Archaeology
Explore your curiosity
Archaeology, ancient history and anthropology encompass the study of humanity from our origins to the present. The Department has a strong offering of part-time learning opportunities in these subjects, offering students the chance for progression from a short course through to a part-time graduate degree programme.
Short courses for adult learners
Explore a new topic or revisit a favourite subject over the course of a few days, a few weeks or a term. Our short courses run in person or online, with some offered in both formats – so you can choose the study option best for you.
Many of our short courses, including flexible online courses, weekly classes (both in Oxford and online) and some summer schools, can be studied for credit, which means they can count towards a recognised qualification such as our Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education.
Oxford qualifications and professional development
Upcoming courses
Online - live • Short courses • Hybrid - in person or online
Recent archaeological work ahead of development in/around Wallingford is producing abundant results. We will review new evidence for the prehistoric and Roman landscape and settlement of the area, and for the Saxon and medieval town. Hybrid day school.
- Sat 11 Feb 2023
- 9:30am – 4:45pm
Online - live • Short courses • Professional development • Hybrid - in person or online
Developed by the NERC Radiocarbon Facility, this course is aimed at researchers using radiocarbon and other techniques, including Quaternary geologists, palaeobiologists, archaeologists and marine geoscientists. Join us in Oxford or attend online.
- Mon 13 Mar 2023 – 15 Mar 2023
- 3 meetings
- 08:30 Monday - 17:00 Wednesday
Online - live • Short courses • Hybrid - in person or online
The Wessex Ridgeway is often called Europe's oldest road. But is this so? Examine early trackways, the Ridgeway's place in its ancient downland landscape and its contentious role as one of Britain's finest long-distance paths. Join us online or in Oxford.
- Sat 18 Mar 2023
- 9:15am – 5:15pm
In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Professional development
Discover the latest developments in scientific applications in archaeology. Aimed at all archaeologists and historic environment professionals responsible for commissioning, specifying and/or delivering archaeological work programmes.
- Fri 24 Mar 2023
- 1 meetings
- 08:45 - 16:30
In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Professional development
This course aims to give participants an understanding of traditional construction and its defects, and to provide the skills to carry out balanced and informed surveys of historic buildings.
- Wed 29 Mar 2023 – 31 Mar 2023
- 3 meetings
- 9.00am Weds - 5.00pm Fri
Award courses and related programmes
Courses and workshops in the historic environment
Expert tuition for those with a keen interest, professional or personal, in archaeology and historic buildings.Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education
A flexible, part-time route to an Oxford University qualification. Gain credit from flexible short online courses, weekly classes, and the Oxford University Summer School for Adults. Explore a wide range of subjects in this multidisciplinary programme.Undergraduate Certificate in Archaeology
An introductory part-time undergraduate course for adults with little or no previous experience of academic archaeology. Taught at first-year undergraduate level, this two-year course introduces ideas, approaches, sites and methods.Undergraduate Diploma in British Archaeology
Gain a grounding in British archaeology with this two-year part-time undergraduate course, taught at second-year university level. Modules available: Early Prehistoric; Later Prehistoric and Roman; and Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Medieval.Advanced Diploma in British Archaeology
This one-year part-time advanced diploma consists of a taught module on one of three periods of British archaeology and includes a 10,000-word dissertation. The course is taught at third-year undergraduate level.MSc in Applied Landscape Archaeology
The MSc in Applied Landscape Archaeology is a part-time modular course over two years.DPhil in Archaeology
The part-time DPhil programme was first offered in Archaeology in 2003 with several successful DPhil completions now having taken place.