BA
Anthropology and Archaeology BA (Hons)
Expand your understanding of humanity both past and present. With the numerous overlapping areas between the subjects, Anthropology and Archaeology are the perfect combination for a Joint Honours degree.
How to apply Apply via UCAS
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
BA
UCAS Code
LF64
Course length
3 years full-time
Typical offer
AAB
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £ per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £ per year
Overview
The extensive overlap between Anthropology and Archaeology makes them ideal subjects for a Joint Honours degree. Archaeology is the study of past human communities via the material traces they leave behind, while Anthropology is the study of humanity with an emphasis on present day societies. Therefore, together these two subjects complement one another to provide a comprehensive understanding of humanity past and present. Anthropology and Archaeology are both very broad subjects which overlap with many others including history, classics, sociology and biosciences. A degree in Anthropology and Archaeology equips you with many practical and transferable skills including conducting fieldwork, designing research projects, handling data ethically and communicating sensitively across language and cultural barriers. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four and expanding your experience to complement your studies.
Course details
Start date
Degree Type
BA
UCAS Code
LF64
Course length
3 years full-time
Typical offer
AAB
Tuition Fees
- Home (Full-time): £ per year
- Overseas (Full-time): £ per year
What you'll study
In the first year, we will provide a fundamental grounding in Anthropology and Archaeology including introductory modules in both subjects. In the second year, you will pursue your growing interests through optional modules offered by both departments. You will also take an integrated module exploring the relationships between the two subjects. In the final year, you will design and carry out your own research project for your dissertation. You may also choose to go on a residential field course.
Core modules
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Being Human: An Introduction to the History and Practice of Anthropology
provides an overview of the history of anthropology, including the major theoretical developments and debates, and how these affect the practice of anthropology today.
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Discovering World Prehistory
introduces world prehistory from the emergence of humankind to the rise of early states.
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Doing Anthropological Research
provides hands-on training in anthropological research methods, both quantitative and qualitative. This module will prepare you for future research projects and allow you to develop highly transferable research skills.
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Introduction to Archaeological Methods
and Scientific Methods in Archaeology provide a grounding in a range of methods and techniques used in archaeology today, and will help you develop a critical awareness of the potential and limitations of each.
Optional modules
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In recent years optional modules have included: Human Evolution and DiversityPeople and CulturesHealth, Illness and SocietyArchaeology in BritainAncient Civilisations of the EastCities in AntiquityMedieval to Modern: An Introduction to the Archaeology of the Medieval to Post Medieval WorldA module offered by the University's Centre for Foreign Language Study
Core modules
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Debating Anthropology and Archaeology
will show how archaeology and anthropology provide overlapping yet distinct perspectives on key aspects of social, cultural and biological aspects of human life, and will explore how common theories, concepts and approaches have developed between these disciplines.
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Research Project Design
builds upon previous methods training by providing the skills necessary to develop independent research projects, helping to plan ahead for the final year dissertation.
Optional modules
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In recent years optional modules have included: Palaeoanthropology: The Study of Human EvolutionPrimate SocietiesReading the SkeletonBecoming Roman: From Iron Age to Empire in Italy and the WestAncient Mediterranean Civilisations: East and WestA module offered by the University's Centre for Foreign Language Study
Core modules
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Anthropology Field Course
and/or Advanced Professional Training In addition, you will study advanced topics in Anthropology and Archaeology and both departments offer opportunities to gain experience of carrying out fieldwork through either the and/or Advanced Professional Training.
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Dissertation
In your final year, you will design and carry out your own on a topic of your choice, which will develop your independent research and project management skills. You can choose to do a dissertation based in either Anthropology, Archaeology, or an interdisciplinary approach combining insights from both fields.
Optional modules
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In recent years optional modules have included: Anthropology, Art, and ExperienceExhibiting AnthropologyTechnological PrimatesViolence and MemoryForensic AnthropologyPalaeoanthropology and PalaeoecologyCurrent ArchaeologyInterpreting HeritageMuseum RepresentationArchaeology and Global Sustainable Development.
Learning
Your learning will be supported by a variety of teaching formats, including large-group lectures and smaller-group teaching in seminars and practical classes. Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on inquiry-based learning and transferable skills, with a particular focus on designing and carrying out research projects. Our departments have a range of resources including skeletal collections, fossil cast collections and a material culture collection which are used in teaching and may also be available for independent project work.Assessment
We use a wide range of assessments designed to provide training in a variety of anthropological and broader transferable skills, including not only 'traditional' essays and exams but also research projects, popular writing and outreach activities. In your final year you will have the chance to design and carry out your own research project for your dissertation, with support and guidance from your supervisor.Entry requirements
Fees & Funding
Choose which fees you want to see:
Home / Island students
£ per year
International / EU Students
£ per year
Home / Island students
Part Time - £ per year
International / EU Students
Part Time - £ per year
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Find out moreDepartment Information
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Join a dynamic and welcoming Department that takes a distinctly broad-based approach to the study of humanity. We are among the largest Anthropology departments in the UK with around 110 students in each year group, and one of the few to combine social, biological and medical aspects of Anthropology. This gives you the chance to explore humanity from multiple perspectives, covering our species' evolution over millions of years up to the present day diversity of human societies. You can choose from one of three single-honours programmes or combine Anthropology with Sociology, Psychology or Archaeology as a joint-honours degree. You can also study Anthropology as part of an even broader degree programme including Liberal Arts, Natural Sciences or Combined Honours in Social Sciences. Since Anthropology is such a broad subject, it works just as well as a single honours programme or combined with other subjects. Our lecturers are passionate, dedicated teachers and researchers, and our modules cover a huge diversity of topics, including culture, environmental issues, evolution, genetics, forensics, literature, health, music, politics, primate behaviour, religion, reproduction, skeletal anatomy and many others still. And with a research-led approach, our teaching is constantly evolving to incorporate the latest findings into the curriculum. Our flexible courses offer the opportunity both to explore the breadth of Anthropology and to specialise in one of our sub-disciplinary areas. For more information see our department pages.
Read moreFacilities
We are based in the Dawson Building, conveniently located next to the main library, and close to lots of other departments and university services. We have a common room which students are welcome to use for studying and socialising. The Department’s research facilities include skeletal, fossil cast and material culture collections available for students to use as part of their learning activities and research projects. We also house a number of research centres and laboratories including an Infancy and Sleep Centre, a Physical Activity Lab and an Ecology and Endocrinology Laboratory which is equipped to analyse human samples.
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Material culture collectionThe department houses an extensive collection of material culture objects from around the world which are actively used in both research and teaching of ethnography.
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Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre
The centre is home to a team of researchers who investigate the behaviour and physiology of infant, child and adult sleep, as well as night-time parenting, infant feeding, and other infant and child health issues.
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Find out more -
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Archaeology at Durham is an exciting and diverse discipline that delves into the past and informs our understanding of the present. It brings together multiple techniques and methods, and covers a wide range of themes and periods, from the earliest human development through classical civilisations to colonialism, the built environment and heritage in the modern world. We are an inclusive international scholarly community offering opportunities for you to get involved, from seminars and reading groups to field projects. Our research-led approach to learning means you will be taught by world specialists and explore archaeological sites and historic buildings, cutting-edge scientific methods, theories, debates and computing techniques. Fieldwork takes you around the world, with previous projects ranging from Iceland to Africa. Closer to home you will learn about the rich and varied past of the UK. Our location provides a great environment for studying archaeology and heritage, with UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Durham Cathedral and Hadrian's Wall on our doorstep. We offer single and joint honour BA and BSc degrees to suit your interests and career goals. Most courses include the possibility of a work placement or year abroad. For more information see our department pages.
Read moreFacilities
We are based in the Dawson Building, the historic original science building on the Science Site, at University's main Mountjoy Campus. We are close to other departments, colleges, the Bill Bryson library and the Teaching and Learning Centre. Our building houses teaching rooms, and a suite of state-of-the-art laboratories for precision techniques including ancient DNA and isotope analysis, Geographic Information Systems and digital visualisation, as well as a common room for social activities of staff and students. Our teaching allows students hands on experience in labs, and our library holdings and digital resources are world-class.
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Commercial archaeological fieldwork
The Department is also home to a leading commercial archaeological fieldwork unit, enabling expert training in excavation and fieldwork techniques from working archaeologists.
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Fieldwork
Single honours students gain experience through summer placements on module-linked projects around the world, from County Durham to France, Spain, Egypt and Nepal.
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Extensive resources
We are one of the most comprehensively equipped archaeology departments in the UK in terms of staffing, laboratories, equipment and library resources.
Find out more -
Career Opportunities
Of those UK/EU students who graduated in 2022/23:
87%
97%
£32,500
HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk
Employability
More Information
With an anthropology degree our students acquire a fascinating and useful knowledge base, as well as an unusual mix of intellectual and practical skills.
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