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 - flexible • Short courses
How do archaeologists recognise and interpret the lives of past peoples and their societies? An introduction to the methods and techniques of archaeological enquiry, from initial site survey and excavation to scientific analysis.
- Mon 19 Jun 2023 – 01 Sep 2023
Online - flexible • Short courses
Civilization was born over 5,000 years ago on the fertile plains of southern Mesopotamia. Using archaeology and textual sources, this course will build a picture of the Sumerian civilization, one that lies at the root of our own world.
- Mon 19 Jun 2023 – 01 Sep 2023
Online - flexible • Short courses
Ravagers, despoilers, pagans, the Vikings are often regarded as bloodthirsty pirates. Yet they were also traders, settlers and farmers with a thriving artistic culture and legal systems. Using archaeology we examine the varied aspects of the Viking world
- Mon 19 Jun 2023 – 01 Sep 2023
Online - flexible • Short courses
What are Greek myths? Who told them and why? How can we interpret them? Why are they still so powerful? How much history do they contain? This course will explore these fascinating tales from the past and attempt to make sense of them.
- Mon 11 Sep 2023 – 24 Nov 2023
Online - flexible • Short courses
An introduction to various aspects of the intriguing history, vibrant culture and fascinating personalities of Ancient Rome and its enemies during its decline and fall (or transformation) in the last two centuries of the Empire in the West.
- Mon 11 Sep 2023 – 24 Nov 2023
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.