Students on thisÊArchaeologyÊcourse offered by Durham UniversityÊlearn through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes, fieldwork, excavation, informal but scheduled one-on-one support, and self-directed learning, such as research, reading, and writing.

All of these are supported by a state-of-the-art virtual learning environment, Durham University Online (DUO). Seminars, tutorials, and practical classes are much smaller groups than lectures, with tutorials often involving no more than eight students working with a professor or lecturer; seminars and practicals can be larger but are still small enough to allow one-on-one interaction with tutors.

Practicals also allow hands-on experience of the work professional archaeologists perform. The same is true of fieldwork, which at Durham is fully funded, and consists of engaging in archaeological work in the field with members of academic staff.

Career Opportunities

A degree in archaeology will provide you with skills in teamwork, practical and intellectual problem solving and critical analysis of evidence, in addition to providing you with enhanced knowledge on specific aspects of the human past and present.

Durham University as a whole was recently ranked top 25 in the world by employers for the quality of its graduates. Our students are always in high demand in the professional sector, with many gaining employment not only in archaeology-related fields, such as conservation, heritage, museums and commercial labs and units, but also in education, business, finance and defence.

Specific Archaeology Employment: Commercial field units & consultancies; Museums & Heritage Management; Local Government; Academic sphere; National Heritage bodies (e.g. Inspectors of Ancient Monuments, field workers, Climate Change Managers); The National Trust, Churches Conservation Trust, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings; National Finds Advisors, Portable Antiquities Scheme; Durham University.

Beyond Archaeology: The City; Business Management & Administration; Education (all levels, many subjects); Marketing and Advertising; Small and Medium Enterprises; Armed Forces; International charities; Conservation; Ecological and Environmental spheres (e.g. environmental impact assessments); Forensics (inc. International War Crime investigation); Publishing and journalism; Media production and research; Law.

Employers have included: Deloitte, Boots, E.ON, PwC, Ernst and Young, KPMG, Citi Group, Accenture, Fortnum & Mason, Smith & Williamson, Kuoni Travel, The UK Government, HM Treasury, the British Army, Survival International and Dig Deep (Africa), English Heritage, Historic Scotland, CADW, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum and York Archaeological Trust.