Archaeology and History, BA (Hons)

Discover the depth and diversity of human history through our BA in Archaeology and History at the University of Reading. This programme integrates the analysis of historical contexts—spanning political, social, and cultural dimensions—with hands-on archaeological training. Students explore material artefacts from early hominins millions of years ago, alongside historical records covering the past millennium across regions like Britain, Europe, Africa, America, the Middle East, and South Asia. By examining texts, paintings, photographs, films, and oral sources, you gain a comprehensive view of human experiences, balancing critical source evaluation with physical evidence from archaeological discoveries.The University ranks in the top 100 globally for Archaeology (QS World Rankings by Subject 2023), and 100% of students in Archaeology and BA History praised teaching quality (National Student Survey 2023). Core modules include Revolutions and Transitions, Archaeology Today, Early Empires, Perspectives in History, and Making History, subject to final approval for 2025/26. For more details, visit the programme page.

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2025/26. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change. Core modules for this course: Revolutions and Transitions: The Human Journey from 6 Million Years Ago to the Present Day Archaeology Today: Methods and Practice Early Empires: Mesopotamia, Egypt and Rome Perspectives in History Making History The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of the final approved modules will be available in the summer of 2024. We suggest you regularly revisit our course page during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme. Check our website for more details about the course structure.