COURSE CURRICULUM

The Archaeology BSc at Leicester provides a comprehensive exploration of human history from the origins of the species to the 20th century, combining theoretical study with extensive practical experience. In the first year, students develop an understanding of archaeological aims and methods while participating in a range of practical skills training, including local fieldschools at sites such as Bradgate Park, featuring Mesolithic settlements, the Tudor mansion of Lady Jane Grey, and the Iron Age hillfort at Burrough Hill. Core modules cover topics including world archaeology, practical methods, archaeological evidence, critical thinking, and heritage debates. In the second year, students advance their skills through core modules in fieldwork, professional archaeological practice, and archaeological theory, gaining exposure to the commercial sector from project initiation to publication. Five option modules allow students to specialise in particular periods or techniques, and students complete fieldwork on a Leicester project or an approved project elsewhere. The final year focuses on dissertation research, advanced fieldwork, and professional practice, with the opportunity to select laboratory-based modules such as zooarchaeology, human skeletal analysis, and archaeological materials, or to study specific historical contexts like Imperial Rome or colonial archaeology. Graduates leave with strong practical and theoretical expertise, ready for careers in archaeology, heritage management, or further research.