Politics and Archaeology BA (Hons)

Course code L3PA

What is special about this course?

The BA (Hons) Politics and Archaeology joint degree focuses on the different political structures and ideologies across the world and how they shape our lives, with exploration of a range of archaeological skills such as: fieldwork, surveying and post-excavation, mapped to the current occupational standards for archaeology.

Joint honours programmes give you the opportunity to combine two subjects which complement your interests or career goals. You will usually concentrate on both subjects equally.

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

Special features

  • Study politics in a regional, national and international context
  • Opportunity to develop ‘on-the-job’ skills such as surveying, fieldwork and post-excavation
  • You can study full-time or part-time to suit your personal circumstances
  • You can study individual modules for personal or professional development
  • It can be possible to transfer between single and joint honours options, usually during your first or second year; advice will be available from your personal academic tutor

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 Science (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

PVG scheme membership may be required in order to take part in optional modules in year three.

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following core modules:

Politics

  • Introduction to politics OR ideas and ideologies in politics
  • The evolving politics of the British Isles

Archaeology

  • Archaeological theory and method

You will also choose two archaeology option modules, which may include:

  • Historic landscapes
  • World archaeology
  • European pre-histories
  • Archaeology and the lab (subject to validation)

Plus one further option module from our range of humanities degrees.

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

Politics

  • History of political ideas
  • Scottish politics before and after the independence referendum

Archaeology

  • Excavation skills (compulsory); normally taken during Summer or Easter vacation 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.

You will choose two archaeology option modules, which may include:

  • Scottish archaeology
  • Digital heritages
  • Managing archaeology for contemporary society
  • Wetland archaeology (subject to validation)

Plus one further option module from our range of humanities degrees.

Year 3 - BA

You will study the following core modules:

Politics

  • Advanced social research methods, plus two from the following:
  • Challenging liberal democracy: political ideas in a changing world
  • European politics
  • Devolution, federalism and territorial politics
  • British military history in the 20th Century
  • Wars in the promised land
  • Political sociology (subject to numbers)

Archaeology

  • Archaeology and interpretation
  • Archaeological sciences

You will choose one archaeology option module, which may include:

  • Pre-history of the Highlands and Islands
  • Historical archaeology of the Highlands and Islands
  • Archaeology project
  • Practical environmental archaeology (subject to validation)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in politics or archaeology.

You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject plus three option modules from the other subject.

Politics modules may include:

  • Geopolitics: territory, security, strategy
  • Political theory
  • Terrorism and unconventional warfare
  • Transforming regimes in Eastern Europe

Archaeology modules may include:

  • Sustainability past and present
  • Vikings and Norse archaeology in the North Atlantic
  • Funerary and burial archaeology
  • Maritime archaeology and heritage of Northern Scotland
  • Landscape archaeology
  • Neolithic Orkney
  • The Iron Age of Scotland c800BC-800AD
  • Peoples, plants and animals

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)
  • Part-time (unstructured)
  • You will learn through a combination of scheduled video conference lectures and tutorials, and online study via the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors. There is normally a weekly two-hour timetabled video conference lecture for each module. You will also undertake practical archaeology fieldwork and project work
  • For more information, or if you have any questions about studying archaeology at UHI, please contact us at: studyarchaeology@uhi.ac.uk

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week
  • Part-time: 8 years @ 20 hours per week
  • Part-time (unstructured): variable

The number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes a weekly two-hour video conference seminar for each module, online tutor-supported study and self-directed study.

Where can I study my course?

  • Argyll
  • HTC
  • Inverness
  • Moray
  • North, West and Hebrides
  • Orkney
  • Perth
  • Shetland
  • This fully online course can be studied from anywhere in the world
  • Students based near to one of the listed campuses should apply to, and be enrolled and supported by, their local campus
  • All other students should apply to, and will be enrolled and supported by, UHI Perth

Start date

  • September

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.
  2023-24 2024-25
Full-time (120 credit modules) per year £1,820 £1,820
Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year £915 £915
Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) £305 £305

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:

  2023-24 2024-25
Full-time online per year (120 credit modules) £6,120 £6,120
Part-time online (per 20 credit module) £1,020 £1,020

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.

  2023-24 2024-25
Full-time online per year (120 credit modules) £6,540 £6,960
Part-time online (per 20 credit module) £1,090 £1,160

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.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Once you have successfully completed your BA (Hons) Politics and Archaeology there are a variety of careers you might like to consider, such as:

  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Media and politics
  • Archaeological contract units
  • Consultancy
  • Archives and museums
  • Government agencies and local authorities

Is there more information available online?

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Apply for Politics and Archaeology BA (Hons)

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2025

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.