BA Museum studies and Archaeology with Professional Placement, 澳门六合彩开奖记录

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.

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).
Our – including the – enable you to gain practical, hands-on experience.

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 staff. All of our lecturers are practising heritage professionals, including curators, conservators and archivists.

Explore how we understand and communicate the past

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:

diets and health
identity and inequality
migration and environmental change
social and cultural differences.

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:

the investigation of artefacts, monuments, and museum collections
the development of human societies from six million years ago to the present day
museum history, policies and ethics
the role of religion and gender in social change through different time periods
collections management and preparing exhibitions
interpreting archaeological subjects and objects for and with different audiences.

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.

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 – 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.

Professor Hella Eckardt is demonstrating Britain’s long history of diversity
Professor Aleks Pluskowski is using environmental archaeology to provide a different perspective on the impact of religious change
Dr Alanna Cant studies how people make use of culture and the past in today’s world
Our are home to a range of nationally and internationally significant museums and collections.

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' experience as a joint honours student in Archaeology.

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:

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’ll be encouraged to get involved with research excavations in the UK and Europe, spanning prehistoric monuments, Roman cities and medieval castles.

Hands-on learning

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:

artefact-focused modules
hands-on experience with artefacts and exhibitions from the University’s and the , which features one of the largest collections of Greek and Egyptian antiquities in Britain.

Flexible study options

Tailor your degree to your interests with our range of optional modules and varied learning opportunities, through modules and opportunities that cover:

cultural and social diversity
material culture, heritage, and museums
particular periods or cultural areas.

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 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.

Overview

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.

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).
Our – including the – enable you to gain practical, hands-on experience.

You will also benefit from the professional expertise of our staff. All of our lecturers are practising heritage professionals, including curators, conservators and archivists.

Explore how we understand and communicate the past

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.

At Reading, you'll examine archaeological and heritage issues that are critical to our shared global future, including:

diets and health
identity and inequality
migration and environmental change
social and cultural differences.

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:

the investigation of artefacts, monuments, and museum collections
the development of human societies from six million years ago to the present day
museum history, policies and ethics
the role of religion and gender in social change through different time periods
collections management and preparing exhibitions
interpreting archaeological subjects and objects for and with different audiences.

Professional placement

You'll undertake your placement during the third year of your degree, returning to complete your final year of study in your fourth year.

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.

For more information about securing and completing a placement during your placement year, please visit our Important Information page.

Learning

A supportive, collaborative learning environment

Join the 澳门六合彩开奖记录's Department of Archaeology and – both communities of passionate and inquisitive staff, students and alumni.

Professor Hella Eckardt is demonstrating Britain’s long history of diversity
Professor Aleks Pluskowski is using environmental archaeology to provide a different perspective on the impact of religious change
Dr Alanna Cant studies how people make use of culture and the past in today’s world
Our are home to a range of nationally and internationally significant museums and collections.

Read about Marcie Weeks' experience as a joint honours student in Archaeology.

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:

surveying
geophysics
mapping
planning
finds processing
studying ancient plant and animal remains.

Hands-on learning

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:

artefact-focused modules
hands-on experience with artefacts and exhibitions from the University’s and the , which features one of the largest collections of Greek and Egyptian antiquities in Britain.

Flexible study options

Tailor your degree to your interests with our range of optional modules and varied learning opportunities, through modules and opportunities that cover:

cultural and social diversity
material culture, heritage, and museums
particular periods or cultural areas.

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 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.

Entry requirements A Level BBB

Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.

Our typical offers are expressed in terms of A level, BTEC and International Baccalaureate requirements. However, we also accept many other qualifications.

Typical offer

BBB

International Baccalaureate

30 points overall

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the 澳门六合彩开奖记录’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.

Learn more about our International Foundation programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Compulsory modules

Revolutions and Transitions: the Human Journey from 6 Million Years Ago to the Present Day

Discover how archaeological research has shaped our understanding and knowledge of the development of human society over the last 6 million years, from our earliest ancestors through to the present day. You’ll learn how archaeological methods are used to reconstruct the human past and identify major issues of debate in our history.

Archaeology Today: Methods and Practice

Uncover the main methods and practices currently employed in modern archaeology, both in archaeological fieldwork and post-excavation analysis. You’ll gain essential knowledge on the variety of techniques used in modern archaeology and an understanding of current practice in the UK.

Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt & Rome

Discover the archaeology of the world’s early empires, dating from 2500BC to AD395, focusing on the great empires of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Persian Achaemenid Empire, and the Roman Empire. You’ll examine ideology, imperial cult, trade, urbanisation, warfare, agriculture and the everyday lives of imperial subjects, as you study the rise and fall of some of the greatest, most feared, socio-political entities to have existed.

Presenting the Past: an Introduction to Museum Studies

Examine how contemporary museum practice contributes to social challenges. Visits to museums, case studies and theory will help you to consider the origins of museums along with how information is collected and presented to different audiences.

Optional modules

Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death

Learn the archaeological methods and theories employed in the scientific study of the dead, both from the modern forensic and older archaeological contexts. Gain insight into how humans have buried their dead over the time, analyse skeletal remains, and conduct fieldwork in a cemetery survey.

Contemporary World Cultures: an Introduction to Social Anthropology

Gain a general introduction to social anthropology – the study of human societies and cultures. You’ll explore key themes in the discipline through the study of topics including kingship and marriage, gender and sexuality, the role of religion, ritual and witchcraft in social life, and contemporary hunting and gathering societies.

Optional Language Modules

Learn one of ten languages offered by the University at a level appropriate for you.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the 澳门六合彩开奖记录.

Compulsory modules

Archaeology and Heritage: Past, Present and Future

Discover how and why archaeologists have excavated and interpreted the material remains of past societies over time. You’ll examine interpretations of the past through to the modern day, spanning the ancient Near East and Classical Greece and Rome. You’ll also examine the evolution of ideas, considering how wider society has changed archaeology and how it may continue to develop in the future.

Ancient Objects: Materials and Meanings

Learn the skills, techniques and interpretative frameworks specific to the study of artefacts, including how they’re recorded, analysed and interpreted. You'll be exposed to a wide range of artefacts covering two chronological periods as you explore methodological aspects and analyse data for your dissertation.

Museum Learning and Engagement

Critically examine the learning role of museums in society and discover resource design, evaluation, and visitor research. Talks from museum-based professionals and museum visits will allow you to contextualise and apply your learning.

Curatorship and Collections Management

Explore the methods used by professionals to store, catalogue, and research objects, and to communicate their meanings to the public. You’ll receive an induction to these methods and undertake assignments based on objects in the University’s collections.

Optional modules

Prehistoric Europe: the First Million Years

Uncover Europe’s pre-history, from the earliest Palaeolithic through to the Iron Age c. 1,600,000 – 800 BC), from Turkey and the Balkans to Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia. You’ll consider important research questions and themes such as technology, dietary strategies, life histories, hominin cognitive abilities, settlement and burial archaeology, ritual practice, and comparative anthropology.

Archaeology Field School and Professional Practice

Gain a practical, hands-on introduction to field techniques and site recording methods used on both urban and rural excavations. You’ll spend four weeks on a departmental excavation and participate in site work including excavation, finds and sample processing, geophysics, survey and aspects, and geoarchaeology.

Celts and Romans: Northern Europe and Britain

Explore archaeological evidence for Roman presence in Northern Europe between the years 300 BC and AD 300. You’ll also consider the wider context of major social, cultural, and economic changes in the region during this period.

Bioarchaeology

Learn the key methods employed in the examination of human and animal skeletal remains from archaeological sites, and utilise skeletal collections held by the Department of Archaeology. You’ll uncover the role of the osteoarchaeologist, and learn how to identify, record and analyse human and non-human remains. Changing the Face of the Earth: Past, Present and Future Sustainability

Changing the Face of the Earth: Past, Present and Future Sustainability

Examine how archaeology, environmental science and anthropology can provide a deep-time perspective on global challenges and sustainability and how they may contribute to future solutions. You’ll explore the historical emergence, sustainability, and collapse of communities and civilisations, alongside the role of humans in changing climate and ecosystems in the future.

Summer Placement

Take the opportunity to complete a research or professional placement during the summer vacation preceding Part 2 or Part 3 of your degree. You can work alongside a member of staff on a current project based in the UK or internationally, or with a professional organisation, consultancy or government organisation.

Optional Language Modules

Learn one of ten languages offered by the University at a level appropriate for you.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the 澳门六合彩开奖记录.

Professional Placement Year

Compulsory modules

Display Design, Planning and Creation: Project Module

Put your learning into practice to research, design, and install a public exhibition using the University collections. You'll accompany your exhibition with a literature review on the subject matter and keep an exhibition diary, on which you’ll be assessed.

Optional modules

Dissertation in Archaeology

Plan, organise and carry out an independent archaeological research project. You’ll undertake primary research as you critically assess previous approaches to a research question and identify or design methods relevant to its solution.

The Anthropology of Heritage and Cultural Property

Explore how heritage is an important global industry for tourism and heritage site conservation. You’ll discover the historical development of concepts, politics, and legal claims on heritage and cultural property in the contemporary world.

Objects and Identities in the Roman Empire

Explore the relationships between the consumption of objects and the expression of individual and group identities in the Roman world. You’ll focus on issues such as ethnicity, regionality, and the use of objects to represent feminine and masculine.

Biological Anthropology

Discover key methods used by human bone specialists, starting

with the identification of human remains. You’ll learn how to examine bones for disease and injury, along with methods for assigning biological sex, age-at-death, and stature to a skeleton.

Post-excavation: Assessment, Analysis and Publication in the Profession

Prepare for employment in professional archaeology by learning post-excavation techniques and legal and planning policy frameworks. You’ll analyse records of an excavation and create a dated stratigraphic sequence for a post-excavation site report.

Emergence of Civilisation in Mesopotamia

Deepen your knowledge of Mesopotamia from the 4th to the 2nd millennium BC. You’ll explore the origins of writing and socio-politics, the nature of power, city-states and empire, and human-environment inter-relationships, resources, trade, and exchange.

The First Europeans: Archaeology of the Lower Paleolithic

Explore the earliest archaeological evidence in Europe covering hominin evolution, their technologies, diets, and survival strategies. You’ll also consider the dramatically changing climates, habitats, and landscapes of the Lower Palaeolithic world.

The Archaeology and Anthropology of Food

Explore how food contributes to our understanding of all human populations as a biological necessity and social commodity. Themes such as feasting, cannibalism, gender, migration, and colonialism will be considered.

Living in Towns

Follow the evolution of towns and cityscapes from post-Roman times to the emergence of medieval towns. You’ll discover the socioeconomic complexities of urban centres, effects of the Black Death, and complexities of modern urban archaeology.

Science and the Dead: Taphonomy and Chemistry in Human Remains

Explore the knowledge and skills required of archaeologists who specialise in human remains. You’ll learn how to use biomolecular methods to reconstruct the living from the dead and develop your understanding of taphonomy.

Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Britain

Explore anthropological and archaeological interpretation of neolithic and early bronze age Britain. Topics include farming, treatment of the dead, ritual practices, the nature of settlement, perceptions of the landscape, and the arrival of metal to the British Isles.

Archaeology of the Dark Ages

Explore the archaeology of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and British-speaking areas of England from the 5th to 10th centuries. You’ll examine interactions between them and the wider world, and their transformation by Christianisation and political centralisation.

Optional Language Modules

Learn one of ten languages offered by the University at a level appropriate for you.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the 澳门六合彩开奖记录.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,535 per year for 2025/26 then fixed per year at this fee for the standard duration of your course.

New international students: £25,250 per year for 2025/26 then fixed per year at this fee for the standard duration of your course.

Tuition fees

To find out more about how the 澳门六合彩开奖记录 sets its tuition fees, see our fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Placement year fees

If you spend a full year on placement, you will only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee for that year. For more information, please see our fees and funding pages or contact placements@reading.ac.uk.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Careers

Museum Studies and Archaeology are more than studying material culture: they’re disciplines that actively prepare you for the job market. You’ll develop an impressive range of practical and academic skills, whether you want to move into the archaeology or heritage sectors or enter a wide range of other industries and careers.

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)

Currently, there is a rising demand for archaeologists in the UK. More than 40 major infrastructure projects are planned over the next 17 years, and archaeologists are required for exploratory excavations and analysis before construction begins. In 2021 , Director of British Archaeological Jobs & Resources, said: “For all the infrastructure projects the government is pushing forward…the country is anywhere from 500 to 1,000 archaeologists short.”

Read how Matthew Abel has used the skills he developed at Reading to pursue a career at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Previous Reading graduates have gone on to work within the archaeological and heritage sector for companies such as:

Museum of London Archaeology
Thames Valley Archaeological Services
Cambridge Archaeological Unit
Victoria and Albert Museum

Our graduates have also found careers with a diverse range of employers outside the heritage sector, including:

Mott MacDonald (engineering consultancy)
Hargreaves Lansdown (financial consultancy)
RPS Group

Many graduates from the Department of Archaeology have used their expertise across the humanities and sciences to enter careers such as teaching, policing, industry and commerce.

Based on HESA data © HESA 2020 - 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18 - 2021/22; includes undergraduate responders from the Department of Archaeology.

澳门六合彩开奖记录