Archaeology

Archaeology is the science of recovering and interpreting the physical remains of human activity across time. It encompasses the excavation and analysis of sites, the study of artefacts and environmental evidence, and the interpretation of how people lived, organised themselves, and interacted with their world in periods ranging from the earliest human prehistory to the recent past. The discipline is both a science and a humanity, combining careful empirical method with interpretive and historical reasoning.

At the University of Leicester, this distance learning archaeology degree allows you to study the discipline wherever in the world you are, without needing to relocate or attend campus in person. The programme is designed to be flexible, enabling you to study full time or to fit your learning alongside work and family commitments in a way that suits you. Leicester is a world-leading centre for archaeology, and the distance learning courses are designed to convey both the practice of archaeology and the interpretive frameworks that allow its findings to make sense of millions of years of human history.

You will learn about the methods archaeologists use, including excavation, survey, artefact analysis, and environmental reconstruction, alongside the theoretical and historical knowledge that places those methods in context.

The distance learning format makes genuine degree-level archaeology accessible to a much wider range of students than campus-based study alone, including those already working in heritage, those returning to education, and those based internationally.

Graduates go on to careers in archaeological fieldwork, heritage management, museum and gallery work, historic environment roles in local government and statutory bodies, education, and cultural heritage consultancy. Many pursue postgraduate study in archaeology or a related specialism, and some go on to research careers in the discipline. The Leicester degree's distance learning flexibility is also well suited to professionals already working in heritage who want to formalise and deepen their knowledge.