Archaeology

Archaeology is the study of the human past through material evidence. It is a discipline that uses physical remains, from pottery sherds and animal bones to monumental structures and buried landscapes, to reconstruct how people lived, what they believed, how they organised their societies, and how they interacted with their environments across thousands of years of history. Where written records are absent, ambiguous, or silent about particular groups and experiences, archaeology often provides the only evidence we have.

It is therefore essential to any serious understanding of the full range of human existence.

At the University of Nottingham, this four-year, full-time programme is designed for students who need an additional preparatory year before entering the main degree. The foundation year provides an introduction to academic thinking, research skills, and the intellectual approaches of the humanities, giving you a solid platform before you engage with the full depth of the archaeology curriculum. Through the degree, you will develop skills in field survey and excavation techniques, artefact analysis, environmental archaeology, and the theoretical frameworks that help archaeologists interpret what they find.

Nottingham is well placed for archaeological study, with proximity to major sites, museums, and heritage organisations across the East Midlands and beyond. The typical tariff of 120 points reflects the foundation year entry requirements.

Archaeology graduates work in a range of settings. Commercial archaeology units, which carry out developer-funded fieldwork across the UK, employ a significant number of graduates as fieldworkers, post-excavation specialists, and project officers. Others work in museums, heritage organisations, local authorities, and national bodies such as Historic England.

Academic research and teaching is another path, typically requiring postgraduate study. Many graduates also find that the analytical, research, and communication skills developed through the degree transfer effectively into law, the civil service, journalism, publishing, and a range of other professional fields.