Archaeology BA (Hons)
Course code: V400
Study mode: You study most days of the week and complete all course units /modules in the standard time., You take fewer course units/modules per week compared to full time., You take one or more course unit/module(s) at a time.
Course type: BA (Hons)
International: Available to study on-campus or online
Study at: Argyll; HTC; Inverness; Moray; North, West and Hebrides; Orkney; Perth; Shetland
Start in: September
Learning mode: You attend classes in person at your local campus or learning centre., You access classes and/or materials digitally., You complete a work-based activity to gain industry experience., You will come together with other students for short, intensive periods (e.g., a day, week or longer)., You will learn off campus, including at industry partner locations.
Duration: Full-time: 4 years; Part-time: 8 years; Part-time modular: 13 weeks
How: You attend classes at scheduled times, shown on your timetable., You complete course tasks independently. These may be set by your lecturer or chosen by you.
What is special about this course?
With world-renowned archaeological heritage sites such as Skara Brae, Maeshowe, the Camster Cairns and Mousa Broch, what better place could there be to study archaeology than in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland?
Our BA (Hons) Archaeology* is closely linked to the distinctive cultural heritage of Scotland, but also places all of that within a much broader global context.
The degree will provide you with a detailed understanding of the practice of archaeology. You will also develop your own practical skills in archaeology through hands on experience and archaeological placements.
You will receive research-led teaching from lecturers engaged in world-class research on projects from the Scottish Islands, the UK and Ireland, to the Atlantic region and Polynesia.
There is a strong emphasis on developing archaeological skills in a number of areas including: field archaeology (for example, excavation and survey); environmental archaeology (for example, zooarchaeology, archaeobotany and osteoarchaeology), together with digital archaeology, such as photogrammetry; and archaeological illustration.
Dig in deep to discover more….
Please see our FAQ sheet for further information on this course.
*subject to revalidation
Special features
- A highly practical course focusing on necessary ‘on-the-job’ skills such as surveying, fieldwork and post-excavation practices
- Our studies are linked to the distinctive cultural heritage of Scotland – what learning experience could be richer?
- You can study full-time or part-time to suit your personal circumstances
- You can study individual modules for personal or professional development
Entry requirements
Entry to year one:
- 3 Scottish Highers at grade BBC or above, or
- 2 A levels at grade BC or above
- At least two should be from the list of relevant academic subjects
- Applicants with other relevant qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis
Advanced entry to year two:
- HNC Social Sciences (12 SQA credits) with 3 additional SQA credits at level 7, and at least grade C in the Graded Unit, will be considered for direct entry to year two
Access routes
SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.
- Alternatively, the satisfactory completion of our CPD Award Archaeology and Local Studies (SCQF Level 7)
Useful links and information
For more information on what you’ll study on your degree, as well as our range of other degree options, please explore our Humanities subject area page.
Core modules are:
- Introduction to archaeology: approaches and methods
- Reading the landscape through time
- World archaeology: politics and perspectives
You will also choose a further three option modules which can include other archaeology options, or modules from other humanities or social science degrees.
Core modules are:
- Being an archaeologist in Scotland
- Digital heritage
- Excavation skills (residential): should be taken in semester 2 of year 2, as well as a compulsory field school in the summer, at a site location off-campus
You will also choose a further three option modules which can include other archaeology options, or modules from other humanities or social science degrees.
Core modules are:
- Archaeological project
- Archaeological theory and interpretation
- Understanding archaeological science
You will also choose two archaeology options which may include the following:
- Archaeology placement
- Historical archaeology of the Highlands and Islands
- Practical skills for environmental archaeology
- Prehistory of the Highlands and Islands
You will also choose one further option module from our range of humanities and social science subjects.
Core modules are:
- Dissertation (archaeology)
- Landscape archaeology
- People, plants and animals
- Sustainability past and future
You will also choose one archaeology option module which may include the following:
- Biomolecular archaeology
- Iron Age Scotland c 800 BC – AD 800
- Vikings and Norse archaeology in the North Atlantic
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time
- Part-time modular (standalone modules)
- This course is mainly delivered in-person by Archaeology Institute staff at UHI Orkney, in scheduled sessions and tutorials which can be accessed online
- You will also study online with scheduled sessions and tutorials delivered by other Humanities scheme subjects from across the UHI network. Online study will be done via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
- You will take part in a mandatory online induction in August (you may choose to attend in-person at UHI Orkney)
- There is a mandatory 2-week residential excavation field school in year 2. You may have the opportunity to undertake an optional 2-week residential lab class in year 3 plus an optional 2-week work placement in year 3
- You will also undertake practical fieldwork and project work
- International students requiring a Student Route visa to study in the UK should apply to UHI Orkney and must be based there during their studies
- For more information, or if you have any questions about studying archaeology at UHI, please contact us at: studyarchaeology@uhi.ac.uk
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years @ 48 hours per week
- Part-time: 8 years @ 24 hours per week
- Part-time modular: 13 weeks @ 15 hours per week (per module)
Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.
- Argyll
- HTC
- Inverness
- Moray
- North, West and Hebrides
- Orkney
- Perth
- Shetland
Start date
- September
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Degrees | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £1,820 | £1,820 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £915 | £915 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £305 | £305 |
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term-time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:
| Level | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CertHE | £9,250 | £9,790 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £9,250 | £9,790 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £9,250 | £9,790 |
| Year 4 | Honours | free | free |
4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,542
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Level | 2025-26 Full-time | With scholarship | 2026-27 | With scholarship | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CertHE | £15,870 | £12,870 | £16,820 | £tbc |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £15,870 | £12,870 | £16,820 | £tbc |
| Year 3 | Degree | £15,870 | £12,870 | £16,820 | £tbc |
| Year 4 | Honours | £15,870 | free | £16,820 | free |
Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.
For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
| 2025-26 | 2026-27 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £15,870 | £16,820 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £7,935 | £8,415 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £2,645 | £2,805 |
Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK
Further information on international course fees.
A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland), EU/EEA or Switzerland and international students, without a term-time address in Scotland, ie studying from their home country, the following fees apply:
| 2026-27 | Rest of the UK/EU | International |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time online per year (120 credit modules) | £6,805 | £7,505 |
| Part-time online (per 20 credit module) | £1,135 | £1,251 |
| 2025-26 | Rest of the UK/EU | International |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time online per year (120 credit modules) | £6,420 | £7,080 |
| Part-time online (per 20 credit module) | £1,070 | £1,180 |
Funding
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
Additional costs
This course includes several field trips, including residentials and an optional international field trip module to Iceland. You will be required to pay a contribution towards the cost of the residentials and international trips. The module option for Iceland trip may also require a visa; it will be your responsibility to research and secure your visa to travel to Iceland if necessary.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have completed your BA (Hons) Archaeology degree you might like to consider careers in:
- Archaeological contract units
- Consultancy
- Archives and museums
- Government agencies and local authorities
- Media and politics
- Tourism and heritage management
- Teaching
Can I progress into further study?
For information about further study options, please see our list of Postgraduate progression routes from Humanities degrees.
We also offer a range of postgraduate research degrees: MRes, MPhil and PhD.
I was taught by an enthusiastic and supportive team of specialists who make students feel valued and cared for. I have never experienced such a supportive and welcoming learning environment. I undertook a student placement in Aberdeen to study osteoarchaeology. It was an amazing opportunity for learning and networking that opened up a lot of new doors for me in the coming years.
My favourite things about UHI are its community, its approachability and its heartfelt dedication to students. Orkney is an enchanting place, out of this world. The sea, the ancient landscape, the people are what makes this place unique. The peace and quiet are some of the best things about living on the islands.
Francesca studied the BA (Hons) Archaeology at UHI Orkney.
Apply for Archaeology BA (Hons)
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.