About this course
Examine the people and events of the past from different but complementary perspectives. You'll take an in-depth look at your favourite historical subjects, choosing from options like the Cold War and 17th century witchcraft trials. You'll spend a year abroad at one of our partner institutions, such as the University of Malta or the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona.
Archaeology looks at the past through the study of physical remains, including buildings, artefacts and the landscape itself. History draws on written and oral sources.
This degree will give you in-depth knowledge of both archaeology and history, and develop your understanding of earlier human societies. You'll learn how to use and understand historical sources. You'll also learn how to identify and excavate archaeological sites, extracting as much information as possible from materials and records.
You'll spend your third year abroad at a partner institution to broaden your knowledge and experience.
The course includes a wide variety of optional modules, covering subjects such as:
American slavery
women's history in modern Britain
apocalyptic visions of history
the French Revolution
human origins
landscapes and seascapes
emergence of civilisation
As part of this course, you can choose to take a minor subject in an unrelated area.
You'll develop valuable skills for any future career, including:
problem solving
teamwork
project management
You can download the course details, including modules, in the programme specificationPDF opens in a new window (PDF, 395.14 KB).
Location and awarding body
The course location is Avenue campus in Southampton. The awarding body is University of Southampton.
Entry requirements
A-levels
AAB to ABB including History or a related subject*
A-levels additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. *Related subject includes subjects such as English, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Classical Civilisation or other humanities based essay writing subjects. Students applying without History will need to make a case in their personal statement. Specific offer is ascertained at interview.
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass, with 34 to 32 points overall with 17 to 16 points at Higher Level, including 5 at Higher Level in History or a related subject*
International Baccalaureate Diploma additional information
*Related subject includes subjects such as English, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Classical Civilisation or other humanities based essay writing subjects. Students applying without History will need to make a case in their personal statement. Specific offer is ascertained at interview.
Applications where Higher Level subjects have been studied without the full Diploma, will also be considered on a case by case basis.
BTEC
Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC National Extended Diploma plus A to B in A level History or a related subject*.
Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC National Diploma plus A to B in A level History or a related subject*
Distinction in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus AA to AB to include A level History or a related subject*
BTEC additional information
*Related subject includes subjects such as English, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Classical Civilisation or other humanities based essay writing subjects. Students applying without History will need to make a case in their personal statement. Specific offer is ascertained at interview.
Other qualifications
A-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer:
ABB including History or a related subject* and grade A in the EPQ
A-levels contextual offer
Students who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows:
ABB including History or a related subject*
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) offer
Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) StatementPDF opens in a new window (PDF, 62.17 KB) for further information.
Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
BTEC (RQF) (reformed)
Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC Extended Diploma plus A to B in A level History or a related subject*.
Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC Diploma plus A to B in A level History or a related subject*
Distinction in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus AA to AB to include A level History or a related subject*
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 39 must be at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit, to include 6 Distinctions in History or a related subject*
OR
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit, to include 6 Distinctions in History or a related subject*
Access to HE Diploma additional information
*Related subject includes subjects such as English, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Classical Civilisation or other humanities based essay writing subjects. Students applying without History will need to make a case in their personal statement. Specific offer is ascertained at interview.
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 to H1 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3 including History or a related subject*
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016)
A2 A2 A2 B1 B1 B1 to A2 A2 B1 B1 B2 B2 including History or a related subject* at B1
Irish Leaving Certificate additional information
*Related subject includes subjects such as English, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Classical Civilisation or other humanities based essay writing subjects. Students applying without History will need to make a case in their personal statement. Specific offer is ascertained at interview.
Scottish Qualification offers
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF, 111.01 KB) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3 D3 M2 to D3 M2 M2 in three principal subjects including History or a related subject*
Cambridge Pre-U additional information
*Related subject includes subjects such as English, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Classical Civilisation or other humanities based essay writing subjects. Students applying without History will need to make a case in their personal statement. Specific offer is ascertained at interview.
Welsh Baccalaureate
AAB to ABB from 3 A levels including History or a related subject*
or
AA to AB from two A levels including History or a related subject* and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
Welsh Baccalaureate additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. *Related subject includes subjects such as English, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Classical Civilisation or other humanities based essay writing subjects. Students applying without History will need to make a case in their personal statement. Specific offer is ascertained at interview.
European Baccalaureate
80% overall including grade 8 in History or a related subject*
OR
77% overall including grade 8 in History or a related subject*
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
English language requirements
All applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency. Applicants requiring a visa to study in the UK who do not offer GCSE English language (or GCSE English) at the required level will need to meet the following English language proficiency requirement. Find out more about the University’s English Language requirements.
Band C IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in all components
IELTS score requirements
- reading
- 6
- writing
- 6
- speaking
- 6
- listening
- 6
We also accept other English language tests.
Non-academic entry requirements
There are no additional requirements
International qualifications
Find a list of accepted international qualifications listed by country.
This is a list of the international qualifications that are recognised by the University of Southampton. If you are not sure that your qualifications meet the requirements of this course please contact our Admissions Teams.
Other ways to qualify
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
our Access to Southampton scheme for students living permanently in the UK (including residential summer school, application support and scholarship)
skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as recognition of prior learning)
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Course structure
Years 1, 2 and 4 of the course are made up of a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You'll spend your third year studying abroad at a partner institution.
You'll have the freedom to shape your degree to suit your interests by choosing modules from a wide range of options.
You can also broaden your studies beyond archaeology and history by selecting interdisciplinary modules from our Curriculum Innovation Programme.
You do not need to choose your modules when you apply. We'll guide you through the process before you start.
Year 1
Compulsory modules will give you an overview of the theory and practice of archaeological methods, and world history from ancient to modern times.
You'll choose optional modules from both archaeology and history, with subjects including:
human origins
fascism and the Italian people
Reagan's America
Year 2
You'll delve deeper into the issues and debates surrounding contemporary archaeology. You'll also examine professional and academic practice in the discipline.
Optional modules this year cover areas such as:
maritime archaeology
study of the Vikings
witchcraft in England in the 16th to 18th centuries
Year 3
You'll study at one of our partner institutions abroad. Current locations include:
Cyprus
France
Greece
Malta
the Netherlands
Poland
Spain
Or, you can choose to arrange an approved work placement instead.
Year 4
You'll complete a dissertation in either archaeology or history. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your planning, research, data collation, analysis, and communication skills.
You'll also complete a report on your year abroad and choose from a range of optional modules. Subjects include:
crime and society in medieval England
ancient Egypt
political culture in modern Russia
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
Modules year 1
Compulsory modules
You must take the following compulsory modules in year 1:
- Archaeological Methods for Fieldwork and Analysis
- The development of Archaeological and Anthropological Thought
- World Histories: Contact, Conflict and Culture from Ancient to Modern
Optional modules
You can choose from the following optional modules in year 1:
- A Tudor Revolution in Government?
- Ancient and Medieval Worlds
- Cities of the Dead: Death, Mourning and Remembrance in Victorian Britain
- Consuls, Dictators & Emperors
- Death in the Ancient World
- Debates and Issues in Archaeological Science
- Emergence of Civilisation: domesticating ourselves and others
- German Jews in Great Britain
- God's Own Land: Exploring Pakistan's Origins and History
- Human Origins
- Introduction to Ethnography: Food and Culture
- Joan of Arc: History behind the Myth
- Landscapes and Seascapes of Britain’s Past
- Liberte, Egalite, Beyonce: Women’s History in Modern Britain
- Putin and the Politics of Post-Soviet Russia
- Reagan’s America: Capitalism and Cold War
- Russia in Revolution, 1905-1917
- Terrorists, Tyrants and Technology: America’s “War on Terror”
- The Battle of Agincourt
- The End of the World: Apocalyptic Visions of History
- The Long Summer? Edwardian Britain 1901-1914
- The Real Downton Abbey
- Twentieth-Century China
- When an empire falls: Culture and the British Empire, 1914-1960
- Wonderful things: World history in 40 objects
Modules year 2
Compulsory modules
You must take the following compulsory modules in year 2:
- Contemporary Issues and Debates in Archaeology
- Professional and Academic Practice in Archaeology
- Study Abroad Preparation Module
Optional modules
You can choose from the following optional modules in year 2:
- Ancient Greeks at War
- Ancient Rome: the First Metropolis
- Arabian Nights and Days: The World of the 1001 Nights
- Archaeological Survey for Landscapes and Monuments
- Aristocracy to Democracy
- Besieged: Towns in War c.1250-c.1650
- Body and Society
- Bones, bodies and burials: osteology and comparative anatomy
- Chivalry, c. 1250-1500
- Critical Chronologies: Archaeological dating
- Digging Data: quantitative data analysis in Archaeology
- Evolution of US Counterterrorism
- From Black and White to Colour: A Screen History of Race, Gender and Sexuality in Post-War Britain
- Human Dispersal and Evolution
- Imperialism and Nationalism in British India
- In Hitler's Shadow: Eastern Europe 1918-1939
- Introduction to European Prehistory
- Introduction to Scientific Diving
- Islamism – from the 1980s to the present
- Landscapes of Conflict
- Maritime Archaeology
- Myth and the Ancient World
- Nelson Mandela: A South African life
- Oil Burns The Hands: Power, Politics and Petroleum in Iraq, 1900-1958
- Plague, Fire and Popish Plots: The Worlds of Charles II
- Power, Patronage and Politics in Early Modern England 1509-1660
- Queens, Devils and Players in Early Modern England
- Ragtime! The Making of Modern America
- Rebels with a Cause: The Historical Origins of Christianity
- Retail Therapy: A journey through the cultural history of shopping
- Science on the Street: Science, Technology, Medicine, and the Urban Environment in Modern European Cities
- Self-inflicted - Extreme Violence, Politics and Power
- Sex, Death and Money: the United Kingdom in the 1960s
- The Age of Discovery? c.1350-c.1650
- The British Atlantic World
- The Fall of Imperial Russia
- The First British Empire: the beginnings of English dominance, 1050-1300
- The Global Cold War
- The Life and Afterlife of the Vikings
- The Making of Modern India
- The Transatlantic Slave Trade and Abolition in West Africa
- The power of Rome: Europe’s first empire
- Underworlds: A cultural history of urban nightlife in the 19th and 20th centuries
- Vienna and Berlin: Society, Politics and Culture from 1890 to the Present
- Wellington and the war against Napoleon
- Witchcraft in England, 1542-1736
Modules year 3
Compulsory modules
You must take the following compulsory modules in year 3:
Modules year 4
Compulsory modules
You must take the following compulsory modules in year 4:
Optional modules
You can choose from the following optional modules in year 4:
- A Short History of the Communication Network
- A Short History of the Far Right
- A Short History of the Homosexual
- A Short History of the Populist Leader
- Archaeology of Seafaring
- China in the Cold War – Part 1 (The Chronology)
- China in the Cold War – Part 2 (Themes)
- Crime and Punishment in England c.1688-1840 part 1
- Crime and Punishment in England c.1688-1840 part 2
- Ecology of human evolution: biological, social and cultural approaches to hominin adaptations.
- Emperor Julian and the Last Pagans of Rome Part 1, Julian: hero and apostate
- Emperor Julian and the Last Pagans of Rome Part 2, Julian: hero and apostate
- Fashioning the Tudor Court 1
- Fashioning the Tudor Court 2
- Forging the Raj: The East India Company and Britain’s Asian World, part 1
- Forging the Raj: The East India Company and Britain’s Asian World, part 2
- France under the Nazis, 1940-1944 (Part 1)
- France under the Nazis, 1940-1944 (Part 2)
- GIS for Archaeology
- Iron Age Societies
- Islands and Empires in the Ancient Aegean, Part 1: Ruling the Waves
- Islands and Empires in the Ancient Aegean, Part 2: Island Societies
- Later Anglo-Saxon England
- Living with the Romans: Urbanism in the Roman Empire
- Medieval Love, Sex and Marriage: Part 1
- Medieval Love, Sex and Marriage: Part 2
- Molecular Archaeology
- More than Pyramids & Pharaohs? Ancient Egypt in Context
- Nuclear War and Peace, Part I
- Nuclear War and Peace, Part II
- Political Culture in Modern Russia, part 1
- Political Culture in Modern Russia, part 2
- Presenting the past: Museums and Heritage
- Racism in the United States 1785-1915 Part 1
- Racism in the United States 1785-1915 Part 2
- Reading Histories
- Refugees in the Twentieth Century 1
- Refugees in the Twentieth Century 2
- Seeing beneath the soil: geophysical survey for archaeology
- Society and Politics in Victorian Britain Part 1
- Society and Politics in Victorian Britain Part 2
- Specialist Research Topic in Archaeology
- Stonehenge to Skara Brae: the Neolithic of Britain
- The 1947 Partition of India and its Aftermath Part 1
- The 1947 Partition of India and its Aftermath Part 2
- The Archaeology and Anthropology of Adornment
- The Great Exhibition of 1851 Part 2: Legacy
- The Great Exhibition of 1851 Part one: Art, Industry and the making of a Nation
- The Holocaust 1
- The Holocaust 2
- The Vietnam War in American History and Memory part 1
- The Vietnam War in American History and Memory, pt. 2
- Towards Empire: England and the Sea, 1450-1650 (Part 1)
- Towards Empire: England and the Sea, 1450-1650 (Part 2)
- When the Lights Went Out: Britain in the 1970s, Part 1: 1970-1974
- When the Lights Went Out: Britain in the 1970s, Part 2: 1974-1979
Learning and assessment
The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- coursework
- individual and group projects
- independent learning (studying on your own)
Support for your studies
You'll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
How you’ll spend your study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study, year by year:
Year 1
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 21%
- Independent study
- 79%
- Placement
- 0%
Year 2
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 18%
- Independent study
- 82%
- Placement
- 0%
Year 3
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 0%
- Independent study
- 100%
- Placement
- 0%
Year 4
- Scheduled learning and teaching
- 9%
- Independent study
- 91%
- Placement
- 0%
Course leader
Simon Davies is the course leader.
How we’ll assess you
We’ll assess you using:
- coursework, laboratory reports and essays
- dissertations
- essays
- oral presentations
- written and practical exams
Your assessment breakdown, year by year:
Year 1
- Written exam
- 23%
- Practical exam
- 11%
- Coursework
- 66%
Year 2
- Written exam
- 50%
- Practical exam
- 0%
- Coursework
- 50%
Year 3
- Written exam
- 0%
- Practical exam
- 0%
- Coursework
- 100%
Year 4
- Written exam
- 13%
- Practical exam
- 12%
- Coursework
- 75%
Careers
Your Archaeology and History degree will provide excellent preparation for future employment. This programme offers a balance of sciences and arts, and provides a range of practical and theory-based components.
Your year abroad will give you additional skills and experience.
This degree positions you well for a career in a range of areas, including:
professional archaeology
heritage management and museums
financial and legal services
local government and planning
civil servant
policy advisor
intelligence officer
teacher
recruitment consultant
risk analyst
army officer
You'll graduate with transferable skills in:
teamwork
project management
evidence-based research
problem solving
This degree is also a great foundation for further study at Masters or PhD level.
You'll get support from your personal academic tutor and an employability coordinator, who can advise you on your career path throughout your course.
Contact us to speak to a careers advisor.
Careers services at Southampton
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:
work experience schemes
CV and interview skills and workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Fees, costs and funding
UK/EU fees
You'll pay £9,250 in tuition fees for the academic year 2020 to 2021. This fee might change for further years of your course.
International student fees
You’ll pay £17,560 each year. This fee will stay the same throughout your studies.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.
Find out how to:
Extra costs you might have to pay
- Laboratory Equipment and Materials
- Printing and Photocopying Costs
- Field Trips
- Software Licenses
- Clothing
- Placements (including Study Abroad Programmes)
- Hardware
- Computer discs or USB drives
- Textbooks
- Stationery
See the full list of extra items and costs in the programme specificationPDF opens in a new window 2020 to 2021 (PDF, 395.14 KB).
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:
Bursaries, scholarships and other funding
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
Scholarships and grants
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Support during your course
The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
Funding for international students
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
University life
The University offers a friendly, diverse and welcoming home for you while you study. You'll work, live and socialise with students from more than 130 countries.
Clubs, societies and facilities
Our campuses have:
cafes and restaurants
bars
health centres
banks
a post office
student shops
a hairdresser
Our sports facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, a gym with 140 fitness stations, squash courts, a bouldering wall, outdoor pitches and much more. There are over 80 sports clubs you could join, and activity classes including yoga and spin.
We have an internationally known theatre, concert hall, art gallery and cinema showing everything from mainstream blockbusters to international arthouse classics. You could perform at a gig, concert or show, take part in an exhibition or join a writers’ workshop. Find out more about arts and culture at Southampton.
Whatever your passion or community, you can find like-minded people at one of the Students’ Union clubs and societies. There are more than 200 to join, and social activities in every hall of residence.
Support while you study
We aim to help you deal with any problems you might come across, so you can make the most of your time at university. We offer support with:
mental health, learning difficulties and disability
money and accommodation
childcare
computers and IT
How to apply
When you apply use:
UCAS Course Code: VV42
UCAS Institution Code: S27
What happens after you apply
We will assess your application on the strength of your:
- predicted grades
- academic achievements
- personal statement
- academic reference
We aim to respond to you within 2 to 6 weeks with a decision about your application.
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.