BA Archaeology and Ancient History
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology and Ancient History, a History and Archaeology degree examining material remains and ancient societies to understand the human past. Core topics include Research Methods, Fieldwork, Historical Research, Ethics & Professional Practice. Students undertake at least three weeks of fieldwork, involving excavation or the collection of archaeological material from ploughed fields. The first year establishes fundamental concepts through compulsory modules such as Ancient Sources in Context, Archaeological Methods for Fieldwork and Analysis, Fieldwork and Practice, Introduction to the Ancient World, and Thinking Through Things: The Archaeology And Anthropology Of Material Worlds. The second year continues with core studies including Contemporary Issues and Debates in Archaeology, Fieldwork and Practice, Humanities Study Abroad Preparation Module, Making History: Historians and Audiences, Year Abroad Report Module for Humanities Students, and Year in Employment. Optional modules across the programme allow specialisation in areas such as ancient philosophy, languages like Latin, maritime archaeology, and human evolution. In the final year, students can choose to complete an independent dissertation through modules such as Ancient History Dissertation or Archaeology Dissertation.
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: ABB IB: Pass, with 32 points overall with 16 points at Higher Level.
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What students say
Based on about 8 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 91%
- Learning opportunities: 78%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 86%
- Organisation and management: 77%
- Learning resources: 94%
- Student voice: 79%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 11 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 90%
- Working and studying: 5%
Most common jobs
- Sales occupations: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 15%
- Finance Professionals: 10%
- Teaching Professionals: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 25 graduates, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- North West: 5%
- East of England: 15%
- London: 20%
- South East: 55%
- South West: 5%
- Scotland: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- Access course: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Ancient Sources in Context
- Archaeological Methods for Fieldwork and Analysis
- Fieldwork and Practice
- Introduction to the Ancient World
- Thinking Through Things: The Archaeology And Anthropology Of Material Worlds
- Antiquity and Authority: Ancient Persia in Modern Iranian Politics
- Debates and Issues in Archaeological Science
- Human Origins
- Introduction to Ethnography: Food and Culture
- Introduction to Global Prehistory: Deconstructing the Emergence of Civilisation
- Landscapes and Seascapes of Britain’s Past
- Latin 2
- Literary Transformations
- Contemporary Issues and Debates in Archaeology
- Fieldwork and Practice
- Humanities Study Abroad Preparation Module
- Making History: Historians and Audiences
- Year Abroad Report Module for Humanities Students
- Year in Employment
- An Anthropology of Everything
- Ancient Greek Philosophy
- Ancient Greeks at War
- Ancient Rome: the First Metropolis
- Antiquity and Authority: Ancient Persia in Modern Iranian Politics
- Bones, Bodies and Burials: osteology and comparative anatomy
- Creating Elizabeth I: Ancient Inspiration for a Renaissance Queen (1558-1603)
- Digital Futures of the Past: Power, Ethics, and Representation
- Human Dispersal and Evolution
- Humanities and Professional Practice
- Imperial China: From China’s mythical emperors to the 19th century
- Introduction to Ethnography: Food and Culture
- Introduction to European Prehistory
- Introduction to Film Studies
- Introduction to Scientific Diving
- Latin 1
- Latin 2
- Maritime Archaeology
- Moral Philosophy
- Myth and the Ancient World
- Researching Archaeology
- The Power of Rome: Europe’s first empire
- Working With Things: the analysis of material culture
- A Short History of Exploration
- A Short History of the Populist Leader
- Ancient History Dissertation
- Ancient Rome: the First Metropolis
- Anthropological Perspectives on Migration and Mobilities
- Archaeology Dissertation
- Archaeology of Seafaring
- Classical Chinese Philosophy
- Classical Indian Philosophy: Self, Knowledge, and Liberation
- Creating Elizabeth I: Ancient Inspiration for a Renaissance Queen (1558-1603)
- Cultures in Contact: A Diverse Ancient World
- Cultures in Contact: Resisting Rome
- Ecology of Human Evolution: Biological, social and cultural approaches to hominin adaptations.
- Framing the Past:Stardom, History and Heritage in the Cinema
- GIS for Archaeology
- Later Anglo-Saxon England
- Latin 1
- Latin 2
- Living with the Romans: Urbanism in the Roman Empire
- Molecular Archaeology
- More than Pyramids & Pharaohs? Ancient Egypt in Context
- Photogrammetry and Data Visualisation in Archaeology
- Presenting the Past: Museums and Heritage
- Reading Histories
- Seeing Beneath the Soil: geophysical survey for archaeology
- Stonehenge to Skara Brae: the Neolithic of Britain
- The Archaeology and Anthropology of Adornment
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Archaeology and Ancient History at University of Southampton earn?
The median salary is £25,500 after 15 months, £18,500 after 3 years, £26,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £19,500 and £32,500. The £26,000 median after five years is £4,500 less than the UK median for History.
What do graduates of BA Archaeology and Ancient History at University of Southampton do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Archaeology and Ancient History at University of Southampton?
91% 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 Ancient History at University of Southampton?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 122 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Archaeology and Ancient History at University of Southampton?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.