeology of Britain, Western Europe, the Greek and Roman worlds and the Near East.

Throughout the course, you'll have opportunity to study ancient languages and to conduct expert-led archaeological fieldwork, gaining knowledge of two complementary approaches to the past while gaining key skills in analysis and interpretation.

Study with us and you'll explore artefacts, architecture, ancient texts and beliefs using our well-equipped laboratories, our own departmental teaching collections, and the exclusive archives and curatorial expertise of Manchester Museum.

Experience digs in the UK and abroad

Fieldwork training is an integral part of Archaeology, and you'll be introduced to excavation techniques by experienced archaeologists, with the opportunity to join fieldwork or museum placements during your degree.

Placement year option

Apply your subject-specific knowledge in a real-world context through a placement year in your third year of study, enabling you to enhance your employment 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 such as Inuit material culture, Australian rock art or Scandinavian hoards, enriching could shape your final year dissertation.

Explore in-depth collections on campus

Discover artefacts, architecture, ancient texts and beliefs using our well-equipped laboratories, our own departmental teaching collections and the exclusive archives and curatorial expertise of Manchester Museum .

Outreach and engagement

You'll have the opportunity to share your passion for archaeology through community and public engagement projects.

• 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 a wide range of 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 pursue training in digital illustration and GIS packages to support this activity and access landscape survey and geophysics equipment for fieldwork.

Assessment methods include:

• 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.

Manchester Museum 

Manchester Museum  is The University's own award-winning facility, home to important prehistoric, classical and ethnographic collections, which you'll draw from in your learning. 

You'll go behind the scenes to handle, analyse and interpret rare artefacts, including one of the finest Egyptology collections in Britain. 

Our ongoing collaboration between the museum and the global work of archaeology staff offers unique opportunities for students to get involved in the design of major exhibitions. 

Whitworth Art Gallery 

The Whitworth Art Gallery  holds important archaeological textile collections, and art and sculpture on themes such as landscape as part of its broader internationally significant collections. 

The Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology 

The Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology  is home to a film library with some 1,500 titles, from classic ethnographic film to contemporary documentary and world cinema. 

To complement the film titles, it boosts a comprehensive collection of written materials by anthropologists and film makers, including a selection of journals. 

Archaeological laboratories 

Our dedicated archaeological laboratories contain a wide range of equipment you can use during your degree. 

Get to grips with our extensive archaeological artefacts, ranging from the Early Palaeolithic to the 20th century. 

Use microscopes, professional photography and measurement equipment, a 3D scanner and printer, and portable XRF to analyse and record artefacts. 

Or try out our GPS equipment, total stations and drones when out in the field. 

Learn how to combine these with software for digital illustrations GIS analysis of maps and spatial data and 3D digital models to enhance your analysis and understanding. 

Throughout your degree, this equipment will be available for loan from our dedicated lab technician, who can also offer any extra training you need. 

Our separate teaching and research labs are used for teaching thorough our degrees and are available for independent student study and research. 

They also host our experimental archaeology group, which regularly meets to make and use types of artefacts from a range of archaeological periods. 

Find out more on the  facilities  page.