Ancient History and Archaeology - BA (Hons)

University of Nottingham

Combining the overlapping disciplines of archaeology and ancient history, this course offers an exciting journey through the human past, across diverse time periods and regions.Archaeology uses both arts and science methods to uncover and interpret ancient societies through their material remains, helping us bring the past to life.Ancient history complements these archaeological techniques by interpreting written records, particularly from the Greeks and Romans, whose history shaped much of the world we know today.You will gain valuable skills for the workplace, from critical analysis and research to teamwork and communication.Beginners are welcome on this course! You do not need any prior experience of archaeology or ancient history – our year one modules are designed to give you a university-level foundation.Through research-led teaching, this course enables you to explore multiple cultures while discovering the lasting importance of the past in modern society. You will:* discover how ancient civilizations shaped today’s societies by looking at literature, history, material culture and modern reception* learn how to interpret different types of evidence and craft historical narratives* study a wide chronological and geographical range of topics, backed by practical archaeological training in our [on-site labs](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/art/explore-our-archaeology-labs.html "Overview of archaeology labs")* have the opportunity to learn Greek or Latin, so you can engage more critically with ancient evidence* develop your creative and communication skills through modules including ‘[Communicating the Past’](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/art/practical-modules-in-the-department-of-classics-and-archaeology.html "Practical modules in Classics and Archaeology")* collaborate with international students in our tri-campus ‘[Silk Road’ module](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/art/The-Silk-Road.html "Silk Road module overview")You can also opt to do 10 days of [archaeological fieldwork](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/articles/explore-more-articles/art/archaeology-fieldwork.html "Article about archaeology fieldwork"), gaining real-world experience while balancing both theory and practice.Assessments go beyond the traditional, with opportunities to develop creative projects, presentations and self-directed research.**Why choose this course?****Course highlights*** Explore real-world challenges across interdisciplinary themes with our ‘Engaged Arts’ optional modules.* Gain practical and professional experience in our [on-campus Museum of Archaeology](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/library/museum/index.aspx "Museum of Archaeology website") and volunteer with local schools through our [Nottingham Classics Out-and-about (NoCOut) outreach programme](https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/humanities/departments/classics-and-archaeology/schools-and-community/nocout.aspx "Classics and Archaeolgy outreach programme").* Work with our dedicated Faculty of Arts Placements Team to assist with your employability skills development via a range of placements, internships and volunteering opportunities.**Proven results*** 9th in the UK for archaeology (Daily Mail University Guide 2026) and 11th the UK for classics (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026).* The average starting salary for classics and archaeology undergraduates within 15 months of graduation was £27,074 (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23).

Department of Classics