About This Course
The past has many dimensions and there are many routes to it. Archaeology, which deals with material evidence, artefacts, monuments and buildings, is one avenue, while history, traditionally derived from written sources, is another. They are complementary and both are relevant to our past - together they help to guide us through the maze of evidence available to arrive at an understanding of the past.
Pleae note we also offer other History and Archaeology degree programmes, including the BA History and Archaeology degree and the BA History degree
Watch - Studying History
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- This course emphasises the 2 complementary sources of evidence, giving you experience in working with both archaeological and historical sources.
- During the History with Archaeology degree you will develop skills that will be advantageous in a number of careers. Students from Bangor have gone on to work towards field and museum qualifications and many have professional archaeological careers.
- The School has an excellent teaching reputation.
- Our staff specialise in the archaeology of Britain and Ireland, with some European archaeology. We offer modules which include prehistory, Roman, early medieval and medieval archaeology as well as landscape archaeology and heritage.
- North Wales is exceptionally rich in archaeological monuments of all periods. Field trips, archaeological survey and excavation take advantage of this.
- Our local museum enables you to gain experience in handling artefacts - an opportunity not widely offered elsewhere. Students can gain valuable experience through work placements in the local archaeological field unit.
Course Content
You spend about 12 hours per week in lectures, seminars and practicals. Outside this time you will complete essays, analysis exercises, preparation for seminars and reading. In addition to this, field trips to visit archaeological sites and museums are an important part of the teaching experience. You will also have the opportunity to go on excavations and carry out other practical work.
In the first year you will have around 5 trips to visit local monuments. In the second and third years field trips vary in length and nature and include local sites, as well as trips to other parts of Britain and Ireland.
Assessment is through a combination of written work, essays, exams, portfolios and presentations. The dissertation and the special subject each form one-third of the assessment in the final year.
All lectures are in English but you may write essays and exams in Welsh if you wish.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the History with Archaeology Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Course Costs
Mandatory Costs:
There are no mandatory costs, but if a student spends £50 on books per module then it would cost £300 pa.
Necessarily Incurred Costs:
Travel to placements: Some basic travel costs might be incurred depending on the location of the placement. An average example would be 2 weeks, public transport, £40.
Optional Costs:
Extra costs might be incurred if students decide to purchase more books, but this optional and entirely down to the individual.
General University Costs
Home (UK) students
- The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry).
- More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.
International (including EU) students
Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:
- If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
- If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).
Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:
- Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
- Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
- Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
Entry Requirements
For 2020 entry:
Offers are tariff based, 96 - 120 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.
- A Levels (no specific subjects required but History or Archaeology preferred)
- BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM - DDM
- City & Guilds Advanced Technical/ Extended Diploma: considered on a case by case basis
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- Access
- Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted.
International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here.
We also welcome applications from mature applicants.
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com
General University Requirements
To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com.
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.
All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.
As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.
We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Bangor section of the website.
EU and International Students' Entry Requirements
For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.
Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.
Careers
The complementary nature of these two disciplines will enable you to pursue a career in Archaeology by means of the practical and theoretical skills acquired, coupled with a clear understanding of historical contexts. More generally, this degree will provide you with analytical and practical skills enabling you to tackle a variety of careers in the humanities.
A degree in course equips students with a wide range of skills necessary to enter into a career in heritage, archaeology or the museums sector. It also provides key transferrable skills, such as:
- The ability to collate, analyse and contextualise data-sets
- An ability to critically review the literature and formulate logical and structured arguments
- Develop written and presentation and practical archaeological skills as well as working as part of a team.
- Writing and editorial skills
- An appreciation of the complexity and diversity of situations, events and past mentalities
- Experience gained from carrying out and completing a major research project in the third year – the dissertation
- A range of practical skills acquired through survey, excavation and the study of material evidence
- Good IT skills
- Time management skills
These transferable skills are fundamental to other employment sectors, such as the public sector, teaching, tourism, law, accountancy and management.
Work experience opportunities at Bangor University
Year 2 and 3 students are provided with the opportunity to complete work-placement modules, which can be carried out in the university or through external organizations. These are assessed as part of the final degree. The programme enhances employability prospects and offers an insight into the type of employment opportunities a degree in history or archaeology offers. Students have undertaken placements in a wide range of workplaces, including archives, archaeological units, museums and heritage centres.
For more information on employment opportunities in archaeology, please click here.
It is now possible to supplement your degree with the Bangor Employability Award. For more information on this award, please click here.
Opportunities at Bangor
The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions.
The Bangor Employability Award (BEA)
With the BEA, you can gain recognition for your extra-curricular activities (e.g. volunteering, clubs and societies, part-time work, etc.)
Internships
Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.
Student Volunteering
Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about the volunteering on the Students’ Union’s website.
