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BSc GEOGRAPHY AND ARCHAEOLOGY WITH PLACEMENT AND STUDY ABROAD FV81

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Full Time: 4 Years

Deepen your understanding of the relationship between human societies and the natural world with our BSc Geography and Archaeology with Placement and Study Abroad degree.

This four-year, joint honours course draws from two complementary disciplines to offer a uniquely comprehensive perspective on the world around us – and our place in it.

The relationship between humans and our environments is the most important global challenge of the twenty-first century. With a joint focus in geography and archaeology, you will explore this relationship through the study of societies in both the past and present, and the physical processes that have formed – and continue to modify – the world around us.

Gain practical knowledge and skills as well as a theoretical understanding of how the challenges we face have been tackled through time. You will be encouraged to apply the lessons from our past and present to address the global challenges of our future, including:

  • climate change
  • sustainability
  • social inequality
  • cultural identity and heritage.

You will look as far back as the earliest hominins millions of years ago and carry on up to the present day. Combining long-term and contemporary perspectives, you will gain deep insight into the impact of human behaviour on environmental change. Your highly-integrated studies in geography and archaeology will be well balanced, mixing humanities, culture, and social and natural sciences.

Professional Placement and Study Abroad

A key component of this course is a fourth year so that you can further your studies for a semester at one of our partner universities abroad, and complete a half-year placement.

These placement and study abroad opportunities are taken during your third year of study.

Professional placement

A professional placement allows you to apply – and increase – your academic knowledge while enhancing your employability.

Previous placement students have worked in labs and analysed samples, processed remains, conducted collections-based research, drawn archaeological finds, and investigated paleoclimate records.

You can complete your placement with an employer in the UK or abroad, and take advantage of our connections with a range of organisations in the geographical and archaeological sectors, including:

  • research institutions
  • government organisations
  • environmental agencies
  • local planning authorities
  • archaeological consultancies
  • field units
  • archivists.

Alternatively, you may choose to complete a placement in a non-related business or industry to explore different career options.

Recent placement employers have included:

  • Oxford Archaeology
  • Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
  • Department of Energy and Climate Change
  • Thames Water
  • Mediterranean Paleoclimate Project
  • QUEST, the University of Reading’s scientific consultancy company.

In addition to your formal professional placement, you will also be encouraged to undertake short placements with local and regional employers during your studies.

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

Study abroad

Studying for a semester abroad is an opportunity to increase your cultural awareness and explore a new location.

Our study abroad partners currently include universities in Europe (for example, the University of Malta, and Uppsala in Sweden) and as far afield as Australia and the USA. Of particular interest to BSc Geography and Archaeology students is the opportunity to study Scandinavian archaeology at Aarhus University in Denmark.

All classes are conducted in English and bursaries are available to help with travel and accommodation costs. Visit our Study Abroad website for more information.

Studying at Reading

Over the course of your four years with us, you’ll work with experts from across our School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science. Our academics draw on their ongoing research to influence your studies, and you may even have opportunities to participate in research projects. We provide a welcoming, friendly community, and our approachable staff aim to create a supportive learning environment. Lively student-led societies like GeogSoc (Reading University Geography Society) and RUined (Reading University Archaeology Society) offer a variety of social events.

Geography

Our Department of Geography and Environmental Science is 4th in the UK for research power in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (Research Fortnight's Analysis Power Rankings, 2014, based on its analysis of REF 2014).

Our teaching is highly rated, with an 84% overall satisfaction score in the National Student Survey 2019, and our academics are helping to combat some of the greatest challenges facing our world today. For example,

Archaeology

Our Department of Archaeology is ranked in the top 10 UK universities for Archaeology (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2019). We have an outstanding track record for student satisfaction, with scores consistently between 90%–100% for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2010-2019.

97% of our research overall was judged to be world leading, internationally excellent, or internationally recognised, according the latest Research Excellence Framework, 2014 – Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology: A – Archaeology.

Our academics are passionate about reconstructing our past to influence our future. For example,

Your learning environment

On this course you will learn through a combination of:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • laboratory and other practical work
  • field classes
  • placements.

Depending on your module choices, methods of assessment can range from fieldwork diaries and research projects to article critiques and laboratory reports.

You will gain a thorough grounding in scientific geographical and archaeological techniques as you develop your analytical, surveying, planning, and excavation skills.

You will also build your practical fieldwork skills through core field classes (currently based in the Somerset Levels), archaeological projects including the Archaeology Field School (currently run at Silchester Roman Town and Dunyvaig Castle on Islay), and national and international geography field classes (current venues include Spain, Berlin, Crete, Naples and Iceland).

Specialist fieldwork equipment will enrich and support your learning, as will access to our extensive collections of artefacts, biological and geological specimens, analytical IT software facilities, and diverse suite of laboratories. You will also have access to our three on-site museums and the University’s special collections.

Flexible study options

Tailor your degree to your interests with our range of optional modules and flexible pathway structure. For example, you can pursue pathways in:

  • Identity and heritage
  • Climate change
  • Development and sustainability.

You can also choose to study this course over three years with our BSc Geography and Archaeology. Other four year options include:

New UK/EU students: £9,250* per year

New international students: £20,830 per year

* UK and EU fee changes

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

From 2020, the UK government may link tuition fees to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

**EU students

For more information on fees, loans and grants for EU students, see fees and funding for home/EU students.

Additional costs

These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. 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 Home/EU 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 and other EU countries 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)

Home/EU students: £750

International students: £1275

* UK and EU Fee Changes

Subject to the Government passing legislation to raise the minimum fee cap, we will raise undergraduate tuition fees from £9,000 to £9,250 for new UK/EU students applying to start courses in the 2017/18 academic year. You will not be affected by this rise if you have deferred entry to the 2017/18 academic year. The Government will confirm future arrangements for EU students in due course.

The tuition fee will remain £9,000 per year for the full duration of this course if you start in the 2016/17 academic year or have accepted an offer but deferred your entry until the 2017/18 academic year. This is unlike other institutions who are planning to raise fees midway through courses.

For further information, please see our webpage on the Teaching Excellence Framework and future tuition fees.

Additional costs

These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. 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.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries 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.

Studying a joint honours degree in geography and archaeology means you will develop a broad range of subject-specific and transferable skills in the humanities and the sciences, preparing you for a diverse range of career opportunities.

You could make a difference through:

  • environmental consultancy work
  • pollution monitoring
  • joining the growing renewable and sustainable energy sector
  • formulating policies in central government
  • using your research skills in informational or intelligence services
  • contributing in the charities and voluntary sector
  • utilising your communication skills in teaching and education.

Alternatively, with an interest in the past you may choose to pursue a career in commercial archaeology or the heritage sector, perhaps in a museum or archive. There are also development-led archaeology opportunities in planning departments and commercial companies.

We have long-established, excellent relationships with employers within the archaeology and related sectors, including Oxford Archaeology and Cotswold Archaeology, both of which regularly consider our graduates for vacancies.