Ancient History and Archaeology with Professional Placement

Ancient history and archaeology together address the deep past through complementary methods. Ancient history reconstructs the political, social, economic and cultural life of the ancient world, primarily through the analysis of written sources, from inscriptions and administrative records to literary texts and philosophical works. Archaeology recovers and interprets the material remains of past societies, from monumental architecture to the everyday objects of domestic life, providing evidence that often contradicts, complicates or enriches what written sources tell us.

The combination gives students a genuinely multi-dimensional picture of ancient civilisations.

At Reading, which has long-standing research strengths in both ancient history and archaeology, this four-year programme includes a professional placement, giving you direct experience working with heritage and cultural institutions during your degree. You will study the ancient world across multiple civilisations and periods, including Greece, Rome, Egypt and the Near East, developing skills in the analysis of texts, material culture, archaeological evidence and historiography. The professional placement gives you experience in museums, archives, archaeological units, heritage organisations or academic research contexts, adding a practical and professional dimension to your studies.

The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points.

Graduates work in museums and galleries, heritage and conservation organisations, archaeology units, archive services, education, publishing, the civil service and academic research. The analytical skills, attention to evidence and ability to construct arguments from incomplete sources that ancient history and archaeology develop are valued across many professional contexts. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in ancient history, classical archaeology, heritage management or museum studies, going on to research or curatorial careers.