I just graduated with a degree in Viking Studies, AMA (ask me anything)

What do people say to you when you tell them of your degree?

Ooh, new question - have you done any archaeology yourself?

I have indeed, we got to go and look at some digs during the degree which were fun, albeit usually rainy and muddy. Weirdly though I used to do a lot more hands on archaeology when I was younger, I went to YAC (young archaeologists club) and they get so many awesome opportunities to go to digs, go behind the scenes at museums etc... I was on time team a few times

I still volunteer with them, if you have an interest in archaeology I highly recommend it, it's free and you get to do a lot more than you would doing a full time degree imo

Awesome! Best place you've done archaeology?

I'm quite jealous, I always wanted to get involved in YAC when I was younger, but my mum would never let me.
I did get the application form to volunteer with YAC where I live but the last few months I seem to have been working on the Saturdays it's been on (in the same museum where it's based). I might look at it all again in the new academic year though.

Ah yeah if you work saturdays it can be really difficult to fit in. I had to give it up for a while when I was working in a pub because I never had the time off. Perhaps if you asked the museum they might let you do it on occasion, especially since it's only one morning per month?

Best place is probably Castle Henllys (sp) in Pembrokeshire, it's an Iron Age fort which has been partially reconstructed to show what life was like then. Lots of interesting flints and things. Unfortunately there isn't much in the way of Viking finds to be dug up that haven't already been excavated, so almost all of my archaeology experience has been on different time periods.

Do you study history/archaeology then, or just have an interest in all things buried and dusty?

Yes I went to the University of Nottingham.

I didn't study in Norway, I had the option but it wasn't financially viable. I had coursemates who really enjoyed studying there though.

Aaahhh!!! I totally know Cas Hen! I spent a couple of weeks there in 2005 (wow, long time ago now )

And thing is I'm only a casual at the museum, so I don't like having to say no to working days unless I need to - I don't work or earn enough to do that

I studied archaeology at university, and am currently hoping to get into museum education. It's going to take a while though, it's a super tough world out there right now

Hi, I'm thinking about applying to a different degree with a year abroad. When you say you weren't financially viable, what did you have to pay for? Accomodation? Everything? I was under the impression as you need to pay tuition fees for that time abroad that the university would subsidize/pay for it?

I might start panicking if they expect me to pay international fees if its part of the degree

Do you drive a Fjord Focus ?

Did you get to raid a monastery?

Well for me the year abroad would have been in Norway, where the price of living is really high. Rent is on a par with London prices, and then you have to buy food too, which is apparently also expensive. Drinking/nights out just don't happen because it's about £8 a pint, or so I've heard. From what I know (bearing in mind this is from others who did it, may be wrong) the UK still covers tuition, but you don't get any grants - you can get a maintenance loan but it won't cover the full amount you need to get by there. One semester cost around 6k for accommodation/food/lifestyle for my coursemate apparently, and they had to take out a private loan with their bank to fund it.

It's certainly not impossible, I just chose not to do it based on that information. Different countries have different costs of living though, so definitely don't give up on a year abroad!

Yeah I would've loved to do work in a museum but other than volunteering there really aren't the opportunities out there. Maybe someday. And that's fair enough, I suppose if you get the free time someday you might be able to do it. Not like YAC is disappearing any time soon