Ancient History and Archaeology
Ancient history and archaeology is a pairing that brings together two complementary approaches to understanding the past. Ancient history works primarily from written evidence: inscriptions, literary texts, papyri, and administrative records from the ancient Mediterranean and Near East, read critically to reconstruct how past societies were organised and experienced. Archaeology works from material evidence: the physical remains of buildings, objects, landscapes, and human bodies that survive and can be systematically excavated, analysed, and interpreted.
Together, they give you access to a past that neither text nor artefact alone can fully illuminate.
At the University of Newcastle, this three-year, full-time programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, providing an unusually rich experiential dimension for a humanities degree. The placement might be with an archaeological unit, a museum, a heritage consultancy, or a research project, giving you professional experience alongside your academic studies. The year abroad adds the chance to study ancient history and archaeology in a different country, whether at a European university with classical sites nearby or in a context that broadens your comparative perspective.
Newcastle has a strong tradition in both classical and archaeological studies, and the programme covers the Greek and Roman worlds alongside ancient Near Eastern civilisations. A typical entry tariff of 120 UCAS points indicates the entry level expected.
The combination develops critical engagement with both written and material evidence, alongside the fieldwork and analytical skills that professional archaeologists need.
Graduates work in archaeology, museums and heritage, education, publishing, and the civil service. Many proceed to postgraduate study in ancient history, classical archaeology, or heritage management. The skills the degree provides are also applicable in roles that require rigorous evidence-based analysis and clear writing.