Skip to main content

University of Reading Cookie Policy

We use cookies on reading.ac.uk to improve your experience. Find out more about our cookie policy. By continuing to use our site you accept these terms, and are happy for us to use cookies to improve your browsing experience.

Continue using the University of Reading website

  • Schools and departments
  • University of Reading Malaysia
  • Henley Business School
  • Applicants
  • Students
  • Staff
  • Alumni
Show/Hide navigation
University of Reading
Mobile search categories
  • Study and life
  • Research
  • About us
  • View courses
  • Home
  • Study and life
    • Study
    • Student life
    • Accommodation
    • Open Days and visiting
    • International and EU students
  • Research
    • Themes
    • Impact
    • Innovation and partnerships
    • Research environment
    • Get involved
  • About us
    • Business
    • Working with the community
    • Visit us
    • Strategy
    • Governance
    • Contact us
  • Applicants
  • Students
  • Staff
  • Alumni
  • Schools and departments
  • University of Reading Malaysia
  • Henley Business School
  • View courses

BA ANCIENT HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY WITH PLACEMENT AND STUDY ABROAD

  • UCAS code
    VV44
  • Typical offer
    BBB
  • Year of entry
    2021
  • Course duration
     4 years
  • Year of entry
    2021
  • Course duration
     4 years
View all

COVID-19 update


Find out about how we'll be delivering our courses in 2020.

BA Ancient History and Archaeology with Placement and Study Abroad will enable you to understand the societies and people of the past. On this course, you will have the opportunity to explore ancient Greece and Rome, join an archaeological dig, and study abroad.

Ancient History is the study of the Greek and Roman worlds over a period spanning from 2000 BC to around 600 AD; it covers parts of modern Africa, Asia and Europe. You will learn about these ancient worlds in their political, literary, social, cultural and religious contexts. 

At the University of Reading, our expertise in archaeology starts with the earliest humans and spans up until the medieval period. We focus mainly on British, European and Near Eastern Archaeology, but explore other regions across the world. 

In the Department of Classics, our academics are at the forefront of their disciplines. Their research feeds directly into your studies, exposing you to the latest developments in the field. 

The Department of Archaeology is a research-intensive department, specialising in social and scientific archaeology. 97% of our research was judged to be of international standing in the Research Excellence Framework 2014. We also have an outstanding track record for student satisfaction, with scores consistently between 90%–100% for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey, 2010–2020.

If you are interested in studying abroad, you have the opportunity to spend a term at one of our partner universities in your second year, getting to know a new academic and cultural environment. You can also apply to study at the British School at Athens and the British School at Rome, which both offer summer school opportunities to University of Reading students.

Your first year is about discovery and experimentation. You will address important modern questions and trace them back to their roots, exploring different periods of ancient history through both literary and material sources. You can enhance your knowledge of the ancient world through optional Latin and Greek language modules, or deepen your understanding through hands-on experience with artefacts from the Ure Museum.

You will learn about burial archaeology, material culture, bioarchaeology (including human remains), forensics, past environments (including geoarchaeology), museums and gender archaeology. Core modules will provide you with a solid historical and archaeological grounding and optional modules will allow you to explore the different periods, cultures and countries that interest you. Popular modules taken by students on this degree include: The Ancient World on Film and Rome's Mediterranean Empire.

Study year abroad

Our four-year degree course includes a placement or a year's study at a university abroad in your third year, giving you the opportunity to develop valuable professional and international experience.

Placements

Placements are an excellent way to enhance your work-related skills and develop a network of contacts, as well as strengthen your employability prospects. We provide opportunities for you to undertake placements in a variety of contexts.

Opportunities are available working across the archaeological, heritage, planning and museum sectors including: research institutions, government organisations, local planning authorities, archaeological consultancies, field units, specialists and archivists. The University's museums, including the Department's own Ure Museum, also provide a number of voluntary work placements, ranging from helping with school visits to preparing displays and exhibitions. Alternatively you can choose a placement in a non-related business or industry, exploring different career options and enhancing your employability by drawing on the many non-vocational, transferable skills you obtain from an Ancient History and Archaeology degree.

Recent examples include:

  • Traineeship with Oxford Archaeology
  • Traineeship at the Field School
  • Archaeological science placement at QUEST, the University of Reading’s scientific consultancy company
  • Volunteering at the Ure Museum, Cole Museum of Zoology and the Museum of English Rural Life
  • Human remains placement
  • Mediterranean Palaeoclimate Project placement
  • Hominin Skeletal Morphology placement
  • Archaeological Graphics placement
  • Lithics Reference Collection placement
  • “Developing Experimental Archaeology for Research and Training” placement
  • “The Ecology of Crusading: Isotope Analysis and Faunal Remains” placement
  • Summer Enterprise Experience and Discovery internship scheme

Our Department has a dedicated member of staff in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support.

Students opting to undertake a standard three-year degree course will also have the opportunity to take a fully-credited placement or to spend a single term at one of our partner Universities abroad. Current options include the Universities of Malta, Aarhus (Denmark) and the University of Florida in Gainesville (USA).

For more information about securing and completing a placement for your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.

 

Overview

Ancient History is the study of the Greek and Roman worlds over a period spanning from 2000 BC to around 600 AD; it covers parts of modern Africa, Asia and Europe. You will learn about these ancient worlds in their political, literary, social, cultural and religious contexts. 

At the University of Reading, our expertise in archaeology starts with the earliest humans and spans up until the medieval period. We focus mainly on British, European and Near Eastern Archaeology, but explore other regions across the world. 

In the Department of Classics, our academics are at the forefront of their disciplines. Their research feeds directly into your studies, exposing you to the latest developments in the field. 

The Department of Archaeology is a research-intensive department, specialising in social and scientific archaeology. 97% of our research was judged to be of international standing in the Research Excellence Framework 2014. We also have an outstanding track record for student satisfaction, with scores consistently between 90%–100% for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey, 2010–2020.

If you are interested in studying abroad, you have the opportunity to spend a term at one of our partner universities in your second year, getting to know a new academic and cultural environment. You can also apply to study at the British School at Athens and the British School at Rome, which both offer summer school opportunities to University of Reading students.

Learning

Your first year is about discovery and experimentation. You will address important modern questions and trace them back to their roots, exploring different periods of ancient history through both literary and material sources. You can enhance your knowledge of the ancient world through optional Latin and Greek language modules, or deepen your understanding through hands-on experience with artefacts from the Ure Museum.

You will learn about burial archaeology, material culture, bioarchaeology (including human remains), forensics, past environments (including geoarchaeology), museums and gender archaeology. Core modules will provide you with a solid historical and archaeological grounding and optional modules will allow you to explore the different periods, cultures and countries that interest you. Popular modules taken by students on this degree include: The Ancient World on Film and Rome's Mediterranean Empire.

Study year abroad

Our four-year degree course includes a placement or a year's study at a university abroad in your third year, giving you the opportunity to develop valuable professional and international experience.

Placements

Placements are an excellent way to enhance your work-related skills and develop a network of contacts, as well as strengthen your employability prospects. We provide opportunities for you to undertake placements in a variety of contexts.

Opportunities are available working across the archaeological, heritage, planning and museum sectors including: research institutions, government organisations, local planning authorities, archaeological consultancies, field units, specialists and archivists. The University's museums, including the Department's own Ure Museum, also provide a number of voluntary work placements, ranging from helping with school visits to preparing displays and exhibitions. Alternatively you can choose a placement in a non-related business or industry, exploring different career options and enhancing your employability by drawing on the many non-vocational, transferable skills you obtain from an Ancient History and Archaeology degree.

Recent examples include:

  • Traineeship with Oxford Archaeology
  • Traineeship at the Field School
  • Archaeological science placement at QUEST, the University of Reading’s scientific consultancy company
  • Volunteering at the Ure Museum, Cole Museum of Zoology and the Museum of English Rural Life
  • Human remains placement
  • Mediterranean Palaeoclimate Project placement
  • Hominin Skeletal Morphology placement
  • Archaeological Graphics placement
  • Lithics Reference Collection placement
  • “Developing Experimental Archaeology for Research and Training” placement
  • “The Ecology of Crusading: Isotope Analysis and Faunal Remains” placement
  • Summer Enterprise Experience and Discovery internship scheme

Our Department has a dedicated member of staff in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support.

Students opting to undertake a standard three-year degree course will also have the opportunity to take a fully-credited placement or to spend a single term at one of our partner Universities abroad. Current options include the Universities of Malta, Aarhus (Denmark) and the University of Florida in Gainesville (USA).

For more information about securing and completing a placement for your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.

 

Entry requirements A Level BBB | IB 30 pts overall

Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we will guarantee you a place if you achieve one grade lower than the published offer.

Typical offer

BBB

International Baccalaureate

30 points overall

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.

  • Learn more about our International Foundation programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

  • Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3
  • Year 4
  • Year 5

Core modules include:

  • Archaeology today: methods and practice
  • Ancient empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt and Rome
  • Greek history: war, society, and change in the Archaic Age
  • Roman history: the rise and fall of the Republic

    Optional modules include:

    • Revolutions in human behaviour: 4 million years BC to the present
    • Forensic anthropology and the archaeology of death
    • Contemporary world cultures: an introduction to social anthropology
    • Ancient Song
    • Texts, Readers, and Writers
    • Economy, politics and culture in the Roman world
    • Introduction to Quaternary science
    • Museum history, policy and ethics
    • Presenting the past

    Please note that all modules are subject to change.

    For more information about this course, visit the Department's website.

    The second year is made up of a number of compulsory modules that will give you a strong background in the subject, as well as optional modules that let you explore your own interests.

    Modules include:

    • Prospects for classicists and ancient historians
    • Work placement for classicists and ancient historians
    • Ice and fire: the European palaeolithic
    • Medieval Europe: power, religion and death
    • Rome's Mediterranean empire
    • Archaeology fieldschool joint honours
    • Artefacts in archaeology
    • Museum learning and engagement
    • Curatorship and collections management
    • Archaeologies: past, present and future
    • Forensic archaeology and crime scene analysis
    • Archaeological science
    • Bioarchaeology
    • Summer micro-placement
    • Summer placement
    • Late Quaternary environmental change and human activities

      Please note that all modules are subject to change.

      For more information about this course, visit the Department's website.

      Professional placement and study abroad

      In your third academic year, the course is made up of a number of compulsory modules that will give you a strong background in the subject, as well as optional modules that let you explore your own interests.

      Core modules include:

      • Dissertation

       Optional modules include:

      • Preparation for dissertation in Classics
      • Independent third year project
      • The archaeology of crusading
      • The Neanderthals
      • Emergence of civilisation in Mesopotamia
      • Archaeology of the city of Rome
      • Human activities in settlements and landscapes
      • Biological anthropology
      • Coastal and maritime archaeology
      • Vikings in the west
      • Summer placement
      • Tropical rainforests, climate and lost civilisations
      • Hidden heritage: investigating and interpreting historic buildings and landscapes
      • Ancient Greek 1
      • Latin 1 (C)
      • Anatolia and the Aegean
      • Archaeology and topography of ancient Greece
      • British school at Rome undergraduate summer school
      • Gender in classical antiquity
      • Late antique Egypt
      • Saints and holy men
      • Hidden histories: investigating and interpreting historic buildings and landscapes
      • Urban life: the archaeology and anthropology of Roman cities
      • Pioneers of classical archaeology
      • Transformations of Helen
      • History, culture and society in the time of Nero

      Please note that all modules are subject to change.

      For more information about this course, visit the Department's website.

      In your fourth academic year, core modules include:

      • Urban life: the archaeology and anthropology of Roman cities
      • Pioneers of classical archaeology
      • Technology in the ancient world
      • Transformations of Helen

      Please note that all modules are subject to change.

      For more information about this course, visit the Department's website.

      Fees

      New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250* per year

      New international students: £17,320 per year

      *UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

      UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

      EU student fees

      With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

      Additional costs

      Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

      Placement Year fees

      If you spend a full year on placement – including professional and research placements and industrial experience – you’ll pay a discounted tuition fee for that year.

      For UK/Republic of Ireland students, the discounted fee is subject to parliamentary approval and is currently capped at £1,385.

      For International students, the discount is 15% of your normal tuition fee.

      For more information, please contact placements@reading.ac.uk.

      Financial support for your studies

      You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

      Flexible courses (price per 10 credit module)

      UK/Republic of Ireland students: £750

      International students: £1275

      Careers

      This joint degree can lead to a variety of careers. The course is an ideal foundation to begin your career in commercial archaeology, planning, heritage management and research, as well as disciplines such as teaching, business, publishing and marketing.

      You will gain a broad range of subject-specific and transferable skills spanning the humanities and sciences. Employers consistently rank attitudes and aptitudes for work higher than any other factor, according to the CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey report, 2019. Our curriculum is designed with this in mind, giving you not just knowledge in subjects you are passionate about, but also the qualities that employers really care about – qualities that are transferable to a diverse range of careers.

      We have long-established, excellent relationships with employers within the archaeology, heritage and related sectors. Archaeology and Ancient History graduates from the University of Reading are represented among the staff of major employers such as Oxford Archaeology, Wessex Archaeology, Museum of London Archaeology, Natural History Museum, Environment Agency, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, GCHQ, University of Oxford and Sotherby’s. Some of our graduates have progressed into roles in the civil service and in teaching at both primary and secondary levels. Each year a number of graduates pursue further, higher study following graduation.

      Contextual offers


      We make contextual offers for all our courses.

      Take the next step


      How to apply

      Come to an Open Day

      Get a prospectus

      Ask us a question

      Chat to our students

      Related Courses

      • BA Ancient History V110
        Full Time: 3 Years
      • BA Ancient History and Archaeology with Professional Placement VV42
        Full Time: 4 Years | including a professional placement
      • BA Ancient History and Archaeology with Study Year Abroad VV43
        Full Time: 4 Years | including a placement year or year abroad
      • BA Ancient History and History V117
        Full Time: 3 Years
      • BA Archaeology and Classical Studies QV84
        Full Time: 3 Years
      • BA Archaeology and History VV14
        Full Time: 3 Years
      More
      View all Ancient History degree courses at University of Reading courses
      mask
      Close
      CHOOSE A SUBJECT
      2020
      2021
      Undergraduates
      Postgraduates
      Undergraduates
      Postgraduates

      Subjects A-B

      • Agriculture
      • Ancient History
      • Animal Science
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • Architectural Engineering
      • Architecture
      • Art
      • Biological Sciences
      • Biomedical Engineering
      • Biomedical Sciences
      • Building and Surveying
      • Business and Management, Accounting and Finance

      Subjects C-E

      • Chemistry
      • Classics and Classical Studies
      • Climate Science
      • Computer Science
      • Construction Management
      • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
      • Creative Writing
      • Drama
      • Ecology
      • Economics
      • Education
      • Engineering
      • English Language and Applied Linguistics
      • English Literature
      • Environment

      Subjects F-G

      • Film & Television
      • Food and Nutritional Sciences
      • Foundation programmes
      • French
      • Geography
      • German
      • Graphic Communication and Design

      Subjects H-M

      • Healthcare
      • History
      • International Development
      • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
      • International Relations
      • Italian
      • Languages and Cultures
      • Law
      • Linguistics
      • Marketing
      • Mathematics
      • Medical Sciences
      • Meteorology and Climate
      • Museum Studies

      Subjects N-T

      • Nutrition
      • Pharmacology
      • Pharmacy
      • Philosophy
      • Physician Associate Studies
      • Politics and International Relations
      • Psychology
      • Real Estate and Planning
      • Spanish
      • Speech and Language Therapy
      • Surveying and Construction
      • Teaching
      • Theatre

      Subjects U-Z

      • Wildlife Conservation
      • Zoology

      Subjects A-C

      • Agriculture
      • Ancient History
      • Animal Sciences
      • Archaeology
      • Architecture
      • Art
      • Biological Sciences
      • Biomedical Sciences
      • Business (Post-Experience)
      • Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
      • Chemistry
      • Classics and Ancient History
      • Climate Science
      • Computer Science
      • Construction Management and Engineering
      • Consumer Behaviour
      • Creative Enterprise

      Subjects D-G

      • Data Science
      • Economics
      • Education
      • Energy and Environmental Engineering
      • Engineering
      • English Language and Applied Linguistics
      • English Literature
      • Environmental Science
      • Film, Theatre and Television
      • Finance
      • Food and Nutritional Sciences
      • Geography and Environmental Science
      • Graphic Design

      Subjects H-P

      • Healthcare
      • History
      • Information Management and Digital Business
      • Information Technology
      • International Development and Applied Economics
      • Languages and Cultures
      • Law
      • Linguistics
      • Management
      • Medieval History
      • Meteorology and Climate
      • Microbiology
      • Nutritional Sciences
      • Pharmacy
      • Philosophy
      • Physician Associate
      • Politics and International Relations
      • Project Management
      • Psychology
      • Public Policy

      Subjects Q-Z

      • Real Estate and Planning
      • Social Policy
      • Speech and Language Therapy
      • Strategic Studies
      • Teaching
      • Theatre
      • Typography and Graphic Communication
      • War and Peace Studies
      • Zoology

      Subjects A-B

      • Agriculture
      • Ancient History
      • Animal Science
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • Architectural Engineering
      • Architecture
      • Art
      • Biological Sciences
      • Biomedical Engineering
      • Biomedical Sciences
      • Building and Surveying
      • Business and Management, Accounting and Finance

      Subjects C-E

      • Chemistry
      • Classics and Classical Studies
      • Climate Science
      • Computer Science
      • Construction Management
      • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
      • Creative Writing
      • Drama
      • Ecology
      • Economics
      • Education
      • Engineering
      • English Language and Applied Linguistics
      • English Literature
      • Environment

      Subjects F-G

      • Film & Television
      • Food and Nutritional Sciences
      • Foundation programmes
      • French
      • Geography
      • German
      • Graphic Communication and Design

      Subjects H-M

      • Healthcare
      • History
      • International Development
      • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
      • International Relations
      • Italian
      • Languages and Cultures
      • Law
      • Linguistics
      • Marketing
      • Mathematics
      • Medical Sciences
      • Meteorology and Climate
      • Museum Studies

      Subjects N-T

      • Nutrition
      • Pharmacology
      • Pharmacy
      • Philosophy
      • Physician Associate Studies
      • Politics and International Relations
      • Psychology
      • Real Estate and Planning
      • Spanish
      • Speech and Language Therapy
      • Surveying and Construction
      • Teaching
      • Theatre

      Subjects U-Z

      • Wildlife Conservation
      • Zoology

      Subjects A-C

      • Agriculture
      • Ancient History
      • Animal Sciences
      • Archaeology
      • Architecture
      • Art
      • Biological Sciences
      • Biomedical Sciences
      • Business (Post-Experience)
      • Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
      • Chemistry
      • Classics and Ancient History
      • Climate Science
      • Computer Science
      • Construction Management and Engineering
      • Consumer Behaviour
      • Creative Enterprise

      Subjects D-G

      • Data Science
      • Economics
      • Education
      • Energy and Environmental Engineering
      • Engineering
      • English Language and Applied Linguistics
      • English Literature
      • Environmental Science
      • Film, Theatre and Television
      • Finance
      • Food and Nutritional Sciences
      • Geography and Environmental Science
      • Graphic Design

      Subjects H-P

      • Healthcare
      • History
      • Information Management and Digital Business
      • Information Technology
      • International Development and Applied Economics
      • Languages and Cultures
      • Law
      • Linguistics
      • Management
      • Medieval History
      • Meteorology and Climate
      • Microbiology
      • Nutritional Sciences
      • Pharmacy
      • Philosophy
      • Physician Associate
      • Politics and International Relations
      • Project Management
      • Psychology
      • Public Policy

      Subjects Q-Z

      • Real Estate and Planning
      • Social Policy
      • Speech and Language Therapy
      • Strategic Studies
      • Teaching
      • Theatre
      • Typography and Graphic Communication
      • War and Peace Studies
      • Zoology

      Ready for more?

      How to apply
      Visit an Open Day
      Get a prospectus
      View courses
      • Charitable status 
      • Accessibility
      • Privacy policy
      • Cookies
      • Terms of use
      • Sitemap

      © University of Reading