Overview
Archaeology and anthropology together encompass the study of humankind from the origins of the human species to the present day. Both disciplines have a long history: archaeology grew from 18th-century antiquarianism, while anthropology began even earlier in the first days of colonial encounter. Today both subjects involve a range of sophisticated approaches shared with the arts, social sciences and physical sciences.
Structure
A typical week
Your timetable will be divided into lectures, tutorials and practical classes (on topics such as dating, isotope analysis, and the analysis of plant, animal and human remains, as well as artefacts). In the first year you will spend around six hours a week in lectures, which focus on the course’s core papers. In Years 2 and 3 lectures for core and optional papers take up around ten hours a week. Throughout the course, there are one or two tutorials a week, normally taught in a pair (typically a total of twelve in each term).
Tutorials are usually two students and a tutor, but may include up to three students depending on circumstances. Lectures will include the whole year group of around 25 students, although they are sometimes shared with Human Sciences students and are therefore larger. Lecture sizes for optional courses are normally smaller and could be as low as 3-6 students.
Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by staff who are tutors in their subject. Many are world-leading experts with years of experience in teaching and research. Some teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students who are usually studying at doctorate level.
To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit our Academic Year page.
Admission Requirements
Academic requirements
A-levels: AAA
Advanced Highers:AA/AAB
IB:38 (including core points) with 666 at HL
Or any other equivalent (see other UK qualifications, and international qualifications)
Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved. (See further information on how we use contextual data.)
Careers
Careers
Archaeology and Anthropology opens up a wide range of career opportunities, in part because the degree offers a unique perspective on how human societies operate and develop and on how people interact with each other. This is also due to the intellectually demanding requirements of an Oxford degree, and to the combination of independent study and tutorial teaching. Graduates of this course have found opportunities in heritage management, international development, education, the law, the media and the Civil Service among other careers.
Fees and Funding
Fees
These annual fees are for full-time students who begin this undergraduate course here in 2020.
Fee status
Annual Course fees
Home/EU£9,250
Islands
(Channel Islands & Isle of Man)£9,250
Overseas£27,285