Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of human history through the material traces people leave behind: the objects they made, the buildings they constructed, the settlements they inhabited, and the landscapes they shaped. It is a discipline of extraordinary breadth, spanning human origins millions of years ago through to the recent past, and drawing on methods from geology, biology, chemistry, physics, and the humanities to reconstruct how people lived, thought, and organised their societies. At the same time, it is profoundly relevant to the present, engaging questions about cultural heritage, national identity, and who controls the past.

At the University of Cambridge, this three-year full-time degree is distinctive for the range of intellectual approaches it accommodates within a single programme. You will explore human evolution and biology, ancient cultures and languages, the emergence of early societies, and the ways in which heritage continues to affect identity and politics today. The course allows you to follow the periods and questions that most interest you, specialising in areas such as classical archaeology, prehistory, environmental archaeology, or the archaeology of specific regions and cultures.

You will learn to work with primary archaeological evidence, including artefacts, sites, and environmental data, developing the analytical and interpretive skills that the discipline demands. Cambridge's extraordinary museum collections and teaching resources provide an exceptional learning environment.

With a typical entry tariff of 168 UCAS points, Cambridge archaeology attracts highly motivated students with broad intellectual interests. Graduates pursue careers in professional archaeology, heritage management, museum work, cultural resource management, teaching, journalism, government, the civil service, and research. The analytical, communication, and research skills developed on this degree are valued across many sectors beyond archaeology itself.

Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in archaeology, heritage studies, ancient history, or related disciplines, and some pursue research careers in academic or applied settings.