Undergraduate Diploma in Archaeology I

Please note that there are three complementary pathways at Diploma level. These can be studied independently of each other, and in any order. Diploma II includes units on osteoarchaeology and palaeopathology, prehistoric archaeology, and historic or classical archaeology. Diploma III offers a practical, hands-on qualification, enabling you to develop specialist skills as an archaeologist, preparing you to practise in the field.

What will I be studying?

The course is taught through three termly units, each with its own topic. The evening sessions take place on Wednesdays 7.15pm - 9.15pm. There are also some Saturday practical sessions and fieldtrips throughout the course.

Unit 1: Osteoarchaeology and palaeopathology
Dr Corinne Duhig

Wednesday evenings from 5 October to 14 December 2016

This unit will cover the theoretical and practical aspects of osteoarchaeology. Students will learn how to record human bones and produce an anthropological profile for an osteology report. These sessions are interleaved with lectures and discussions setting the specialism in context: its integration into field and research archaeology and funerary studies and the ethical aspects of working with human remains.

Unit 2: The archaeology of Latin America: Aztecs and Inkas
Dr Nicholas James

Wednesday evenings from 11 January to 5 April 2017

This unit will introduce students to the archaeology of the Aztec (AD 1250-1522) and Inka (AD 1400-1536) cultures of Mexico and Peru. We will discuss the cultural history of these groups including the rise to empire, temples and trade, sacrifice and spirituality, the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores, and the biological impact of conquest.

Unit 3: Neolithic Britain: Megaliths and Mobility
Dr Corinne Roughley

Wednesday evenings from 26 April to 5 July 2017

Was Neolithic Britain a land of settled farmers or a landscape of monuments with communities which moved around the landscape? Using evidence from recent research, including in the Stonehenge landscape and Orkney, this Unit explores the concepts of monumentality and mobility, examining interpretations of prehistoric monuments and the importance of migration in the Neolithic.

What can I go on to do?

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.

This course is designed for students who have completed the Certificate in Archaeology or who have appropriate knowledge, experience and enthusiasm in this field.

Please be aware that the course is taught at university level and you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently. If English is not your first language, you will need to send us evidence of your competence in the English language when you apply for a place.

ICE English language requirements

The fee for the course is £1,900 and you can pay in one of two ways:

• in full on enrolment (by cheque payable to the University of Cambridge or by credit or debit card)
• in three instalments (credit/debit card only): the first on enrolment, the second by 1 November 2016 and the third by 1 February 2017.

ICE fees and refunds policy

Please note that students are normally responsible for their own travelling costs to the venue for fieldtrips and for any venue entry fees.

Online application is recommended and you will find the link to the online application form at the top of this page.

The closing date for receipt of all applications is 5 September 2016. Applications for this course can be received until midday (12 noon) on 5 September 2016. 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 (£1,900) or if paying by instalments, the first instalment of fees to secure your place.