Gain an in-depth understanding of the societies and people of the past. You will have the opportunity to explore ancient Greece and Rome, join an archaeological dig and study abroad. Learn about the ancient Greek and Roman worlds from 2000BC to around 600AD and discover them in their political, literary, social, culture and religious contexts. Address important modern questions and trace them back to their roots, exploring different periods of ancient history through both literary and material sources. Enhance your knowledge of the ancient world through optional Latin and Greek language modules, or deepen your understanding through hands-on experience with artefacts from the Ure Museum. You can also discover ancient Egyptian and Anatolian civilisation, work on digital reconstructions and design your own assignments and projects. Start from the earliest humans up until the medieval period; we focus mainly on British, European and Near Eastern Archaeology but explore other regions across the world. You will learn about burial archaeology, material culture, bioarchaeology (including human remains), forensics, past environments (including geoarchaeology), museums and gender archaeology. The Department of Archaeology is ranked in the top 30 worldwide, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2017. We have an outstanding track record for student satisfaction, with scores of 90%–100% for the quality of our courses in every National Student Survey between 2010 and 2017. Core modules provide you with a solid historical and archaeological grounding. Optional modules allow you to explore the different periods, cultures and countries that interest you. Study abroad for a term at a partner universities in your second year, getting to know a new academic and cultural environment. You can also apply to study at the British School at Athens and the British School at Rome, which both offer summer school opportunities. Placements are an excellent way to enhance your work-related skills and develop a network of contacts, as well as strengthen your employability prospects. 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. History teaching staff also have links to specific areas of interest such as Cliveden, Historic England, Reading Museum, Reading Borough Libraries and the Museum of Rural English Life (MERL). Alternatively you can choose a placement in a non-related business or industry, exploring different career options and enhancing your employability by drawing on the many non-vocational, transferable skills you obtain from an Ancient History and Archaeology degree. Our Department has a dedicated member of staff in charge of placements, who can provide you with advice and support. Opt to undertake a standard three-year degree course and you will have the opportunity to take a fully-credited placement, or to spend a single term at one of our partner Universities abroad. Current options include the Universities of Malta, Aarhus (Denmark), Torún (Poland) and the University of Florida in Gainesville (U.S.A.). **Careers** A degree in Ancient History and Archaeology is an ideal foundation to begin your career in commercial archaeology, planning, heritage management and research, as well as disciplines such as teaching, business, publishing and marketing. Our curriculum is designed to provide the qualities that employers really care about – qualities that are transferable to a wide range of careers – as well as knowledge in subjects you are passionate about. Previous graduates are represented among the staff of major employers including Oxford Archaeology, Wessex Archaeology, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Sotheby’s. Each year a number of graduates pursue higher study following graduation.