BA Archaeology
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology, an archaeology degree examining the material remains of human societies and the development of civilisations. Core topics include Research Methods and Fieldwork. Students participate in practical excavation or survey work, and complete a final-year dissertation as the culmination of their studies. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules such as Archaeological Methods for Fieldwork and Analysis, Human Origins, and Introduction to Global Prehistory: Deconstructing the Emergence of Civilisation, while offering optional modules like Debates and Issues in Archaeological Science. The second year expands upon these concepts with compulsory study including Researching Archaeology and Working With Things: the analysis of material culture, alongside optional choices such as Maritime Archaeology and Bones, Bodies and Burials: osteology and comparative anatomy. The final year centres on the Archaeology Dissertation and allows specialisation through optional modules like GIS for Archaeology, Molecular Archaeology, and Seeing Beneath the Soil: geophysical survey for archaeology.
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 IB: Pass, wither overall score of 30 points with 15 points at Higher Level
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What students say
Based on about 13 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 84%
- Assessment and feedback: 69%
- Academic support: 74%
- Organisation and management: 68%
- Learning resources: 82%
- Student voice: 71%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
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
- Elementary occupations: 20%
- Natural and social science professionals: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Finance Professionals: 10%
- Leisure, travel and related personal service 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 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Archaeological Methods for Fieldwork and Analysis
- Fieldwork and Practice
- Human Origins
- Introduction to Global Prehistory: Deconstructing the Emergence of Civilisation
- Introduction to Historical Archaeology
- The development of Archaeological and Anthropological Thought
- Thinking Through Things: The Archaeology And Anthropology Of Material Worlds
- Debates and Issues in Archaeological Science
- Introduction to Ethnography: Food and Culture
- Landscapes and Seascapes of Britain’s Past
- Contemporary Issues and Debates in Archaeology
- Fieldwork and Practice
- Humanities Study Abroad Preparation Module
- Researching Archaeology
- Working With Things: the analysis of material culture
- Year Abroad Report Module for Humanities Students
- Year in Employment
- An Anthropology of Everything
- Bones, Bodies and Burials: osteology and comparative anatomy
- Experimental Archaeology: the social prehistory of technology
- Human Dispersal and Evolution
- Introduction to European Prehistory
- Introduction to Scientific Diving
- Learning about Culture: Introduction to Ethnography
- Maritime Archaeology
- The Power of Rome: Europe’s first empire
- Archaeology Dissertation
- Anthropological Perspectives on Migration and Mobilities
- Archaeology of Seafaring
- Ecology of Human Evolution: Biological, social and cultural approaches to hominin adaptations.
- GIS for Archaeology
- Later Anglo-Saxon England
- 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
- 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 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 £500 more than the UK median for Archaeology.
What do graduates of BA Archaeology 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 at University of Southampton?
88% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Archaeology at University of Southampton?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 119 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Archaeology at University of Southampton?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.