Ancient History and Archaeology

Combining the overlapping disciplines of archaeology and ancient history, this course offers an exciting journey through the human past, across diverse time periods and regions.

Archaeology uses both arts and science methods to uncover and interpret ancient societies through their material remains, helping us bring the past to life.

Ancient history complements these archaeological techniques by interpreting written records, particularly from the Greeks and Romans, whose history shaped much of the world we know today.

You will gain valuable skills for the workplace, from critical analysis and research to teamwork and communication.

Through research-led teaching, this course enables you to explore multiple cultures while discovering the lasting importance of the past in modern society. You will:

• discover how ancient civilizations shaped today’s societies by looking at literature, history, material culture and modern reception

• learn how to interpret different types of evidence and craft historical narratives

• study a wide chronological and geographical range of topics, backed by practical archaeological training in our on-site labs

• have the opportunity to learn Greek or Latin, so you can engage more critically with ancient evidence

You can also opt to do 10 days of archaeological fieldwork, gaining real-world experience while balancing both theory and practice.
Assessments go beyond the traditional, with opportunities to develop creative projects, presentations and self-directed research.

Why choose this course?

1. Top 20 for Archaeology and Forensic Science in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)
   

2. Top ten for Classics and Ancient History in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)
   

3. 100% of students from the Department of Classics and Archaeology said the teaching staff were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024)
   

4. Beginners welcome! You do not need any prior experience in either archaeology or ancient history – our year one modules are designed to give you a university-level foundation
   

5. Gain practical and professional experience in our on-campus Museum of Archaeology and volunteer with local schools through our Nottingham Classics Out-and-about (NoCOut) outreach programme
   

6. Develop your creative and communication skills through modules including ‘Communicating the Past’  
   

7. Collaborate with international students in our tri-campus ‘Silk Road’ module
   

8. Explore real-world challenges across interdisciplinary themes with our ‘Engaged Arts’ optional modules
   

9. Work with our dedicated Faculty of Arts Placements Team to assist with your employability skills development via a range of placements, internships and volunteering opportunities
   

You can also access this course through a Foundation Year. This may be suitable if you have faced educational barriers and do not expect to meet the entry requirements for direct entry to a degree course. Please see the UCAS page for the relevant Foundation Year course for further information.

Engaged Arts

All students within the Faculty of Arts can select ‘Engaged Arts’ modules where you’ll approach real-world challenges across contemporary themes such as sustainability or equity and justice. These modules have been newly designed to help you gain the skills and analytical abilities that employers are looking for.

For detailed information about the modules you will study, please visit the course page:
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/courses/UG/Ancient-History-and-Archaeology-BA-Jt-Hons-U6UACHIA.html