Archaeology

Archaeology is the only discipline that studies all of human history in material form, from the earliest stone tools made by our ancestors millions of years ago to the recent past. It works by recovering, recording, and interpreting the physical traces that people leave behind, and in doing so it builds an understanding of how human societies have developed, how they have differed from one another, and what connects us across vast stretches of time. It is a discipline that combines fieldwork, laboratory analysis, theoretical frameworks, and a deep sense of curiosity about who people were and how they lived.

At Aberdeen, the four-year full-time programme has a distinctive northern focus that is unique among UK universities. You will engage closely with the archaeology of Scotland, Scandinavia, northern Europe, the North Atlantic, and the northern reaches of Asia and North America, exploring the cultures, landscapes, and material histories of these regions through lectures, fieldwork, and laboratory study. This regional specialism gives you a depth of engagement that complements the broader disciplinary training, and you will be taught by internationally recognised researchers who are actively working on the questions they teach.

The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to broaden your scholarly perspective and gain experience of archaeological study in a different context. The typical entry tariff is 216 UCAS points.

Archaeology graduates develop skills in research, analysis, critical thinking, and communication that are valued across a wide range of careers. Many work directly in heritage management, conservation, museum curation, environmental assessment, and contract archaeology. Others move into academia, public history, teaching, journalism, or the civil service.

The fieldwork and laboratory experience built into the programme also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study, and many graduates continue to master's or doctoral research in archaeology, heritage studies, or related disciplines.