BA Archaeology and History
About this course
BA in History and Archaeology, combining the study of historical periods with archaeological methods. Core topics include Research Methods, Fieldwork, Historical Research, and Ethics & Professional Practice. This programme is shared with the Department of History and includes a four-week archaeological field school. Students may extend the degree to four years to include a professional placement or study abroad.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: BBB, including grade B History or a humanities-based essay subject Humanities-based essay subjects include: Classical Civilisation, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies. IB: 30 points overall including higher level History or a humanities-based essay subject at grade 5.
See the highest paying History, Philosophy & Religion degrees in the UK →
What students say
Based on about 38 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 81%
- Assessment and feedback: 83%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 92%
- Learning resources: 95%
- Student voice: 85%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 7 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 15%
- Unemployed: 15%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 35%
- Sales occupations: 20%
- Teaching Professionals: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Business and Financial Project Management Professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 65%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 135 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 4%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 3%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 4%
- East of England: 11%
- London: 21%
- South East: 33%
- South West: 12%
- Wales: 6%
- Scotland: 2%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 85%
- Access course: 10%
- Other HE qualification: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Revolutions and Transitions: The Human Journey from 6 Million Years Ago to the Present Day
- Archaeology Today: Methods and Practice
- Perspectives in History
- Making History and You: Practices and Possibilities
- Warfare in Early Modern Europe, c. 1500-1715
- Chivalry: The Emergence and Impact of a Medieval Ethos
- The Rwanda Genocide of 1994
- Forensic Anthropology and the Archaeology of Death
- Contemporary World Cultures: An Introduction to Social Anthropology
- Presenting the Past: An Introduction to Museum Studies
- Optional Language Modules
- Archaeology Field School and Professional Practice
- Going Public: Presenting the Past, Planning the Future
- Archaeology and Heritage: Past, Present and Future
- Ancient Objects: Materials and Meanings
- Prehistoric Europe: the First Million Years
- Bioarchaeology
- Changing the Face of the Earth: Past, Present and Future Sustainability
- Forensic Archaeology and Crime Scene Analysis
- Medieval Europe: Power, Religion and Death
- Museum Learning and Engagement
- Curatorship and Collections Management
- Reform and Revolt in the Modern Middle East: Egypt from Ataturk to the Arab Spring
- Kingship and Crisis in England, c. 1154-1330
- The Crusades, 1095-1291
- Encountering the Atlantic World, 1450-1850
- Noise Annoys: British Youth Culture, Popular Music and Social Change, 1950s-90s
- From Revolution to Reconstruction: A Social History of the Nineteenth-Century USA
- Women and Medieval History
- Black Britain: Race and Migration in Post-war Britain
- Eugenics in Britain: Science, Politics and Society, 1865 to the Present Day
- Optional Languages Modules
- Dissertation in Archaeology
- Dissertation in History
- The Anthropology of Heritage and Cultural Property
- Objects and Identities in the Roman Empire
- Biological Anthropology
- Post-excavation: Assessment, Analysis and Publication in the Profession
- Emergence of Civilisation in Mesopotamia
- The First Europeans: Archaeology of the Lower Palaeolithic
- The Archaeology and Anthropology of Food
- Living in Medieval Towns
- Discovering Archives and Collections
- Politics and Popular Culture: Post-Arab Spring Egypt
- The Tudors, 1485-1603
- The American Civil War
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Empire, Slavery, and Society, 1550-1750
- Utopia: The Quest for a Perfect World
- Medieval Magic and the Origins of the Witch-Craze
- The United States and the Cold War
- Summer Placement
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Archaeology and History at University of Reading earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £25,000 after 3 years, £29,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £36,000. The £29,500 median after five years is £1,000 less than the UK median for History.
What do graduates of BA Archaeology and History at University of Reading do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Archaeology and History at University of Reading?
90% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Archaeology and History at University of Reading?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 124 UCAS points.
Does BA Archaeology and History at University of Reading include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Archaeology and History at University of Reading?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.