Geography and Archaeology BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

Geography is the study of the Earth and the link between physical and human landscapes. It explores the inter-relationships between people, place and the environment and how these vary across and between places. Archaeology is the study of our past and the remains that humanity has left behind. Our BA (Hons) Geography and Archaeology considers both the present and the past from a humanities and social science perspective, focusing on issues including patterns of land use, planning and development, sustainability and globalisation, and heritage and tourism, in order to examine human relationships with the environment both today and in the past. 

A degree in geography and archaeology provides you with the knowledge and skills to understand many aspects of our rapidly changing world, equipping you to tackle real-world problems in a range of organisations and sectors, with the wide curriculum developing both specialist and transferable skills. 

Geography and archaeology graduates are among the most employable, with skills developed in presenting ideas in reports and oral presentations, in data collection and analysis, and in the use of specialist mapping and statistical software.  

The knowledge and skills taught in this course are of relevance to many areas of employment, including: renewable energy; energy efficiency; cultural heritage management; travel and tourism; rural and community development; agriculture; local government; planning; logistics; and environmental agencies. A significant number of graduates also move on to careers in finance, marketing and law, or to further postgraduate study, teaching and research.

Please see our FAQ sheet for further information on this course.

Special features

• Join a course which can be studied from home anywhere in the world, full or part-time to suit your circumstances 
• Delivered by tutors with years of experience of teaching at a distance, offering a high level of support
• Online learning materials available 24/7 via laptops, tablets or mobiles, including reading, videos and podcasts
• Optional archaeological fieldwork, work placement and residential trip in the Scottish Highlands, as well as an optional international field trip to Iceland are available. Although their are additional costs for students attending, these are an ideal opportunity to meet fellow students and staff in a relaxed and natural environment

Entry requirements

• 3 Scottish Highers at grades BBC or above or
• 2 A levels at grades BC or above
• At least 2 should be from the list of required subjects
• Additional qualifications and experiences will be considered on an individual basis

Advanced entry

• HNC Social Science (12 SCQF credits) with 3 additional SCQF credits at level 7, which is equivalent to 120 degree credit points, and at least grade C in the Graded Unit, will be considered for direct entry to year two

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following modules: 

• Archaeological theory and method (S1)
• Introduction to human geography (S2) 
• Overview of energy use (S1) 

You will choose at least one of the following archaeology modules: 

• European prehistories (S1)
• Historic landscapes (S2)
• Science and archaeology (S2)
• World archaeology (S2)

You will also choose two further option modules from archaeology, geography or our range of humanities subjects.

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following Geography modules: 

• Atmosphere, weather and climate (S2)
• Introduction to geographical information systems (GIS) (S2)

You will choose two from the following Archaeology modules:

• Excavation skills (2 week residential field school)
• Digital heritage (S2)
• Managing archaeology for contemporary society (S1)
• Scottish archaeology (S1)
• Wetland archaeology (S2)

You will also choose two further option modules from across the Humanities subject area, which includes our optional international field trip module, 'Sustainable development approaches in an international context'.

Year 3 - BA

You will usually study the following modules: 

• Assessment of the environmental impacts of development (S1) 
• Climate change (S2) PLUS
• Either Advanced social research methods (S1) OR Sustainable tourism and the environment (S2)

You will also choose three of the following archaeology modules: 

• Archaeological project (S2)
• Archaeological science (S1)
• Archaeology and interpretation (S2)
• Archaeology work placement
• Practical environmental archaeology (2 week residential)
• Prehistory of the Highlands and Islands (S1)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a double credit dissertation in either Geography or Archaeology (S1 and S2).  

You will also study at least one module from your chosen dissertation subject, and at least two modules from the other subject, for a total of 6 modules.

Archaeology modules may include:

• Biomolecular archaeology (S1)
• Iron Age Scotland (S1)
• Landscape archaeology (S2)
• Neolithic Scotland (S2)
• People, plants and animals (S2)
• Sustainability past and present (S1)
• Viking and Norse in the North Atlantic (S2)

Geography modules may include:

• Agroecology: regenerative food systems (S2)
• Geo-political development issues (S1)
• Sustainable energy and waste minimisation (S1)

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.

Rest of the UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status the following fees apply:

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK studying online from their home country, or living in the UK but assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This includes EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK and EEA and Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

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

Excavation skills is a compulsory, 2-week, residential field school, normally taken during summer at a site location off-campus. You will be responsible for covering the costs of your travel and subsistence.  There is considerable flexibility with dates and locations.

There are also opportunities to participate in archaeological fieldwork, attend student society residential trips, and take part in an optional international field trip to Iceland. You will be required to pay a contribution towards the cost of these events. Further information is available upon request. Attendance at such face to face events is optional and not essential for completion of the course.