Archaeology with Professional Placement BA (Hons)

University of Reading

Explore the material remains of past societies – from the first hominins millions of years ago to the modern day – and develop skills in the workplace with our accredited BA Archaeology with Professional Placement degree.**Exciting career opportunities**Archaeology is more than studying the past: it’s a discipline that actively prepares you for the job market. You’ll develop an impressive range of practical and academic skills, whether you want to move into the archaeology or heritage sectors or enter a wide range of other industries and careers.More than 40 major infrastructure projects are planned across the UK over the next 17 years, and archaeologists are required for exploratory excavations and analysis before construction begins. A 2016 report from Historic England found that England's 3,000-person commercial archaeology workforce will need to grow by 25% over the next six years to meet demand.Many graduates use their breadth and depth of expertise across the humanities and sciences to enter careers such as teaching, policing, industry and commerce.**Train as an archaeologist at the University of Reading**- Ranked in the top 10 UK universities for Archaeology (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2021).- Scores consistently between 90-100% for overall student satisfaction (National Student Satisfaction, 2010-2020).- 97% of our research is judged to be of international standing (Research Excellence Framework 2014).- 94% of leavers are in work and/or study 15 months after the end of their course (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2017/18; First Degree responders from Archaeology).Over four years, you’ll learn how to investigate, interpret and present our human past.Archaeology at Reading also allows you to put your learning into practice, through excavations, surveying or GIS (geographic information systems), and make a direct contribution to new subject knowledge.We’ll support you to develop a broad range of subject-specific and transferable skills that span the humanities and sciences. Your learning will encompass:- the investigation of artefacts recovered through excavations and standing monuments- the rise of organised religion through to the Crusades- handling human remains to learn about burial archaeology- examining how ideas of gender are reflected and imposed through the material world- how climate and environmental change has impacted lives past and present- how stories about the past are conveyed through museums and the media.**Placement year**This degree includes an integrated professional placement between your second and final year.Opportunities are available working across the archaeological, heritage, planning and museum sectors including: research institutions, government organisations, local planning authorities, archaeological consultancies, field units, specialists and archivists.Previous placement students have:- processed remains- conducted collections-based research- drawn archaeological finds- helped to design experimental archaeology- investigated records of past climate and environmental change.Current and recent placement settings include:- British Museum- Archaeological science placement at QUEST, the University’s scientific consultancy company- IMAGINE (Study Abroad) placements for castle excavations in Spain.We have a dedicated member of staff who will provide you with advice and support in your search for a placement.**Accreditation**Our BA Archaeology degrees are accredited by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA). Our courses were among the first courses to be recognised for providing key skills relevant to careers in the historic environment.At Reading, you’ll be offered student membership of CIfA, giving you access to their e-learning modules, specialist professional networks and deta