Course description

This course will introduce you to key themes in the study of archaeology and enable you to further your knowledge of the wide chronological and geographical range of the discipline. You will develop your ability to draw upon appropriate archaeological theories, methods, techniques and concepts in order to develop your understanding of the past. 

We have been successfully teaching distance learning courses to students around the world since 1996. This course is based on our extensive experience in developing and teaching archaeology and our world-leading research. Our modules are designed to inspire you and enable you to gain a wider knowledge of your chosen topic. 

We will provide you with an intellectually challenging and stimulating curriculum that draws on the expertise of staff from the School of Archaeology and Ancient History. We have a proven track record of successfully delivering distance learning courses that will help you gain the transferable skills necessary for successful career development or further academic study. As a result, our courses are highly valued by employers, who recognise the key transferable and subject-specific skills gained. 

Throughout your degree there are several opportunities for you to develop and enhance your practical skills through fieldwork and laboratory work. 

What's the difference?

BA/Diploma/Certificate

If you know from the outset that you can’t, or don’t want to, commit to a full BA, you can apply for the Certificate or Diploma only. Similarly, if for any reason, after you have applied, you are unable to complete the full BA course, you can opt to leave at the end of Level 1 with a Certificate or at the end of Level 2 with a Diploma.

Levels and Qualifications

• Level 1 - Certificate (1 year full-time, 2 years part-time)
• Levels 1 and 2 - Diploma (2 years full-time, 4 years part-time)
• Levels 1, 2 and 3 - BA (3 years full-time, 6 years part-time)

If you have studied Archaeology at undergraduate level before, it may be possible for you to transfer the credits from your previous study. For example, if you already hold a Certificate in Archaeology, you may be able to enter the courses at the Level 2/Diploma stage. In order for us to assess your eligibility to transfer credits, we will need to see a transcript of any credits you have achieved to date, showing the title of all modules and the marks/grades awarded.

Taster module

Perhaps you don’t want a formal qualification, but would just like to study archaeology or ancient history for interest? It's possible to study the Level 1 module Aims and Methods in Archaeology without registering for a formal qualification. Successful completion of this taster module will entitle you to a transcript formally recording your achievement and you may be able to count the credits achieved on that module towards further undergraduate study at Leicester or elsewhere at a later date.

Entry requirements

How does distance learning work?

Our courses are designed to work for a global audience of students who often lead busy lives. They are delivered by expert academic staff (the same people who teach our campus based courses!). You work remotely at your own pace. You will be given access to our Virtual Learning Environment where all the materials for whichever module you are currently studying will be accessible as well as a student forum with overarching information about our courses.

Students can start their studies at two different points in the year, either in September or February. They can study part time taking one module at once, or full time studying two modules at a time. You can pause your studies at the end of a module if you need to.

The teaching semester is divided into two halves of 6 weeks. There will be 6 sections of material to work though, then you will pause to complete your first assessment. This is followed by a further 6 sections of material before you complete your final assessment. There are no set times when you need to attend class or complete your study work except for assessment deadlines. This means you can fit your studies around your work and family life in a way that works for you whether that is studying in the evenings, at the weekend, or during the daytime.

Each module has its own space in the Virtual Learning Environment where our staff have designed content to help you learn. This might include recorded lectures, guided readings, exercises to complete, podcasts, discussion boards and optional live sessions: each module is different! These materials will guide you through the module content. Each module has a module co-ordinator who is responsible for the delivery of the module. You will hear from them regularly as they guide you through your learning.  You will also have access to an e-reading list where all the key sources for the module are linked. In addition, you will also have access to our university library, which has masses of digital resources you can access online - but they’ll also post you physical books too. In addition, they are able to provide lots of help and support, from finding resources to improving your academic skills.