Durham University
Ancient History and Archaeology
Durham, England, United Kingdom · UCAS VF14
Level
Bachelor
Duration
3 years
Campus
Main Campus
Intl. Tuition
Fee not confirmed
Home Tuition
£10,050 (2027-28)
Intake
September 2027
UCAS code
VF14
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Course Overview
Ancient History and Archaeology at Durham University in Durham, England, United Kingdom is a bachelor programme designed to give you both rigorous academic grounding and exposure to current practice in the field.
- Study with academics who are active researchers and industry practitioners, with regular contact through seminars, tutorials, and project work.
- Develop core knowledge in your first year before specialising through optional modules in later years tailored to your interests and career goals.
- Build practical, transferable skills — analysis, communication, teamwork, and project delivery — that employers across sectors actively look for.
- Access dedicated employability support including internships, placements, alumni mentoring, and a careers service that connects students to graduate roles.
- Join a global student community with extracurricular societies, sports, volunteering, and study-abroad opportunities to round out your university experience.
Career snapshot (indicative)
History graduates develop research, critical analysis and writing skills valued across journalism, policy, the civil service, publishing, law and education. Many proceed to postgraduate study, law conversion or the civil service fast-stream.
Student life (indicative)
Durham is a historic university city with a compact, walkable centre and a good range of pubs, cafés and cultural venues. The student community is central to city life.
The University at a Glance
Student Population
21,150
Staff Ratio
14.0:1
International
33.0%
Career Prospects
Employment Rate
81.0%
of graduates employed
Avg Starting Salary
£37,130
First-year earnings
Placement Year
✓ Available
Work experience option
Costs & Living
City & Location
Small city (50k-199k inhabitants)
Course Curriculum
Year 1
- Foundations of Ancient History and Archaeology
- Academic and Research Skills
- Quantitative Methods
- Introduction to Theory and Practice
- Optional language or breadth module.
Year 2
- Intermediate Ancient History and Archaeology topics
- Applied Methods and Tools
- Group Project
- Two optional pathway modules
- Career and Industry Insights.
Year 3
- Advanced Ancient History and Archaeology
- Independent Dissertation or Capstone Project
- Two specialist optional modules aligned with your interests
- Employability and Professional Development.
Entry Requirements
Subjects
- Archaeology
- Classical archaeology
- Roman archaeology
- Greek archaeology
- History
- Ancient history
- Roman history
- Ancient Greek history
Source: UCAS course listing, 2027 entry (retrieved September 2026). Always confirm the current requirements with the university.
Assessment Methods
Assessment is varied across the programme and may include: Written examinations across foundational modules; Coursework essays and analytical reports; Group and individual projects with presentations; Practical lab, studio, or fieldwork assessments where relevant; A final-year dissertation or capstone project that lets you specialise in a topic of your choice.
Campus & City Life
Student Population
21,150
Total students
Staff Ratio
14:1
Students per staff
International Students
33%
Of student body
Campus at a Glance
City Size
Small city (50k-199k inhabitants)
Climate (indicative)
Cool temperate
Safety Index (indicative)
7.8/10
Transport
Moderate (coach or indirect connections)
Social Scene
Friendly community | Global / diverse | Academic / intellectual | Professional / career networks
Student Life & City (indicative)
Durham is a historic university city with a compact, walkable centre and a good range of pubs, cafés and cultural venues. The student community is central to city life.
- Durham is a historic university city with a compact, walkable centre and a good range of pubs, cafés and cultural venues.
- The student community is central to city life.
What Students Love
- Historic city & heritage
- Thriving student social scene
- Great café culture
- Parks & green spaces
University Stats
Career & Outcomes
Graduate Employment
81%
Employed after graduation
Avg Starting Salary
£37,130
Average first-year salary
Placement Year
✓ Available
Industry work experience
Career Outcomes Overview (indicative)
History graduates develop research, critical analysis and writing skills valued across journalism, policy, the civil service, publishing, law and education. Many proceed to postgraduate study, law conversion or the civil service fast-stream.
- History graduates develop research, critical analysis and writing skills valued across journalism, policy, the civil service, publishing, law and education.
- Many proceed to postgraduate study, law conversion or the civil service fast-stream.
Top Industries for Graduates
- Finance
- Law
- Consulting
Study Abroad Opportunities
Y
- Y
Costs & Living Expenses
Overall Cost of Living (indicative)
MEDIUM
This location has moderate living costs. Standard student budget recommended.
Estimated Annual Costs
Monthly Student Budget (indicative)
Cost Overview (indicative)
One of the UK's more affordable student cities — a $1,439/month budget (housing $840, food $308, transport $88) covers everything comfortably. Durham is affordable for a collegiate university of its calibre — tight-knit and great value.
- One of the UK's more affordable student cities — a $1,439/month budget (housing $840, food $308, transport $88) covers everything comfortably.
- Durham is affordable for a collegiate university of its calibre — tight-knit and great value.
Contains HESA data (Discover Uni), licensed under CC BY 4.0.