Undergraduate Certificate in Archaeology of Ancient Britain

What will I be studying?

Unit 1: Exploring the past: an introduction to archaeology

This unit introduces the essential methods and theories of archaeology. It provides a basis for understanding the development of the subject and the application of its principles to field and laboratory methods. You will learn ways of interpreting and reconstructing the past and discover techniques of dating and building chronologies.

Unit 2: Prehistoric Britain

From megaliths to round houses, this unit provides an overview of later prehistory, and discusses the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. Within each time period, you will learn about daily life and technology; death and burial; ritual, settlement and landscape.

Unit 3: Historic Britain

This unit provides students with key themes and a chronological overview of Romano-British and English society from the Roman Conquest to the "Anglo-Saxon" settlements, and up to the Norman Conquest. The unit focuses on the British Isles, but is firmly situated within a wider European context.

Please note that the units detailed above will not necessarily be run in this order.

What can I go on to do?

If you wish, you can develop your studies in this subject by taking a second Certificate in Archaeology (the Undergraduate Certificate in Archaeology of the Ancient World) and then progress to an Undergraduate Diploma in Archaeology, of which there are three. 

Credit awarded by the Institute may also be transferred into the degree programmes of other higher education providers. However the volume of credit and the curriculum which can be transferred into degree programmes varies from institution to institution and is always at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Entry requirements 

There are no formal academic entry requirements for this course but as it is taught at university level applicants should be able to read, write and speak English fluently.

English language requirement: If English is not your first language, you need to be able to prove you meet the University of Cambridge English language requirements on application. Please refer to our English language requirements pages for further information. 

Technical requirements 

For the 2022-2023 Academic Year this course is being taught remotely. This means there will be no face-to-face teaching and you will not need to be present in person in Cambridge, although there is an expectation that you will attend synchronous teaching sessions. The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through the use of video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). 

You will therefore need to have access to: 

• the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device.  
• speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material 
• a webcam and microphone for any interactive sessions which may be available 

Once you are logged into the VLE you can familiarise yourself with the learning environment. There is also guidance about how to access course materials and activities.  

The tuition fee for the course is £2,500.

You can pay in two ways:

• in full on enrolment by credit or debit card 
• in three equal instalments by credit or debit card: the first on enrolment, the second on 1 January and the third and final instalment on 1 April. The exact dates will be confirmed in the student’s individual booking details.

Please note, your place on the course is not secured until payment is received by the Institute of Continuing Education accompanied by any necessary documentation, i.e. proof of English language proficiency.

ICE Cancellations and Refunds policy 

Information on sources of funding, bursaries and Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) 

This course will require a minimum number of students in order to run. Applicants for this course will be notified one week after the application deadline if the course is not going to be running at which point students will be offered to transfer their application to another course or receive a refund of the fees they have paid so far (please see our ICE Cancellations and Refunds policy). 

Applying

Please apply via the link at the top of this page. Your application will be assessed and you will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay. Please note that places are limited and on a first-come first-served basis.

Closing date for applications

Applications for this course can be received until midday (12 noon) on Monday 5 September 2022. If you are offered a place on the course, we will ask you to complete your booking within a limited time and to pay the fees or if paying fees by instalments, the first instalment of fees to secure your place.

If you would like an informal discussion on academic matters before making your application, please contact the Course Director, Dr Gilly Carr: gcc20@cam.ac.uk