Teaching
You will usually have 6 to 8 lectures and one or two small-group supervisions each week. You may also have language classes, seminars and/or practicals.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed each year through written exams and coursework.
Some papers include assessed practicals or fieldwork.
Most students write a 10,000 word dissertation in their third year.
You won't usually be able to resit any of your exams.
Year 1 (Part I)
You study 3 papers from several core archaeology, language and biological anthropology options. Some of these may be compulsory.
Your fourth paper can be another core subject paper, or you can choose a psychology, social anthropology, politics and international relations or sociology option.
Years 2 and 3 (Parts II)
You can study one of 4 subjects. Or you can combine them to study either Archaeology and Biological Anthropology or Assyriology and Egyptology.
Subject 1: Archaeology
In year 2 you take 4 papers:
- theory and practice in archaeology
- data analysis
- archaeology of a particular period or region
- the fourth paper is either another period or region option, a biological anthropology paper or a paper chosen from another course such as Classics or Human, Social, and Political Sciences
You go on a 4-week study tour and/or fieldwork, before starting your third year.
In year 3 you write a dissertation and study advanced archaeological thought and archaeology in the wider world.
You also study additional options from within this track or from another course, such as Classics or Human, Social, and Political Sciences.
Subject 2: Assyriology
In year 2 you take 4 papers:
- Akkadian language
- Mesopotamian archaeology
- another paper on Mesopotamia
- Sumerian language, when offered, or a paper chosen from another course like Classics or Human, Social, and Political Sciences
You go on a 4-week study tour and/or do fieldwork, before starting your third year.
In year 3 you take 4 papers:
- Akkadian language
- Mesopotamian archaeology
- another paper on Mesopotamia or Sumerian language (when offered) or another paper in Archaeology or from another course like Classics or Human, Social, and Political Sciences
- the fourth paper is usually your dissertation
Subject 3: Egyptology
In year 2 you take 4 papers:
- a paper in Egyptian language
- 2 papers on society, religion and death in Ancient Egypt
- another paper in Archaeology or from another course like Classics or Human, Social, and Political Science
You go on a 4-week study tour and/or fieldwork, before starting your third year.
In year 3 you take 3 papers:
- Egyptian language
- Egyptian archaeology
- either Egyptian language or Egyptian archaeology
You will also write a dissertation.
Subject 4: Biological Anthropology
In year 2 you take a paper on data analysis and interpretation, plus 2 or 3 Biological Anthropology papers. You’ll study core topics like:
In year 3 you take specialist papers, remaining core papers in Biological Anthropology, and write a dissertation.
You also take further papers chosen from a range of areas, including:
- archaeology
- Psychological and Behavioural Sciences
For further information about this course and the papers you can take see the Department of Archaeology website.
Changing course
It’s really important to think carefully about which course you want to study before you apply.
In rare cases, it may be possible to change course once you’ve joined the University. You will usually have to get agreement from your College and the relevant departments. It’s not guaranteed that your course change will be approved.
You might also have to:
- take part in an interview
- complete an admissions test
- produce some written work
- achieve a particular grade in your current studies
- do some catch-up work
- start your new course from the beginning
For more information visit the Department website.
You can also apply to change to:
You can't apply to this course until you're at Cambridge. You would usually apply when you have completed 1 year or more of your original Cambridge course.
You should contact your College’s Admissions Office if you’re thinking of changing your course. They will be able to give you advice and explain how changing courses works.
