Studying Archaeology at Undergraduate Level
Archaeology is a very broad subject that embraces both the humanities and the sciences. A degree in archaeology can therefore provide you with a very good skill set for a career in many professions, not just archaeology. It provides graduates with skills in problem-solving, data analysis, report writing, independent and logical thinking, group work, understanding statistics, public presentations, lateral thinking (that is being able to make connections between seemingly unrelated types of information), and many others key skills that employers value. Many students choose archaeology as a degree because they are interested in the subject, but after graduating go on to follow successful careers in business, politics, science, the arts and many other areas.
Most professional archaeologists now have a degree. It is difficult to gain employment in archaeology now without at least an BA or BSc degree. However, there are also many archaeologists actively engaged in fieldwork as a voluntary activity through local societies, which anyone can join.
In addition there are many different approaches to studying archaeology, from methodological approaches (eg archaeology as a science or an art, marine archaeology, geoarchaeology etc) to period, civilisation or area specific focuses (eg medieval archaeology, Egyptology, the archaeology of Scotland, etc). So you should first consider what sort of archaeology you are interested in and pick courses that cater to your interests.
We have broken down our information into the following sections to make it easier for you to find what you need:
What sort of degree courses include archaeology?
Which universities run degree programmes in archaeology?
What qualifications will I need to get onto an archaeology degree?
What other things can I do to improve my chances of getting a place?
