BA Archaeology and Ancient Civilisations

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Durham University

Program Overview

This BA gives you a broad but deep exploration of archaeology globally, while letting you specialise in ancient civilisations from Europe, the Near East and Asia (for example ancient Greece & Rome, Egypt, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal). You’ll learn both theory and practical skills, including fieldwork, lab work, and the chance to mix in modules from Classics & Ancient History for more interdisciplinary study.

Curriculum Structure

Here’s roughly how your learning would progress through the years, with examples of modules you’ll take to build knowledge and skills:

Year 1
In your first year you’ll get the foundations — core modules such as Ancient Civilisations: Sources, Approaches and Methods (looking at how we study texts, monuments, art, sites); Introduction to Archaeological Methods (scientific & social archaeology tools, ethical issues); Cities in Antiquity (history, society & archaeology of urban centres of the past). You’ll also have optional modules (e.g. Archaeology in Britain, Discovering World Prehistory) to start exploring particular periods or regions.

Year 2
In the second year you start layering in more advanced and specialised skill training. For instance, there’s Advanced Skills in Archaeology (which includes past options like GIS, zooarchaeology, material analysis or heritage practice) where you apply hands-on tools and methods. You’ll also take more focused modules on ancient Mediterranean civilizations (East & West), possibly work on Greek or Roman monument studies, or iconography, depending on your interests.

Year 3
The third year is where you pull together all you’ve learned into more independent work. There will be a dissertation/project, where you explore a topic of your choice under staff supervision. Optional modules let you really hone in on your specialization(s) — whether that’s a geographical area, material type (e.g. pottery, buildings), scientific methods, or theoretical issues. Also, there is professional training / fieldwork or possibly placement opportunities to give you real-world experience.

Focus areas

“Ancient civilisations of Europe, Near East and Asia; archaeological theory & methods; hands-on fieldwork, lab & scientific skills; interdisciplinary classics & ancient history electives; material culture, monuments, texts & visual culture”

Learning outcomes

“Ability to critically assess ancient sources (texts, art, architecture), apply a range of archaeological methods (excavation, scientific analysis, lab & field methods), conduct independent research, engage with real-world practice (heritage, conservation, commercial archaeology), and communicate findings effectively in writing and presentations.”

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

You won’t just sit in lectures — from early on, Durham gives archaeology students practical exposure using well-equipped labs, cutting-edge software, and real excavation & fieldwork settings. You’ll work in specialised research labs (for example, ancient DNA, isotope analysis, conservation), use digital visualisation tools, participate in field digs in the UK and abroad, use museum and artefact collections, and gain experience through the university’s Archaeological Services unit.

Here are some of the concrete facilities, tools, and opportunities you’ll have access to:

The Digital Visualisation Laboratory: students learn techniques like 3D scanning, photogrammetry, RTI (Reflectance Transformation Imaging), laser scanning of landscapes and monuments; software and hardware support for artefact and building modelling.
The Durham Informatics Lab: used for spatial analysis, GIS, remote sensing – helping you work with landscape archaeology data.
Multiple scientific / environment archaeology labs: sample-prep lab, microscopy lab, materials analysis, isotope lab (Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry Lab), Ancient DNA lab, environmental processing lab. These let you work hands-on on artefacts, bone chemistry, palaeopathology, environmental samples.
Teaching Lab & Archaeological Science Lab: where you’ll get supervised use of equipment (including X-ray, microscopes, etc.), do lab practicals, artefact preparation and analyses.
Fenwick Human Osteology Lab: where human skeletal remains are studied; useful for bioarchaeology, palaeopathology training.
Fieldwork placements & excavations:
- First-year students do a two-week placement, often on the Auckland Castle excavation.
- In later years, students join digs in the UK and around the world — France, Spain, Kuwait, Nepal, Egypt etc.
- Fieldtrips are built into teaching modules, for instance the Interpreting Heritage Module includes a trip to Rome.
Archaeological Services Unit: This is a working unit that carries out “real-world” contract archaeology, assessments, surveys, building recording, heritage statements, etc. Students have opportunities to work or learn through its projects.
Collections and museums:
- The Oriental Museum holds extensive artefact collections (Egypt, Near/Middle East, South Asia etc.) that support coursework and research.
- The Skelatal and zooarchaeological collections (both modern and archaeological specimens.
- Durham University’s Museum of Archaeology (Palace Green) houses artefacts for student study, helping tie practical and theoretical learnings.

Progression & Future Opportunities

On graduation, many students go into roles that let them use their archaeological, historical and analytical training in real-world contexts. Typical job paths include: heritage consultant or commercial archaeologist, museum or curation work, heritage or conservation officer, as well as roles in teaching, publishing, or cultural resource management. Because this course is accredited, has strong professional and fieldwork components, and is backed by Durham’s reputation, it helps graduates enter these roles more directly and confidently.

Here are specific supports, statistics and benefits you’ll get:

Durham University’s careers & employability services: they offer tailored support, including CV & interview workshops aimed at heritage, archaeology & museum sectors; employer networking events; and placements. The Archaeology department also runs Durham University Archaeological Services, which offers paid placement years so you gain real commercial archaeology experience before you even graduate.
Strong employment stats: around 90% of graduates of Durham’s Archaeology programmes enter employment or further study after graduation.
Salary outcomes: typical earnings are in the range of £22,000-£30,000 in the first 15 months after graduation. After 3-5 years, graduates often move into higher bands as experience builds.
University-industry & heritage partnerships: For example, Durham has a commercial archaeology unit embedded in the department (Durham University Archaeological Services), and collaborations via research & heritage projects (e.g. with museums, national heritage bodies) that feed directly into student training.
Long-term accreditation value: The degree is CIfA-accredited, which is recognised in the UK heritage sector as the professional benchmark. That improves your credentials for many commercial, governmental or heritage roles.