Archaeology and History BA Hons | University of Chester

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Course Summary

Archaeology and History is the perfect course combination if you find yourself fascinated by the human past and all its intrinsic diversity. On this degree course you will study the richness of our past and of our heritage, from the hunter-gatherers of Ice Age Europe right through to the inhabitants of early modern cities. The study of Archaeology and History is important because it helps us understand how past events and societies have shaped the world that we live in today. By learning about the struggles, innovations, and cultures of people from different times, you will gain a deeper perspective on current issues such as politics, identity, and justice, whilst uncovering physical traces of the past that will connect you to human stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

Studying Archaeology and History at Chester offers you a unique combination of hands-on experience and academic depth, delivered within a close-knit and highly supportive learning community. Whether you're analysing human remains and environmental samples in our on-site lab, recording artefacts in the Anna Sutton Annex, rooting through Cheshire archives, immersing yourself in state-of-the-art digital technology, handling objects at the Grosvenor Museum or getting your hands dirty during a dig, you will constantly find yourself bringing your studies to life.

From day one, you will discover what life was like for past societies and learn the techniques and approaches that we use to study them. You will study over a thousand years of local, national and international history, covering themes such as race, ethnicity, leisure, the landscape, war, conflict and social change. By challenging existing narratives about the past, you will think critically about how and why things have developed, and you will build exceptional employability skills. Through exploring the past, you will open the gateway to your future.

Why you'll Love it

Field trips ensure you explore history beyond the classroom

The city itself is steeped in culture and history

The curriculum has been developed with a focus on employability

What you'll study

The BA Archaeology and History course is delivered through a series of core modules that bring together the perspectives that each discipline provides to the study of the human past and its relevance to the world we live in today. As well as lectures and seminars, these modules employ applied teaching and learning methods, that can include laboratory work, fieldtrips, artefact analysis, computer workshops, and the option to undertake archaeological fieldwork. This method of teaching builds confidence and a sense of community, and together with career support, which is embedded in modules at all levels, equips students with a suite of skills that are highly sought after by employers and relevant regardless of the students intended career path.

At Level 4, students are introduced to the major themes in the study of the human past, from both an historical and archaeological perspective, and the methods both disciplines employ to interpret the evidence for past societies. Students also learn about the archaeology and history of Britain and Ireland, within its European context.

At Level 5, students develop more advanced skills in archaeological and historical methods while also specialising in particular periods of the past. Students will also deal with more complex issues regarding the way we interpret the material and documentary evidence of the past.

At Level 6, students have the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have learned to an original piece of archaeological or historical research as they undertake their dissertation. They can also choose between core modules in Archaeology and History, allowing them to specialise in one of the disciplines.

Students can also choose between some of the Archaeology and History modules. This includes the option to take the

Archaeology Field School module at Level 4, and to choose between the Archaeology Training Excavation and the History equivalent as part of the Work-Based Learning module at Level 5. At Level 6, students can choose between optional modules in both subject areas, allowing them to specialise in particular periods of the past.

An optional Archaeology Year in Industry module, where students work on placements with archaeological and heritage organisations within the region, is also available. This extends the course to a 4-year degree.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

The course is delivered through lectures, seminars and other structured learning formats (e.g. laboratory sessions, workshops), delivered in person by members of staff. There are no online classes, though additional, digital, content may be made available to complement the taught component of the course.

Each academic year is made of three, ten-week terms. Up to two modules are delivered each term, focusing on a particular topic or theme. Students will spend around 8-10 hours each week in timetabled classes (lectures, seminars, lab work etc.), with additional seminars and tutorials. This schedule is more intensive during the Spring field school and training excavation, when students will spend up to 35 hours in timetabled sessions each week. Outside of timetabled sessions, students are expected to undertake around 25-30 hours of independent study, which is directed and supported by members of staff. This may include set-reading for seminars, undertaking research for coursework, preparing podcasts or audio-visual presentations, or working on collaborative projects.

We see assessment as serving a dual role, acting both to assess the students learning and to help them develop their capacity to think creatively and critically, and develop qualitative and quantitative skills. For this reason, we use a wide range of assessment methods, including essays, review articles, technical reports, podcasts, audio-visual presentations, and museum displays. Many of our assessment methods replicate the sorts of tasks that a student would encounter in a professional environment, helping to prepare the student for graduate level employment.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	112 points
GCE A Level	Typical offer – BCC-BBC, the school requires one of the following subjects: A level History, or a suitable alternative such as Classical Civilisation, English, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Government and Politics, Sociology or Law.
BTEC	Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma – DMM, the school also requires one of the following GCE A Level subjects: History or a suitable alternative such as Classical Civilisation, English, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Government and Politics, Sociology or Law
International Baccalaureate	28 points, including 5 in HL History or an alternative such as English, Philosophy or Social and Cultural Anthropology
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers - Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3, H4 including History or an alternative such as English, Politics & Society or Religious Education. Scottish Highers - BBBB, including History or an alternative such as English or Religious Studies
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Merit (including 15 in History).
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: DMM
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A Level	72 points from GCE A Levels, the school requires one of the following subjects: A level History, or a suitable alternative such as Classical Civilisation, English, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Government and Politics, Sociology or Law.
BTEC	Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma – MPP- MMP, , the school also requires one of the following GCE A Level subjects: History or a suitable alternative such as Classical Civilisation, English, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Government and Politics, Sociology or Law.
International Baccalaureate	24 points, including 4 in HL History or an alternative such as English, Philosophy or Social and Cultural Anthropology
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers - Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H4, H4, H4, H4, H4 including History or an alternative such as English, Politics & Society or Religious Education. Scottish Highers - CCDD, including History or an alternative such as English or Religious Studies
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall, including Level 3 History
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma: MMP
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree.

Fees and Funding

£9,250per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,250 a year, or £1,540 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course.

This fee is set for each year of study. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Students often elect to purchase a laptop, where students choose to do so, the cost it likely to be around £800-£1000.

Most software specific to your course is available free to students through agreements we have with the software vendors.

Occasional, optional, field trips may be offered, depending on student demand, these are typically within the UK and where chargeable the cost is likely to be under £100. Students are not required to participate in order to successfully complete the course.

Who you'll Learn from

Dr Kara Critchell

Senior Lecturer in History; Programme Leader BA History

Prof Tim Grady

Professor of History; Programme Leader MRes History, MA History & MA War, Conflict and Society

Dr Hannah Ewence

Head of Humanities, Cultures and Environment

Dr Thomas Pickles

Senior Lecturer in Medieval History

Dr Katherine Wilson

Associate Professor of Later Medieval European History

Prof Peter Gaunt

Professor of History

Dr Rebecca Andrew

Senior Lecturer in History

Dr David Harry

Deputy Head of Department; Senior Lecturer in History

Dr Donna Jackson

Senior Lecturer in American History; Assessment Contact – History and Archaeology; Academic Integrity Contact – History; CAID Affiliate

Dr Jonathan Worton

Lecturer

Where you'll study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Modern learning resources and library

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Student Services

Fitness facilities

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Accommodation

Catering

Your Future Career

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Archaeology and History BA (Hons)