Archaeology and Ancient Civilisations

Course Details Have you ever wondered what it was like to live in an ancient civilisation? Are you fascinated by what the civilisations of the past can teach us about the present? This course gives you a good overview of the world of archaeology, but also allows you to focus in particular on the great ancient civilisations of Europe, the Near East and Asia, including Ancient Greece and Rome, Egypt, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Using archaeological techniques and approaches, this course puts the heritage of Greece and Rome under the lens. Drawing on the latest research, it also provides a chance to explore Egypt and North Africa, as well as the lesser-known civilisations of the Near East and South Asia. The course provides an exciting mix of traditional scholarship and field-based skills.

Why Durham University? Combine academic theory with lab and fieldwork and the examination of historic objects when you study in this world-leading Department at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Department of Archaeology is a leading centre for the study of archaeology and one of the top departments in the world. The course offers an optional study abroad element, where you may spend the third year of a four-year course studying at an overseas university. Archaeology at Durham is an exciting and diverse discipline that delves into the past to inform our understanding of the modern world.

Rankings 5th in the QS World University Subject Rankings for Archaeology 2025 3rd in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 5th in the Guardian University Guide 2025 4th in The Complete University Guide 2025

Career Opportunities Our close links with industry specialists coupled with in-house archaeological facilities give you a taste of the industry from the beginning of the course. Transferable skills include problem-solving, metadata analysis and information technology, as well as teamwork, presentation, project planning and management. These skills are valued across many industries. Our graduates work for organisations all over the world, from national and international heritage organisations, museums, environmental agencies, and commercial archaeological services to law and publishing, forensic science, teaching, tourism, and local and national government.