Overview
A foundation year helps you develop the study skills and self-confidence needed for higher education when you don’t reach the entry requirements for your subject.
Discover your past and what it truly means to be human with an Archaeology degree from Canterbury Christ Church University. With its rich heritage, Canterbury is the perfect destination in which to explore your passion for Archaeology.
Choosing an archaeology course taught next to a UNESCO World Heritage Site means you will live amongst a thriving archaeological community. With many of our graduates moving on to work with local heritage organisations such as the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, CCCU is the ideal destination for studying archaeology.
Explore this subject using a varied and cross-disciplinary approach. Our course is both practical and academic and draws upon approaches from the humanities, as well as the natural and social sciences. You will also engage with the wider forensic science, heritage, and environmental conservation sectors, to name just a few.
What’s more, as well as having the option to take up to eight weeks of direct training on-site at The Culver Archaeological Project, you'll also be able to study archaeology abroad, highlighting the many prospects that our degree offers.
Not only will our Archaeology degree open many opportunities upon graduation, but you'll be choosing a degree that has a high student satisfaction rate with 93% of our Archaeology (including Foundation Year) students being satisfied with our teaching (National Student Survey 2023).
We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. This is why we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate. Our 2026 course will reflect this new approach. The 2026 course page will be made live shortly.
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Watch on YouTube93%
of our Archaeology (including Foundation Year) students were satisfied with the teaching on their course.
National Student Survey 2023Entry requirements
64
UCAS Tariff Points
Accepted qualifications
We accept a wide range of general qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff points either on their own or in combination with others. Below are some common examples.
| Qualification | Grades |
|---|---|
| A Levels | DDE |
| BTEC | MPP |
| Access | Pass 45 Credits |
| International Baccalaureate | TBC |
Extra information
We also welcome applications from students with few or no formal Level 3 qualifications who wish to return to education.
You may be asked to attend an interview.
More information
Contact us
Module information
As well as the core modules, you may also have the opportunity to study a number of option modules in your second and third year. Option modules will not be pre-selected for you. We provide examples of option modules. The availability of specific option modules may vary from year to year. The offer of an option will be subject to a minimum number of students choosing the module to ensure the appropriate student experience. The offer of option modules may also be affected by staff availability. It means we cannot guarantee the availability of a particular optional module. However, we will ensure you have a choice of option modules.
Core/optional modules
How you’ll learn
You will learn through a combination of academic and practical activities on and off campus. Some modules are centred around lectures, seminars and workshops (usually held weekly and of two-hour duration), while the majority of practical teaching is in the laboratory and field, where you can spend up to eight weeks learning archaeological techniques.
You will have one-to-one contact time with staff during your studies and for some modules, such as the optional third year dissertation, there will be small group tutorials and individual supervision.
You will typically have around 10 contact hours per week although your contact hours in Years 2 and 3 will depend on the optional modules you select. In addition there is one-to-one contact and day field trips.
When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops or other timetabled sessions you will continue learning through self-guided study. Typically, this involves reading journal articles and books, undertaking research in the library, local museums and heritage sites, working on projects, and preparing for coursework assignments, workshops, and seminars.
Your module tutor will direct you towards specific readings and/or activities to complete before class.
For your dissertation in Year 3, you will undertake independent research alongside workshops and one-to-one supervision from a member of the course team.
Your overall workload typically consists of around 10 contact hours per week during semester time. In addition, you will undertake 13-15 hours of independent learning and assessment activity. In some weeks there will be field trips, and the fieldwork placement typically takes place five days a week (full-time) over the course of a month during the summer.
The team consists of highly qualified academics who have a range of expertise and experience. Our staff are research-active and they have experience in delivering research-informed teaching.
Our team members hold doctoral, teaching and professional qualifications. The majority of staff hold Higher Education Academy professional teaching qualifications and/or membership of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.
Postgraduate students and invited guest lecturers sometimes assist in teaching and assessing some modules. However, our permanent course team deliver the vast majority of teaching.
You should note members of the teaching team might change.
Working in an UNESCO World Heritage Site offers so many opportunities to truly immerse yourself in this dynamic, hands-on subject. I specialise in medieval archaeology and osteoarchaeology and I particularly enjoy teaching across a range of environments both on and off campus, from the newly built laboratories, to the many heritage sites on our doorstep.Dr Ellie WilliamsSubject Lead, Archaeology
How you’ll be assessed
Our modules are assessed through a combination of written coursework assignments (such as essays and reports), practical exercises (such as laboratory reports and assessed work in the field), with less emphasis on exams. Support and guidance for assessments is provided throughout the course.
The balance of assessment depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose.
Your future career
A degree in archaeology provides training in creative and critical thinking, analysis of complex datasets, and research and communication. The study and practice of archaeology also relies on excellent teamwork, management and problem-solving skills. This opens many opportunities for employment and further study both within and outside of Archaeology.
As Kent’s only single-honours archaeology degree, we are the leading provider of archaeological training in the region, and have strong connections with commercial archaeological units and heritage bodies. Our graduates have successfully gained employment in a wide range of professions, including commercial archaeology, local government, museums, education, and wider industry.
Recent graduates work for Wessex Archaeology, Museum of London Archaeology, Canterbury and York Archaeological Trusts, English Heritage, WSP (Land consultancy) and the National Trust. The degree can also lead onto postgraduate study in archaeology or a related discipline such as history, geography, museum studies, or anthropology. Recent graduates have gone on to pursue postgraduate qualifications in specialist fields, including bioarchaeology, forensic osteology, United Nations and diplomatic studies, heritage, archaeological computing, and urban planning.
Since graduating I have started a Master's in Tourism and Events Management. I hope to work within the heritage sector organising community events and outreach activities. The Archaeology Team helped me to discover which career path I wanted to take, and their ongoing support helped me to expand my skill set and knowledge within the archaeological sector. They also provided great pastoral care and ensured I could reach my full potential.BethGraduate
Students on a dig at the Culver Archaeological Project
Fees
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time - Foundation Year 0 | £9,535 | £15,500 |
| Full-time - years 1-3 | £9,535 | £15,500 |
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.
The tuition fees relate to 2025/26 only. Please read the 2025/26 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding tuition fees and year on year fee increases.
Home (UK) Fees
Home (UK) tuition fees for Foundation Years at Canterbury Christ Church University will be set in line with the maximum tuition fee cap for foundation years in classroom-based subjects or non-classroom based subjects, as set by the UK Government.
Home (UK) tuition fees for subsequent years 1-3 are currently set in line with the maximum tuition fee cap for standard undergraduate degrees set by the UK Government.
The Government has announced that it will increase the tuition fee cap by 3.1%, in line with inflation, for the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to parliamentary approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 onwards, our undergraduate home tuition fees for subsequent years of study are expected to be £9,535.
Overseas/International Fees
Undergraduate / PGCE tuition fees for international students are not set by the UK Government.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Our BA Archaeology programme has a pathway accredited by CIfA and UAUK. Accreditation recognises the quality of our teaching and commitment to professional training and graduate skills.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.
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Duration:
4 yearsUCAS code:
V402Location(s):
CanterburyAny questions?
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