Overview

Understanding how societies preserve, interpret and communicate their past is central to the heritage sector, a field balancing historical value with real legal and ethical responsibility. The BA (Hons) Heritage and Archaeology at the University of York explores what heritage means and why it matters, giving students access to specialist facilities including the new Wolfson Digital Archaeology and Heritage Laboratory. Students gain practical experience through a heritage field school on a live site in York, alongside modules covering museum studies, historic buildings and digital heritage interpretation. The course suits students drawn to the heritage sector specifically, combining archaeological grounding with a strong focus on public engagement, policy and practice.

​

What You'll Learn

• Human history from prehistory to the present, alongside artefacts, materials and archaeological theory

• Core principles and practices shaping the modern heritage sector

• Hands-on heritage skills through a field school based on a live site in York

• Specialist practical skills such as building history, museum illustration, or computational archaeology

• Option modules exploring heritage issues, world archaeology and interpretation

• The legal, ethical and political frameworks that shape heritage protection and policy

• Case study analysis, developing action plans to address real heritage sector challenges

• An independent 8,000-word dissertation on a topic of your own choosing

​

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to critically engage with current debates in archaeology and heritage, drawing on evidence from multiple periods of human history and locations across the world. They will be equipped to design, execute and evaluate heritage and archaeological research projects, applying key theoretical, legal and professional principles within an international context. Through fieldwork and case study analysis, students will develop strong skills in generating, documenting and interpreting heritage data, while building awareness of the ethical issues shaping the sector. Graduates will leave with a CIfA-accredited qualification and the confidence to communicate complex ideas to public and professional audiences, well prepared for careers spanning museums, heritage organisations, local government and beyond.