Archaeology BA Hons | University of Chester

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Course Summary

A degree in Archaeology allows you to explore the richness and diversity of the human past, while developing the skills that will help you to succeed in your future career.

Archaeology is a multi-disciplinary subject that draws on methods used in both the arts and sciences. You will learn to collect, analyse and interpret data using a suite of analytical techniques, as well learning to think critically, evaluating different sources of evidence and drawing conclusions from them. You will have opportunities to work on excavations, carry out scientific studies of archaeological materials, visit heritage sites to reflect on the way the past is presented, and discuss and debate different interpretations of the past in seminars and tutorials.

Our Archaeology degree balances the practical aspects of archaeology, such as fieldwork and laboratory analysis with teaching that spans much of the human past, and with a geographic scope that includes Northwest Europe, the Baltic, Russia and Siberia, and continental North America. This allows you to explore those aspects of the subject that interest you most, while developing a suite of transferable skills that are relevant for whichever career path you choose.

Teaching is supported by our purpose-built archaeology laboratory and our artefact workroom, which along with the University’s computing facilities and lecture and seminar spaces, provide a high-quality teaching and learning environment. Careers advice is also embedded into our course, helping you to make the most of the wide range of skills you will develop throughout your degree.

Why you'll Love it

Live and Work in an Historic Environment

Links with the Archaeology and Heritage Sectors

Research-led Teaching

Archaeology at the University of Chester

What you'll Study

At Level 4, you are introduced to the major themes in the study of the human past, the methods we use to analyse and interpret archaeological material, and how we disseminate the results of our work to a wider audience. You also learn about the archaeology of particular regions, including Britain and Ireland, the Mediterranean region, and northern Europe and Eurasia. The year ends with the Spring Field School, where you gain practical experience of archaeological fieldwork.

At Level 5, you develop more advanced skills in archaeological methods while also specialising in the archaeology of particular periods and geographic regions. Students will also deal with more complex issues regarding the way we interpret the material remains of the past. In the final term, all students take part in a training excavation (as part of the Work-Based Learning module), where they will continue to develop their technical skills in archaeological fieldwork.

At Level 6, you have the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have learned to an original piece of archaeological research as they undertake their dissertation. You will also tackle some of the complex issues surrounding the role of archaeology within contemporary society, whilst also continuing to specialise in particular archaeological periods or topics. Optionality is built into the core modules, allowing students to focus on particular topics or chronological periods.

An optional Year in Industry, where students work on placements with heritage organisations within the region, is also available. This extends the course to a four 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 eight to ten 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
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM
International Baccalaureate	28 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4 Scottish Highers - BBBB
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
T Level	Merit
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 overall, including grade D in A level
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP
International Baccalaureate	24 points
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 Scottish Highers: CCDD
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall
T Level	T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)
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.

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.

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.

Who you'll Learn from

Dr Barry Taylor

Senior Lecturer in Archaeology

Prof Meggen Gondek

Professor of Archaeology

Professor Howard Williams

Professor of Archaeology; Programme Leader MRes Archaeology

Dr Amy Gray Jones

Senior Lecturer in Archaeology; Programme Leader MA Archaeology of Death and Memory

Dr Caroline Pudney

Senior Lecturer in Archaeology

Dr Morn Capper

Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Museums Studies and Sustainable Heritage Practice

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

Job Prospects

One of the great strengths of our archaeology course is the range of skills that you will develop. These include the ability to analyse and interpret data from a wide range of quantitative and qualitative sources, to think critically, and to work collaboratively as part of a team. These are transferable skills and are valued by employers both within and outside of the Archaeology and Heritage sectors.

A wide range of career paths are open to graduates with archaeology degrees. Archaeology is a thriving industry, and some graduates go on to work as professional archaeologists, undertaking excavations ahead of major construction and development projects, or as consultants providing advice to developers. Others work in the heritage sector, helping to curate and present the past to wider audiences. However, many use the skills they have learnt to develop careers in other sectors, such as the civil service, primary and secondary school education, accountancy, the police force and armed forces, or set up their own businesses.

Progression options

Archaeology and Heritage Practice MA
Archaeology MRes
MA Death and Memory
MA History
MSc Museums and Heritage Practice
MRes History

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 BA (Hons)

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