We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.
Take your first step towards a rewarding career in heritage – and gain vital industry experience – with our BA Museum Studies and Archaeology with Professional Placement degree.
At Reading, you will combine the study of museology with the excitement of archaeological discovery. You'll learn the core skills of curatorship: researching, analysing, cataloguing, interpreting and displaying museum objects, historic buildings and landscapes.
You will also benefit from the professional expertise of our Museum Studies staff. All of our lecturers are practising heritage professionals, including curators, conservators and archivists.
With our BA Museum Studies and Archaeology with Professional Placement degree, you'll explore archaeological techniques and gain practical training on museum practices, perspectives and ethics.
Your studies will explore our human past through material remains, spanning as far back as the first hominins millions of years ago. Our wide range of modules allows you to shape your own learning, focusing on the topics and periods that most interest you.
At Reading, you'll examine archaeological and heritage issues that are critical to our shared global future, including:
You’ll learn how to investigate, interpret and present our human past through artefacts, sites, digital and museum exhibitions, and public engagement.
We’ll support you to develop a broad range of subject-specific and transferable skills that span the sciences, humanities and social sciences. Your learning can include:
By studying human societies through time and investigating how we discuss and display them today, you'll understand how today's issues have roots in the past, and how previous cultures tackled comparable problems.
A professional placement allows you to apply – and increase – your academic knowledge while enhancing your employability. We encourage all our students to consider any placements that can equip them with skills to support them in their future careers.
Previous placement students have analysed samples in labs, processed human remains, worked on hominin skeletal morphology, drawn archaeological finds, conducted collections-based research, studied the ecology of the Crusades through isotope analysis and faunal remains, investigated paleoclimate records, and participated in castle excavations in Spain.
You'll undertake your placement during the third year of your degree, returning to complete your final year of study in your fourth year.
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 archaeological, heritage, planning and museum sectors, including:
Alternatively, you may choose to complete a placement in a non-related industry to explore different career options and develop your skills.
Recent placement employers have included:
In addition to your formal professional placement, you will also be encouraged to undertake short placements with local and regional employers during your studies.
As a placement student, you are responsible for finding your own placement. We have a dedicated placements team and member of staff in Archaeology who will provide you with advice and support throughout the process.
For more information about securing and completing a placement during your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.
Join the University of Reading's Department of Archaeology and Museum Studies – both communities of passionate and inquisitive staff, students and alumni.
Archaeology is an international, research-intensive department with expertise that spans the sciences, humanities and social sciences. You’ll learn about global issues, enhanced by the latest developments in research.
You'll also have the chance to join RUined, a student-run society for those passionate about archaeology. RUined is a great way to meet people across Reading, build your network, and participate in events like club nights, quizzes, alcohol-free socials, and the annual summer and winter formals.
Put your learning into practice through our Archaeology Field School, which is optional on this degree. You’ll gain hands-on experience in all aspects of an archaeological excavation, including:
Beyond the Field School, many of our modules include field trips to sites and museums around England. You’ll be encouraged to get involved with research excavations in the UK and Europe, spanning prehistoric monuments, Roman cities and medieval castles.
At Reading, you’ll learn through a combination of problem-solving and enquiry-based learning techniques.
You can also enhance your knowledge and understanding of museum and archaeological practices through varied learning opportunities, such as:
Tailor your degree to your interests with our range of optional modules and varied learning opportunities, through modules and opportunities that cover:
Throughout your degree, you’ll gain a broad range of skills and experiences that are highly regarded by employers, including:
All our degree programmes include professional development training and further opportunities, supported by the University’s dedicated Careers Service.
Combine your studies with opportunities to study abroad, or take a year abroad with our four-year BA Museum Studies and Archaeology with Study Year Abroad course.
Alternatively, you can study this course over three years by choosing our BA Museum Studies and Archaeology degree.
