BA Archaeology and History with Professional Placement
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UCAS code
VV11 -
A level offer
BBB -
Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 4 Years
-
Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 4 Years
Explore the richness of our shared human past and gain valuable hands-on experience with our BA Archaeology and History with Professional Placement degree.
Choose the 澳门六合彩开奖记录
- The University is in the top 100 in the world for Archaeology (QS World Rankings by Subject, 2024, Archaeology. The 澳门六合彩开奖记录 is ranked 51-100 in the world).
- Ranked 1st in the UK for environmental and ethical performance (People and Planet University League 2023/24)
- In 2023, the 澳门六合彩开奖记录 was the first ever winner of the Times Higher Education (THE) award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership
- Ranked 1st in the UK for research quality and research outputs in Archaeology (Times Higher Education Institutions Ranked by Subject, based on its analysis of REF 2021)
- 100% of our research in History is of international standing (Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – History)
- The 澳门六合彩开奖记录 scored 1st for teaching quality in Archaeology and Forensic Science (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025).
- 97% of our students said teaching staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024, 97.06% of responders from the Department of Archaeology)
- Overall, 96% of graduates from Archaeology are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation. (Three-year average, based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022-2024, Graduate Outcomes Surveys 2019/20-2021/22; includes Full-time, UK domiciled, first degree Archaeology responders).
As a Joint Honours student, your programme is shared with the Department of History, which is known for its educational excellence and research innovation. Teaching staff are experts in a broad range of fields. Their expertise covers political, cultural, social, gender and transnational history, the history of ideas and beliefs, and the history of science and health.
Explore the past through archaeological and historical techniques
Our BA Archaeology and History degree combines the study of history – and its political, social and cultural contexts – with invaluable archaeological training.
In your archaeological studies, you’ll study material remains to uncover our human past, from as early as the first hominins millions of years ago. Your historical studies will span the last thousand years, with a broad geographical spread that covers Britain and Europe, Africa, America, the Middle East and South Asia. You’ll examine historical records and explore visual and material culture through texts, paintings, photographs, films and oral sources.
Studying these complementary subjects together will provide a richer, more holistic understanding of our shared human past. You’ll balance your critical evaluation of historical sources against the physical evidence of lived experience provided by archaeological finds.
We’ll support you to develop a broad range of subject-specific and transferable skills that span the humanities and sciences. Your learning can include:
- the investigation of artefacts, monuments and archival collections
- the development of human societies from six million years ago to the present day
- British, European and global history
- the role of warfare and militarism in different regions and time periods
- experiences of social change through studies of migration, gender and religion.
Professional Placement
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:
- research institutions
- government organisations
- local planning authorities
- archaeological consultancies
- field units
- museums and archives.
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:
- Oxford Archaeology
- Thames Valley Archaeological Services
- Archaeological Research Services
- Ure Museum
- Cole Museum of Zoology
- The Museum of English Rural Life
- QUEST, the 澳门六合彩开奖记录's scientific consultancy company
- Durham Blue Coat C.E. aided Junior School
- Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization
- Signals (art and education charity).
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.
A supportive, collaborative learning environment
Join the 澳门六合彩开奖记录's Department of Archaeology and Department of History – both communities of passionate and inquisitive staff, students and alumni.
We are international, research-intensive departments with expertise that spans the sciences, humanities and social sciences. You’ll learn about global issues, enhanced by the latest developments and thinking within archaeology and history.
- Professor Hella Eckardt is demonstrating Britain’s long history of diversity
- Prof Aleks Pluskowski is using environmental archaeology to provide a different perspective on the impact of religious change
- Dr Richard Blakemore is using his research on sailors and pirates to challenge students’ thinking in the classroom
- Dr Rohan Deb Roy explores the hidden voices we can find in history – from marginalised communities to animals.
You'll also have the chance to join , 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.
- Read about Marcie Weeks’s experience as a BA Archaeology and History student.
Field School and field trips
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:
- excavation
- surveying
- geophysics
- mapping
- planning
- finds processing
- studying ancient plant and animal remains.
Beyond the Field School, many of our modules include field trips to sites and museums around England. You will be encouraged to get involved with research excavations in the UK and Europe, spanning prehistoric monuments, Roman cities, and medieval castles.
The Department of History offers a study trip module, taking an in-depth look at the history and culture of a city in the UK or abroad. Previous locations have included Berlin, Rome and Paris.
Flexible study options
At Reading, you can enhance your knowledge and understanding of the past through varied learning opportunities, such as:
- artefact-focused modules
- archives and collection-focused modules
- language study.
Skills for life
Throughout your degree, you’ll gain a broad range of skills and experiences that are highly regarded by employers, including:
- the ability to analyse and understand complex information
- the ability to research and present findings in a coherent manner
- empathy with others from diverse cultures, backgrounds and beliefs.
All our degree programmes include professional development training and further opportunities, supported by the University's dedicated Careers Service.
Study abroad
Combine your studies with opportunities to , or take a year abroad with our four-year BA Archaeology and History with Study Year Abroad course.
Alternatively, you can study this course over three years by choosing our BA Archaeology and History degree.