Culture, Heritage and Archaeology BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

This joint degree gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in both the cultural and physical identities of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. As well as exploring the fascinating and varied cultural heritage of the region, you will also acquire the practical skills required for archaeological fieldwork, surveying and post-excavation.

Archaeology is closely linked to the distinctive cultural heritage of the Highlands and Islands as well as wider Scotland, and you will develop a wealth of skills in both disciplines through your studies and fieldwork. Your research skills will be refined throughout the course, enhancing your career prospects as well as equipping you for progression to postgraduate study.

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

Special features

• Study the culture, heritage and archaeology of the Highlands and Islands in a global context
• Choose from a range of interdisciplinary subjects to suit your own research interests and career path
• Undertake highly practical modules, allowing you to develop 'on-the-job' skills needed by the modern archaeologist, and fully transferrable across the heritage sector
• Study full-time or part-time to suit your personal circumstances
• Study individual modules for personal and professional development

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 Sciences (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

Access routes

SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.

Year 1 - CertHE

Culture and heritage

You will study two core modules:

• Scotland: the brand OR What is culture? (S1)
• Culture. Heritage. What? OR Scotland's music (S2)

Archaeology

You will study two core modules:

• Archaeological theory and method AND one of the following:
• Historic landscapes
• World archaeology
• European prehistories
• Archaeology and the lab (subject to validation)

You will also choose two option modules from across the university's humanities portfolio.

Year 2 - DipHE

Culture and heritage

You will study one core module:

• Tradition, custom and belief OR Folklore (S1)

PLUS one of the following (S2):

• Golden mead and burning hearts
• Languages on the edge
• Displaying the past: museum studies

Archaeology:

You will study one core module:

• Excavation skills - normally taken during the Summer vacation prior to the commencement of year two, 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

PLUS one of the following:

• Scottish archaeology
• Managing archaeology for contemporary society
• Digital heritage

You will also choose two option modules from across the university's humanities portfolio.

Year 3 - BA

Culture and heritage

You will study one core module:

• Interdisciplinary project (S1) (you can substitute this module for one from the list below if you choose to take the archaeology project option)

PLUS two options which may include:

• Perceptions of heritage (S2)
• Celtic and Celtic revival art in Scotland 600-2000 (S2)
• Scotland in film (S1)
• The Scottish Enlightenment and Highland society (S2)

Archaeology

You will study two core modules:

• Archaeological sciences
• Archaeology and interpretation

Plus one of the following:

• Pre-history of the highlands and islands
• Historical archaeology of the highlands and islands
• Project (archaeology)
• Practical environmental archaeology (subject to validation)

You will also choose one option module from across the range of humanities subjects.

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in culture and heritage or archaeology. You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject, plus three option modules from the other subject.

Culture and heritage

• Scottish tradition in philosophy (S1)
• Faeries and fables: the story of Gaelic literature (S1)
• Highland journeys (S2)
• Vikings and Valkyries (S2)

Archaeology

• Funerary and burial archaeology
• Maritime archaeology and heritage of Northern Scotland
• Iron Age of Scotland c. 800 BC - 800 AD  
• Vikings and Norse archaeology in the North Atlantic
• Landscape archaeology
• Neolithic Orkney
• Sustainability past and present

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.