Even though it is not a common degree, archaeology has started to become more and more popular amongst students from all over the world.
Archaeology degrees are designed to give students a wider perspective about human society throughout time, whether we talk about culture, history, or ways of life in the past.
Undoubtedly, Archaeology is a challenging degree, due to the fact that it is based on cross-disciplinary research. Thus, any student will develop various skills such as surveying, data analysis and textual criticism.
The advantage of an Archaeology course is that you are highly employable for this industry. This field, as compared to others, does not have enough human resources to meet the market’s needs. Consequently, graduates from this degree are the perfect candidates.
Additionally, archaeology graduates are equipped with transferable skills. More precisely, the skills gained during the degree can be applied to a variety of careers. One example can be business and management, an area which emphasises critical thinking, analytical and practical skills, and the ability to work in a team. These are just a few of the competencies gained from an archaeology degree.
Therefore, graduates from this field are highly sought after for their skills which can be applied not only in Archaeology but also in other specialities.
Archaeology courses are three-year commitments, although there are many institutions which now include a fourth year of studies. It can be offered either as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Sciences (BSc) degree.
If you choose Archaeology as part of a BA, it is likely to focus more on humanities. In contrast, a BSc will give you a science-oriented perspective. Regardless of your choice, you should keep in mind that the course is a combination of arts and sciences.
Lastly, every Archaeology course requires fieldwork. Some universities might even offer you the chance to conduct excavations in countries like Egypt or Greece.
Royal Holloway is a great university for those who value a work/life balance, as being a campus university all of your friends are nearby and there’s an equal walk to the library as there is to the Student Union club from your accommodation. There are several societies to join and many social spaces on campus, so there are plenty of opportunities to make friends on campus.
I studied Ancient History in the Classics department which had one of the lowest turnouts with only around thirty people in my year, and this had its advantages and disadvantages.
The best part about having a small course was that it was easier to get to know my course-mates which brought us together into a close-knit group. Also, our professors could connect with us on a more personal level and we were able to receive very detailed and personalised feedback as well as access their office hours without any issue. The quality of teaching was great and my professors were more than happy to provide extra support if needed.
However, being a part of a small department also meant that a few modules were cancelled due to low sign-ups, so many people couldn’t study the modules they wanted to take. Some of the course content may be quite repetitive due to this, as you may end up having to take a similar module as one you have already studied in order to fill up your necessary credits.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Royal Holloway and I would recommend it to anyone.
View moreThe teaching quality this uni has provided has been incredible. The close relationships I have formed with tutors as a result of small classes has massively helped with my degree. The tutors always have had time for me and made sure I felt confident in my ability for learning.
The amount of content covered as well has surpassed expectations and I feel I have learnt about a wide range of things that I would be able to take into different workplaces.