Ancient History and Archaeology BA Honours

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What is Clearing?

Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.

UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.

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Not available in Clearing

This course is not available in Clearing 2024.

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Course overview

Our Ancient History and Archaeology BA (Honours) degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute for Archaeology (CIfA) and University Archaeology UK (UAUK).

Immerse yourself in ancient history and archaeology on our joint honours degree. With the opportunity to learn Latin and Ancient Greek from beginners' or intermediate level, and gain the skills you’ll need for your future career.

Explore the global ancient world, including the classical civilisations of Greece and Rome, and piece together their history using diverse types of evidence. From analysing ancient texts to studying material remains, you’ll explore areas such as architecture, sculpture, pottery and coins ensuring you develop a broad range of knowledge.

Our classroom extends beyond the University, to the region's diverse heritage, based in an area of world class archaeology on the edge of the Roman Empire. From Hadrian's Wall to Bamburgh Castle on the Northumbrian coast, there's a rich past to discover on our doorstep.

 

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

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

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions

You will receive the same introduction to archaeology as our single honours students, but focus on classical art and archaeology. Choose from Ancient History and Classics options, like Greek Literature, Ancient Philosophy or Roman History and Culture.

In the summer, you will complete two weeks of funded fieldwork.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Introduction to Archaeology	20
The Archaeology of Britain from the Romans to the 20th Century	20
Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Introduction to Archaeological Science	20
Prehistoric Britain	20
The World of Latin Literature	20
Tragedy, Comedy, History: The World of Greek Literature	20
How Should I Live? An Introduction to Ancient Philosophy	20
Beginners' Greek in Action Part 1	20
Beginners' Greek in Action Part 2	20
West meets East: Greek History and Society	20
The Roman World from Romulus to Trajan	20
Beginners' Latin in Action Part 1	20
Beginners' Latin in Action Part 2	20
Slavery	20
Global Middle Ages	20
Stuff: living in a material world	20
Global Ancient Histories	20

Your studies will expand geographically through a module on the Archaeology of the Roman Empire, with options that might take you to the prehistoric, Europe, or Rome under the Emperors. You can also pick thematic modules on slavery or religion.

You'll complete a further two weeks of funded fieldwork choosing from our projects in the UK or abroad.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Fieldwork and Post-Excavation: Archaeology in the UK	20
Archaeologies of the Roman Empire: The Roman World from Augustus to Justinian	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Archaeological Theory and Interpretation	20
Animals, Plants and People: an Introduction to Environmental Archaeology	20
From Lascaux to Knossos: Prehistoric Europe	20
The Medieval World: AD 400-1500	20
Colonial Worlds: History and Archaeology	20
Artefacts	20
Hellenistic Empires from Alexander to Cleopatra	20
The Roman World from Hadrian to Heraclius	20
Greek and Roman Religions	20
Slavery in Greco-Roman Antiquity	20
Career Development for second year students	20

Your final year allows you to follow options that interest you most, whether that's Roman Frontiers or Alexander the Great. You'll complete a dissertation on your topic of choice under the supervision of an expert member of staff.

Modules

Compulsory modules

You must take one of the following compulsory modules (shown in the optional list below):

Dissertation in Archaeology: Research as Professional Practice (40 credits)

OR

Dissertation in Ancient History and Archaeology: Research as Professional Practice (40 credits)

 

Modules

Optional Modules	Credits
Early Medieval Britain	20
Frontier Communities of Roman Britain	20
Neolithic & Early Bronze Age Britain in its European Context	20
The Archaeology of Animal Bones	20
Sex, bodies and identities in Classical Greece	20
Dissertation in Archaeology: Research as Professional Practice	40
Dissertation in Ancient History and Archaeology: Research as Professional Practice	40
Homeric Archaeology: Greece from Palaces to City States	20
Fundamentals of Digital Humanities: Computer literacy, data analysis and GIS	20
City of Athens: Power, Society and Culture	20
'Frogs around the pond': Mobility and identity in the Pre-Roman Mediterranean	20
Roman Egypt	20
The New Empire of Diocletian and Constantine	20
Gods in the Material World: Religion and Material Culture in Greece, Egypt and Mesopotamia 2000BC-338BC	20
Career Development for final year students	20

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

You'll learn from:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• workshops
• practical activities
• site visits and fieldwork training
• independent study

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assessments

• 

  Assignments – written or fieldwork

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Practical sessions

• 

  Reports

Skills and experience

Practical skills

Practical experience forms a key part of this investigative and interdisciplinary degree. You'll gain hands-on experience handling artefacts from our on-campus Great North Museum.

You'll gain excavation experience at our Stage One field school, with further fieldwork opportunities elsewhere in the UK or abroad.

Research skills

In your final year, you'll write a dissertation on a topic of your choosing, using skills you have developed during your degree. You'll hone your investigative skills, undertaking independent research, with access to extensive resources, archives and special collections. 

Opportunities

Study abroad

Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.

You'll have the opportunity to study abroad for a full year either after Stage One or after Stage Two. You can study in an EU country as part of a study abroad exchange or further afield. You’ll then return to Newcastle to complete your degree.

In Europe we currently have links with:

• Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, France
• Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain
• Leiden University, Netherlands
• Charles University Prague, Czech Republic
• University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Södertörn University, Sweden
• University of Turku, Finland

Find out more about study abroad.

 

Work placement

Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year.  Placements are subject to availability.

Find out more about work placements.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

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, 2D and 3D scanning equipment and CT facilities

Find out more about the School of History, Classics and Archaeology

Support

You'll have the support of a lecturer as a personal tutor throughout your degree, and a student mentor will help you settle in.

This is a subject for everyone: we teach you all you need to know, and support your progress through to the end of the degree.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.

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 an archaeology student at Newcastle University, you'll develop a wide range of transferable skills, due to the interdisciplinary and investigative nature of the subject, which are highly sought by employers.

Some students begin careers as professional archaeologists, while others enter the heritage sector. There are lots of opportunities to engage with employers prior to graduation.

Other archaeology graduates use their team-working, project management and analytical skills to work in other fields, for example as company archivists, information technologists, specialist librarians and researchers. These skills are especially valued in industries such as publishing, broadcasting and public relations. Some students become teachers, lawyers, or start their own businesses.

Read more about our graduate career paths

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Careers support

Our unique Heritage City website connects you with heritage projects and employers in the region.

Work placements are available as part of your degree, and there are many volunteering opportunities to enhance your CV.

Students in their second year can apply for funding to support their own research projects over the summer break.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed (see ‘Home Fee Students’ information below).

Qualification: BA Honours
Home students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) Not set
International students full time 3 years	Tuition fees (per year) 25000

Home Fee Students

Home students starting in 2024 entry
£9,250 is the maximum fee that we are currently permitted to charge for home fee-paying students. This is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Home students starting in 2025 entry
The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed. In November 2024 the government increased the maximum fee level to £9,535 for 2025/26. We expect to confirm our Undergraduate Home fees for 2025/26 in December 2024.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages