History and Archaeology

History and archaeology together offer a remarkably rich way of understanding the human past. History works primarily through written and documentary sources, tracing the actions, ideas, and institutions of people who could record what they did and thought. Archaeology recovers the material traces of human activity, including objects, structures, landscapes, and human remains, often reaching far beyond the reach of written records into prehistoric periods and into the everyday lives of people who left no documents.

Studying both disciplines develops a comprehensive toolkit for investigating the past and a sophisticated understanding of how different kinds of evidence generate different kinds of knowledge.

At the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne this three-year full-time programme teaches you the techniques that archaeologists use to engage with the past alongside the interpretive and research skills of the historian. You will have the flexibility to tailor your degree to your areas of interest, whether that means focusing on particular historical periods or cultures, or engaging with specialist areas such as human osteology, artefact analysis, or environmental archaeology. The programme includes a sandwich year and a year abroad, alongside work placement opportunities, giving you the chance to gain professional experience in heritage, museums, or archaeological fieldwork as well as international academic exposure.

Graduates from history and archaeology programmes work in museums, heritage organisations, archaeological units, local government conservation services, and the tourism and cultural sectors. Archive work, publishing, teaching, and journalism are other common directions. The research, writing, and analytical skills developed through the degree transfer into a wide range of professional contexts.

Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in history, archaeology, heritage management, or museum studies, developing specialist expertise for research or curatorial careers.