Politics and Archaeology BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

The BA (Hons) Politics and Archaeology joint degree focuses on the different political structures and ideologies across the world and how they shape our lives, with exploration of a range of archaeological skills such as: fieldwork, surveying and post-excavation, mapped to the current occupational standards for archaeology.

Joint honours programmes give you the opportunity to combine two subjects which complement your interests or career goals. You will usually concentrate on both subjects equally.

Please see our FAQ sheet for further information on this course.

Special features

• Study politics in a regional, national and international context
• Opportunity to develop ‘on-the-job’ skills such as surveying, fieldwork and post-excavation
• You can study full-time or part-time to suit your personal circumstances
• You can study individual modules for personal or professional development
• It can be possible to transfer between single and joint honours options, usually during your first or second year; advice will be available from your personal academic tutor

Entry requirements

Entry to year one:

• 3 Scottish Highers at grade BBC or above, OR
• 2 A levels at grade BC or above
• At least two should be from the list of relevant academic subjects
• Applicants with other relevant qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis

Advanced entry to year two:

• HNC Social Science (12 SQA credits) with 3 additional SQA credits at level 7, which is equivalent to 120 degree credit points, and at least grade C in the Graded Unit, will be considered for direct entry to year two

PVG scheme membership may be required in order to take part in optional modules in year three.

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following core modules:

Politics

• Introduction to politics OR ideas and ideologies in politics
• The evolving politics of the British Isles

Archaeology

• Archaeological theory and method

You will also choose two archaeology option modules, which may include:

• Historic landscapes
• World archaeology
• European pre-histories
• Archaeology and the lab (subject to validation)

Plus one further option module from our range of humanities degrees.

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

Politics

• History of political ideas
• Scottish politics before and after the independence referendum

Archaeology

• Excavation skills (compulsory); normally taken during Summer or Easter vacation at a site location off-campus. You will be responsible for covering the costs of any travel and subsistence associated with your participation in this two-week module.

You will choose two archaeology option modules, which may include:

• Scottish archaeology
• Digital heritages
• Managing archaeology for contemporary society
• Wetland archaeology (subject to validation)

Plus one further option module from our range of humanities degrees.

Year 3 - BA

You will study the following core modules:

Politics

• Advanced social research methods, plus two from the following:
• Challenging liberal democracy: political ideas in a changing world
• European politics
• Devolution, federalism and territorial politics
• British military history in the 20th Century
• Wars in the promised land
• Political sociology (subject to numbers)

Archaeology

• Archaeology and interpretation
• Archaeological sciences

You will choose one archaeology option module, which may include:

• Pre-history of the Highlands and Islands
• Historical archaeology of the Highlands and Islands
• Archaeology project
• Practical environmental archaeology (subject to validation)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in politics or archaeology.

You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject plus three option modules from the other subject.

Politics modules may include:

• Geopolitics: territory, security, strategy
• Political theory
• Terrorism and unconventional warfare
• Transforming regimes in Eastern Europe

Archaeology modules may include:

• Sustainability past and present
• Vikings and Norse archaeology in the North Atlantic
• Funerary and burial archaeology
• Maritime archaeology and heritage of Northern Scotland
• Landscape archaeology
• Neolithic Orkney
• The Iron Age of Scotland c800BC-800AD
• Peoples, plants and animals

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of the UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status the following fees apply:

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK studying online from their home country, or living in the UK but assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This includes EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK and EEA and Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.