Museum Studies and Archaeology

Museum studies and archaeology is a pairing that connects the practice of preserving and interpreting the past with the scientific and humanistic disciplines that create the knowledge museums exist to communicate. Archaeology uncovers and analyses the physical remains of human activity, from artefacts and structures to landscapes and environmental evidence, building understanding of past cultures through material evidence. Museum studies asks how those collections and that knowledge are managed, displayed, and made accessible to diverse publics, and how cultural institutions navigate questions of ownership, representation, and community engagement.

At the University of Reading, this programme is structured with exceptional richness. It includes a foundation year for students who need to build their academic foundations, a sandwich year in professional practice, a year abroad, and work placements embedded in the curriculum. This means you will gain professional experience in museums, galleries, or archaeological organisations at multiple points in your programme, and will have the opportunity to study heritage or museum practice in an international context.

Reading has a strong tradition in both archaeology and museum education, and its museum and herbarium provide direct access to real collections for teaching purposes. The typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects the inclusive approach of the programme, which welcomes students with genuine curiosity about the past.

Graduates are well prepared for careers in museums, galleries, archives, heritage sites, cultural policy, and archaeological organisations. Roles in curation, collection management, education, interpretation, archaeological fieldwork, community engagement, and conservation are among the most common destinations. The professional experience embedded in this programme gives graduates a significant advantage in a competitive sector.

Many also go on to postgraduate study in museum studies, heritage management, archaeology, or art history, which supports progression into more senior or specialist professional roles.