Archaeology and Heritage
Archaeology and heritage are concerned with what the human past has left behind and what we choose to do with it. Archaeology uses material evidence, from objects and buildings to soils and landscapes, to reconstruct and interpret past lives and societies. Heritage examines how communities and institutions identify, preserve, interpret, and contest the legacies of history, asking not just what survives from the past but who decides what matters, why, and for whom.
Together, the two disciplines connect scientific investigation of the past with questions of identity, memory, and the politics of preservation that are very much alive in the present.
At the University of York, this three-year, full-time degree draws on one of the UK's leading departments in the field. York itself is one of the most archaeologically rich cities in Europe, and the programme benefits from that remarkable proximity to real sites, collections, and heritage institutions. You will develop skills in excavation, finds analysis, landscape study, and archival research alongside the theoretical and policy frameworks that shape heritage practice.
A sandwich year and year abroad are both available, giving you the opportunity to gain extended professional experience in an archaeology or heritage organisation and to study in a different cultural or institutional context. A work placement is also part of the programme, providing direct exposure to professional practice. The typical tariff of 152 points reflects the academic demands of a rigorous research-led programme.
Graduates in archaeology and heritage work in museums, heritage organisations, local authorities, planning departments, environmental consultancies, and cultural trusts. Roles include archaeological fieldworker, heritage consultant, curator, conservator, and policy officer. The National Trust, Historic England, local museums, and commercial archaeology units all employ graduates from programmes of this kind.
Many students also go on to postgraduate study in archaeology, heritage management, museum studies, or conservation.