Archaeology and Ancient History Cardiff University

This interdisciplinary programme combines archaeological and historical approaches to the study of Europe and the Mediterranean across five millennia [4th millennium BC to 11th century AD].

Our degree develops your knowledge and critical understanding of the political, social, economic and cultural structures of societies from the Aegean Bronze Age to the fall of the Roman Empire, extending to post-Roman Britain and the Byzantine Empire.

For us, engaging with social and cultural topics are just as important as developing historical and archaeological skills. You will encounter fascinating themes with contemporary relevance, from warfare, gender, religion, art and literature to medicine and science.

Naturally, you benefit from facilities including bespoke archaeological teaching and research laboratories, dedicated geophysical and surveying equipment and a range of sophisticated equipment for the analysis of artefacts, including a scanning electron microscope.

In our varied degree, you gain fully funded archaeological fieldwork experience through our placement programme. Our memorable placements take place at home in the UK and overseas.

Our degree is designed to help you cultivate the skills of both archaeologist and historian. You'll master assessing a range of evidence and evaluating varying and sometimes conflicting interpretations to construct your own robust and coherent argument. Moreover, you will practice expressing your new findings in ever innovative written forms as well as verbally within a nurturing environment.

Dedicated to the understanding of past societies through the interpretation of ancient evidence, we explore literary, epigraphic and archaeological material, to bring you closer to these closely- interconnected subjects.

Our programme offers a balance between specific historical periods and thematic approaches to examine broad social and cultural topics including warfare, medicine, art and science. The span of Ancient History ranges from the earliest Mediterranean and Near Eastern civilisations to the Byzantine and Sassanian Empires.

This carefully-integrated degree provides a valuable range of intellectual and transferable skills to enter a wide range of professions, and the training necessary to progress to postgraduate level.

Entry requirements

A Levels

ABB-BBB

Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard A level offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.

English requirements

Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.

At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.

At least 90 overall with minimum scores of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading and 20 for speaking.

At least 62 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.

II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits. III: at least a Pass in all components.

Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.