Structure
Our undergraduate degrees typically take four years, allowing you the chance to study a wide range of topics or hone your knowledge of a particular subject.
The Roman town of Volubilis in Morocco, founded in the 3rd century BC.
Within the School of History, Classics and Archaeology the range of courses is particularly large, covering almost every facet of the three subject areas.
In your third and fourth years you will be expected to specialise more and choose a dissertation topic; you can usually take further optional courses both within and sometimes outside your subject area.
Years
A typical degree programme is split into pre-Honours (years 1 and 2) and Honours (years 3 and 4). In each year you normally complete 120 credits of courses. A single-semester course usually counts as 20 credits and full-year courses as 40 credits.
Pre-Honours (years 1 and 2)
Although each degree varies, most have some core or recommended courses in the first two years; in pre-Honours you can also choose from a wide range of optional courses from across the University. Progression to study in Honours is usually dependent on grades in these years.
Honours (years 3 and 4)
In your Honours years you take courses focusing on your area of specialisation, although there is still the option to take further outside courses on many programmes. In a combined degree you will choose which subject area you want to specialise in. Your final year of study usually includes a dissertation worth 40 credits; the topic is chosen in consultation with your Director of Studies.
Example degree structure
| Year 1 | History course | Archaeology course | Optional courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | History course | Archaeology course | Optional courses |
| History single honours | Further optional courses | |
| OR | ||
| Years 3 and 4 | Archaeology single honours | |
| OR | ||
| History & Archaeology combined honours |
Semesters
The University uses the semester system, with the first semester running from approximately mid-September to mid-December and the second running from January to May.
Assessment
You will be assessed using a mixture of in-course assessments (such as essays, presentations, group work or sometimes more innovative assessment types) and then by end of year exams.
Teaching and Learning
Lessons will be a mixture of lectures, seminars, small-group tutorials, and in some cases laboratories and field trips.
This article was published on Oct 19, 2011