Archaeology and conservation

Our widely-respected practical degrees deliver the training, skills and knowledge to help you make your mark within the heritage sector, plus the employability skills to carve out your career in related fields.

Why study with us

Curious about the human experience across millennia and cultures, we are seeking to better understand our past to illuminate our present and improve our future. We are an inquisitive academic community, passionate about the study of the past and beliefs from prehistoric times to contemporary societies.

After graduation

90% of graduates were in employment and/or further study, due to start a new job or course, or doing other activities such as travelling, 15 months after the end of their course. (Graduate Outcomes survey 2020/21).

Our research

Placed 9th in the UK for research in Archaeology and 5th for research impact (REF 2021).

The test of time

Fresh from celebrating a 100 years of pioneering archaeology and conservation, today our experts continue to share trail-blazing discoveries and latest techniques and thinking.

Courses

Entry year

Archaeology (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Immerse yourself in the study of the remains of past societies, from the tiny objects worn on the body to monumental complexes such as Stonehenge with our BA in Archaeology.

Archaeology (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Placing the study of the human past at the centre of archaeological science enquiry, our degree will provide you with a solid grounding in the theory and application of scientific principles, data and techniques within archaeology, from the scale of

Archaeology and Ancient History (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Explore ancient Mediterranean, European and Near Eastern societies from different perspectives, and understand how past and present are intertwined.

Archaeology and History (BA)

Full time, 3 years

Immerse yourself in the study of the remains of past societies, from the tiny objects worn on the body and monumental complexes to twentieth-century propaganda.

Conservation of Objects in Museums and Archaeology (BSc)

Full time, 3 years

Conservation of Objects in Museums and Archaeology offers students interested in arts, applied science and practical work an opportunity to combine all of these interests within an exciting and challenging degree programme.

Our talks and videos

Studying Archaeology at Cardiff University

Our academics share insight into this fascinating subject, the welcoming community you’ll join, and the kinds of exciting opportunities and wider support you can expect.

Archaeology and conservation at Cardiff University

Hear from academics and students about what it is like to study archaeology and conservation with us.

School of History, Archaeology and Religion at Cardiff University

Find out more about studying at the School of History, Archaeology and Religion.

Archaeology taster lecture

Dr Anna Davies-Barrett, Lecturer in Archaeology, discusses her research in this short talk entitled: 'The path to COVID - how respiratory disease has plagued past people too'.

What our students say

Hear from Thea who studies archaeology with us.

The placements are invaluable - I was lucky to go into the field and a major commercial unit, giving me broad skills for future employment, numerous industry connections, and fantastic friendships.

Katie Faillace BSc Archaeology

Cardiff Archaeology and Conservation facilities are first-rate, with recent investment in new suites and equipment.

Student conservators remove dirt built up over decades from a 25th/26th dynasty Egyptian coffin.

A student carefully micro-excavates an archaeological ceramic vessel that has been lifted in a plaster jacket from an excavation.

Phil Parkes, reader in conservation, demonstrates the use of the scanning electron microscope.

Conservation involves a considerable amount of very fine motor skills such as using magnification to assist in removing corrosion from this coin.

A conservation student uses a heated micro-spatula (on loan from RH Engineering) to re-lay damaged flakes of paint.

Archaeologists at Cardiff are addressing key issues about our past, from the diversity of the Mary Rose in Tudor England to the extraordinary catchment of Stonehenge from across Britain.

Senior Lecturer in Archaeological Science, Dr Richard Madgwick regularly focuses his research on reconstructing human-animal relations.

Archaeology students sampling Norse sheep teeth for isotope analysis in one of our dedicated bioarchaeology laboratories.

A student studying a skeleton excavated by a Cardiff University team from the eroding Glamorgan coastline.

Hands-on experience

Real-world heritage placement, fieldwork or excavation experience

Our degrees offer significant practical experience, using our network for placements in the UK and abroad. This hands-on training gives you the opportunity to stand out from the crowd after graduation.

Study in our purpose-built laboratories

We focus on the development of your practical skills, learning first-hand in our suite of upgraded archaeology and conservation labs. We also use our facilities extensively when working with external partners in the conservation and heritage sectors.

Facilities and location

All facilities Laboratories Specialist facilities Studios

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