Archaeology and Sociology BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

Most of our humanities subjects can be studied as joint honours as well as single honours. Joint honours programmes give you the opportunity to combine two subjects, which complement your interests or career goals. You will usually concentrate on both subjects equally. It can be possible to transfer between single and joint honours options, usually during your first or second year, and advice will be available from your personal academic tutor.

This joint degree covers:

• Archaeology: exploration of a range of archaeological skills such as fieldwork, surveying and post-excavation, mapped to the current occupational standards for archaeology
• Sociology: the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society

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

Special features

• Opportunity to develop ‘on-the-job’ skills such as surveying, fieldwork and post-excavation
• Our studies are linked to the distinctive cultural heritage of the Highlands and Islands region in a global context
• 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 Science (12 SQA credits) with 3 additional SQA 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

PVG scheme membership may be required in order to take part in optional modules in year three.

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.

Year 1 - CertHE

Core modules are:

• Archaeological theory and method
• Understanding the social world
• Making social lives

You will also choose two archaeology option module, which may include:

• Historic landscapes
• World archaeology
• European prehistories
• Archaeology and the lab (subject to validation)

plus one other option module from across the humanities degrees.
 

Year 2 - DipHE

Core modules are:

• 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
• Sociology theory Or Beliefs, culture and community
• Qualitative research

You will choose two archaeology option modules, which may include:

• Scottish archaeology
• Digital heritages
• Managing archaeology for contemporary society
• Wetland archaeology (subject to validation)

Plus one option module from across the range of humanities degrees.

Year 3 - BA

Core modules are:

• Archaeology and interpretation
• Archaeological sciences
• Advanced social research methods
• Work and society
• Sociology: contemporary Scottish issues

You will choose one archaeology option module, which may include:

• Pre-history of the Highlands and Islands
• Historical archaeology of the Highlands and Islands
• Archaeology project
• Practical environmental archaeology (subject to validation)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in archaeology or literature. You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject plus three option modules from the other subject.

Archaeology option modules may include:

• Sustainability past and present
• Vikings and Norse archaeology in the North Atlantic
• Funerary and burial archaeology
• Maritime archaeology and heritage of Northern Scotland
• Landscape archaeology
• Neolithic Orkney
• The Iron Age of Scotland c800BC-800AD
• Peoples, plants and animals

Sociology option modules may include:

• Insiders and outsiders in society
• Visual research
• Understanding crime
• Network society: mass media and the information age
• Restorative justice

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

 You will be responsible for covering the costs of any travel and accommodation associated in your participation in the field schools.