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.
The weekly essays might be stressful but by the end of the year you will come across numerous subjects. I believe that you learn not only how to work better but also how to conduct a good research. The tutor or supervisor is always a helping hand and this personal contact with them was a new experience for me.
Apart from the lectures, weekly seminars are organized, open to all students, usually by PhD students, on any subject of your interest (from Roman Archaeology to a Barbarian Seminar or a Linear B seminar). the community is great, very helpful, and all the libraries very well equipped.
the only disadvantage is the lack of postgraduate lectures. Master students (apart from their personal tutorials) attend the quite simplified lectures of the undergraduates. Apart from that, their “progress” is almost exclusively based on their personal studying.
For someone who can handle stress, the overall result is surely beneficial.