Undergraduate Diploma in Archaeology III

What will I be studying?

This course is taught through three termly units, each with its own topic. The sessions take place at Madingley Hall with practical sessions held in laboratories in the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge. Excavations will be held in the region in and around Cambridge.

Unit 1: The science of the past (Dr Corinne Roughley & Dr Emma Lightfoot)

(4 day-schools: Saturday 7 October, Saturday 28 October, Saturday 18 November, Saturday 9 December 2017)

Through a mixture of practical sessions and accompanying lectures, this unit will introduce students to a wide range of scientific techniques used by archaeologists. There is a particular emphasis on the past environment and human-environment interaction. The course starts with a hands-on introduction to soil and geophysical survey. Students will then have the opportunity to handle plant and animal remains, look at isotopic analysis of human bones, and consider a range of dating techniques. We finish with an opportunity for student presentations and discussion.

Unit 2: Making sense of artefacts (Dr Corinne Roughley & Anne Taylor)

(5 day-schools: Saturday 13 January, Saturday 27 January, Saturday 24 February, Saturday 10 March, Saturday 24 March 2018)

This unit provides hands-on experience of archaeological artefacts including pottery, flint and metalwork and an introduction to organic artefacts. We consider some of the strategies archaeologists have devised to glean information from artefacts, including experimental archaeology, scientific analysis, and insights from the study of contemporary material culture. The unit also introduces students to artefact illustration, conservation and the role of artefacts in museum exhibits.

Unit 3: Practical archaeological excavation and survey (Dr Paul Spoerry, Stephen Macaulay & Aileen Connor)

(3 day-schools: Saturday 14 April, Saturday 19 May, Saturday 7 July 2018)

This unit is designed to enable students to undertake at least two weeks as a volunteer on a practical archaeological excavation, after which they will write a report of 3,000-4,000 words. The fieldwork and post-excavation work will be organised by Oxford Archaeology East. The provisional dates for the excavation are 1 - 17 June 2018, with formal supervision being provided from Monday - Friday each week and optional attendance during the weekend days when other voluntary partners would be present.

What can I go on to do?

If you wish, you can develop your studies in this subject by taking a second Undergraduate Diploma in Archaeology to achieve the Diploma of Higher Education in Archaeology.

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.

Although the course is open-entry, meaning that you can begin your study of Archaeology at Diploma level if you wish, it is recommended that study at Certificate level or its equivalent is undertaken before progressing to the Diploma, especially if you are new to the discipline of Archaeology.

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

This programme does not meet immigration requirements for entry to the UK as a short-term student or under Tier 4. Non-EEA nationals are unlikely to be able to undertake this programme unless they hold a visa in another category which permits study. Further information can be found on our Information for International Students webpage

The fee for the course is £2,000 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 four instalments (credit/debit card only): the first on enrolment, the second by 1 November 2017, the third by 1 February 2018 and the fourth by 1 April 2018.

ICE fees and refund 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 Monday 4 September 2017. Applications for this course can be received until midday (12 noon) on 4 September 2017. 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 (£2,000) or if paying by instalments, the first instalment of fees to secure your place.

This course will require a minimum number of students in order to run. Applicants for this course will be notified by 11 September 2017 if the course is not going to be running at which point students will be offered a refund of the fees they have paid so far (please see our Refund and Cancellation policy).

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