Who is this course for?
- People who have already have a Certificate in Archaeology or have prior study in the field of archaeology or heritage;
- People with an interest in the archaeology and heritage of modern conflict;
- People who are considering a career move;
- Practitioners in these fields who wish to upskill.
What will I be studying?
The Diploma is divided into three termly units taught via remote delivery. Students are expected to attend all of the scheduled teaching sessions.
Unit 1: Conflict Archaeology
This unit offers students the opportunity to specialise within the new field of the archaeology of 20th century conflict, which examines a range of archaeological case studies ranging from the trenches of the First World War to POW camps.
Unit 2: Dark Heritage
This unit allows students to develop and combine knowledge gained during the past unit to think about how heritage practitioners and archaeologists tackle that most difficult of resources: our dark heritage associated with death and disaster. This course will also consider the management of the heritage of the Holocaust, a resource currently under threat throughout Europe.
Unit 3: Heritage Studies
This unit introduces students to the world of the heritage professional, focusing on the presentation of the past to the public. Heritage is about the past in the present—what survives, what is valued, and what is selected to be preserved. This unit explores how heritage is a contested domain in flux, with many ‘stakeholders’, layers of meaning, and uses. A range of heritage issues and case studies are examined, such as commodification, repatriation, illicit antiquities, and decolonisation.
What can I go on to do?
The Institute offers three 60 credit complementary one year Diploma courses in Archaeology which are taught and awarded at second year undergraduate level (FHEQ 5). The Diplomas can be studied independently of each other, and in any order.
Undergraduate Diploma in Archaeology: Death and the Ancient World
This Diploma course will give you an advanced and in-depth knowledge of a key prehistoric and historic period in the archaeology of the ancient world. This is taught through the lens of the study of bones, ancient diseases, daily life and death, so vital in the interpretation of prehistoric and historic periods.
Undergraduate Diploma in Archaeology: Methods and Practice
This Diploma course offers tuition in an online format of the practical skills of an archaeologist, enabling you to develop specialist skills, and preparing you to practise in the field. It combines this with online analysis and interpretation of artefacts, and the study of the scientific methods used by the archaeological community.
Please see part-time qualifications in Archaeology for more information about the various courses.
Students who have successfully completed two 60 credit FHEQ level 5 undergraduate Diplomas in Archaeology can apply to be awarded the Undergraduate Diploma of Higher Education in Archaeology (120 credits at FHEQ level 5).
Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice
Students who have successfully completed an Undergraduate Diploma in Archaeology course might be interested in progressing their studies further and apply to join the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice (60 credits at FHEQ level 6) which will offer an Archaeology strand. Students on this course will have the opportunity to work closely and collaboratively with qualified researchers in their field and will be introduced to a research community where they will begin to forge an identity as a researcher in their own right.
Credit awarded by the Institute can also be transferred into the degree programmes of other higher education providers. However, the amount of credit which can be transferred into degree programmes varies from institution to institution and is always at the discretion of the receiving institution.
Do I choose Certificate or Diploma level?
The Certificate and Diploma courses have been designed to provide a progression path for your studies. The Diploma level course is suitable for those who have successfully completed the Certificate course or who have comparable knowledge and experience at FHEQ level 4 or equivalent.
If you are still unsure which academic level to study please contact the Academic Director for Archaeology, Dr Gilly Carr (gcc20@cam.ac.uk).
