Archaeology BA (Hons)

Queen's University of Belfast

This course offers a Single Honours degree programme examining the human past from a broad humanities and social sciences perspective. It progressively develops general and specific knowledge and skills, through the examination of a broad range of different types of sources, excavation, overseas fieldtrips and practical work. The course will provide you with an opportunity to pursue your interests in any time period, from the dawn of humanity to recent centuries, including hands-on experience in working with archaeological material and undertaking fieldwork. This is a very versatile degree which opens the door to a wide range of career options, including careers in teaching, commercial archaeology, museums, heritage management and many more, both within and beyond the heritage sector.

World Class facilities

Students benefit from access to the internationally renowned 14CHRONO Centre for Radiocarbon Dating, the Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork, departmental collections and laboratories for study of artefacts, human, animal and plant remains and other scientific materials and instruments, including access to GIS, laser scanning and specialist teaching laboratories. The University’s McClay Library holds one of the most comprehensive collections of resources on Irish, British, European and World Archaeology in Ireland and the UK, and provides state-of-the-art study facilities.

Professional accreditation

This course includes a module pathway that is fully accredited by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) and University Archaeology UK (UAUK). Students on that pathway can become student members of CIfA, providing you with access to their e-learning modules, specialist professional networks and details of jobs in the profession. All students on this degree programme also automatically gain student membership with the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland, giving you access to further professional development resources and information of relevant job vacancies in the island of Ireland.

Degree supplements and study-abroad

Students enrolled on this course have the opportunity to undertake an optional additional year of study, which can either be spent studying abroad at one of Queen’s international partner institutions or on a UK or international work placement. Depending on the chosen option, students availing of the optional additional year will gain one of the following degree supplements: ‘BA Archaeology with International Study’, ‘BA Archaeology with Placement’, or ‘BA Archaeology with International Placement’.

Accreditation by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), working in partnership with University Archaeology UK (UAUK), recognises academic programmes which provide students with appropriate workplace skills relevant to both a career in the historic environment and CIfA membership at Practitioner grade.