Archaeology and Ancient History

About this course
Explore the ancient world in all its wonderful complexity, and gain an understanding of the foundations of today's societies. From Ancient Egypt through the conquests of Alexander the Great and the Roman Empire, to the rise of Islam in the Middle East, Archaeology and Ancient History at Southampton offers you the opportunity to learn in an engaging, supportive and highly successful research environment.

Graduates from the Ancient History and Archaeology BA degree have gained employment in heritage management, museums or archaeological research. As an Ancient History and Archaeology graduate, you have the privilege and responsibility of being a custodian of the past. Whether you're excavating ancient cities, preserving historical landmarks, or educating the public, your work contributes to the incredible stories of human history and culture, today and into the future. Your archaeological expertise can be applied in diverse fields, heritage management and conservation, via education, journalism and creative, entrepreneurial and digital careers, to academia and beyond, making a tangible impact on how we understand and engage with our past.

Key features of the course

• You'll deepen your understanding of archaeology with three weeks of practical experience of field work, including excavating archaeological sites, survey, or post-excavation.

• Join a department ranked 7th in the UK for Archaeology in the Complete University Guide, 2026.

• Learn in £3m purpose-built archaeology facilities including superb labs for osteoarchaeology, isotope sampling, and ceramic and lithic analysis.

• Our Digital Humanities facilities will allow you to study and research through cutting-edge technology, such as virtual reality, 3D scanners and printers, and a 360 degree fully immersive audio-visual centre.

• 100% of our Archaeology graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation” Graduate Outcomes 2022/2023, published in 2025.

Student support
From day one, you’ll be part of a friendly, supportive community of students and academics in Archaeology. Experienced tutors, who are also active researchers, will guide you through practical and academic challenges, while small-group teaching ensures you get personalised support. You’ll develop teamwork and communication skills alongside your peers, and have access to pastoral care, wellbeing services, and a wide range of student-led societies to help you thrive both academically and personally.

Further information
Carry out fieldwork, including 3 weeks as part of an active research project at sites in the UK or abroad. As part of the year abroad spend your third year at a partner university in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea or Australia.