What do I do? (Aspiring Archaeology Undergraduate)

Hi there, I need some advice.

I'm 22 this year and I've been bouncing from job to job since secondary school, and I've never really found my place in the world. I've always had a deep love of history and everything old. From books of castles as a kid, to now learning the histories of Egypt. Last year I started to read daily, its cracked open my mind, and helped me to explore my future with a level of clarity that I didn't previously have.

I've decided I want to pursue Archaeology (& History, if possible) in any way I can. I'm mainly looking into a University pathway - as I feel as if it would be the most comprehensive way for me to experience and learn all I can. I'm leaning towards Celtic, Egypt, and Mesopotamian study. The issue is that I never got great grades in school (one pass in HS, I later achieved a Media Diploma in college), and I believe this would severely hinder me. I've done some research and found that some Universities offer a 'Foundation Year', but I doubt I even qualify for this. My current plan, prior to any sage wisdom here, is to spend 2025 in an Access To HE Course, and then transition to an Archaeology BA in 2026 if all goes well. Which subjects could help my case? Is there anything else for me to consider? Perhaps a different way for me to get into University? Really anything would help.

I am currently applying to volunteer at a local Museum to further help my application when the time comes, and to of course learn and help out our museums in the meantime.

Thank you :smile:

*Apologies for any errors, I poured this out of my mind without corrections*

Reply 1

Clearing and Applications Advisor

Access to HE and then starting a BA sounds like the best route in your situation.

Have a look on futurelearn/edx/coursera etc for free MOOCs you can supplement your studies with. They’ll help you to explore your interests and get more into a groove of university level study which will help with your Access studies, writing your PS and with figuring out where to study your BA.

Reply 2

Sandtrooper

For Egyptology specifically, the University of Liverpool offers a 1 day per week Foundation Year called Go Higher. If you complete it you receive a guaranteed offer onto a course of your choosing, including archaeology and Egyptology degrees.

Reply 3

PinkMobilePhone

Chat Forum Helper, Life & Style Forum Helper

You could always do a Classical Studies degree with the OU and then progress onto doing an Archaeology masters elsewhere.

So that's another option.

Reply 4

eriinom

I'm a current Access to HE student and have offers to study arch & anth next year. I definitely would recommend an Access course - I'm doing a combined science one so I can't speak to how a humanities course would be but depending on your strengths and the unis you are applying for either could work (Bristol, for example, won't take a science diploma for their arch courses :/)
I would recommend studying in-person if possible. I also agree with PQ that MOOCs are valuable - the University of York has one that, if you complete, lowers the entry requirements to their archaeology courses by one grade.

Reply 5

samjble

Original post

by CFitton

Hi there, I need some advice.
I'm 22 this year and I've been bouncing from job to job since secondary school, and I've never really found my place in the world. I've always had a deep love of history and everything old. From books of castles as a kid, to now learning the histories of Egypt. Last year I started to read daily, its cracked open my mind, and helped me to explore my future with a level of clarity that I didn't previously have.
I've decided I want to pursue Archaeology (& History, if possible) in any way I can. I'm mainly looking into a University pathway - as I feel as if it would be the most comprehensive way for me to experience and learn all I can. I'm leaning towards Celtic, Egypt, and Mesopotamian study. The issue is that I never got great grades in school (one pass in HS, I later achieved a Media Diploma in college), and I believe this would severely hinder me. I've done some research and found that some Universities offer a 'Foundation Year', but I doubt I even qualify for this. My current plan, prior to any sage wisdom here, is to spend 2025 in an Access To HE Course, and then transition to an Archaeology BA in 2026 if all goes well. Which subjects could help my case? Is there anything else for me to consider? Perhaps a different way for me to get into University? Really anything would help.
I am currently applying to volunteer at a local Museum to further help my application when the time comes, and to of course learn and help out our museums in the meantime.
Thank you :smile:

*Apologies for any errors, I poured this out of my mind without corrections*

hi, im afraid i can’t really help with any of the education/qualification side of things, but as a fellow 20+ student, i must say that volunteering in archaeology REALLY helps! I just applied to university this year, having been lucky enough to spend time in summer volunteering on a Roman dig, and mentioning actual involvement alongside passion for a subject on your personal statement really helps set you apart! Depending on where you are based in the UK, the same dig I volunteered on (in Carlisle) will be offering more free volunteer places later this summer, and there are lots of volunteer opportunities on Hadrian’s wall sites. Of course, if there’s nothing local or convenient for you, your idea of volunteering in a museum is definitely good! However, given the choice between a museum or site, admissions staff love demonstrations of practical involvement.

Besides that, I wish you the best of luck! Again, as someone who just applied to university in my 20s (coincidentally for a similar degree), I’d just like to reassure you that you absolutely are worthy of a place to study archaeology! :smile:

Reply 6

Arden University

Official Rep

Original post

by CFitton

Hi there, I need some advice.
I'm 22 this year and I've been bouncing from job to job since secondary school, and I've never really found my place in the world. I've always had a deep love of history and everything old. From books of castles as a kid, to now learning the histories of Egypt. Last year I started to read daily, its cracked open my mind, and helped me to explore my future with a level of clarity that I didn't previously have.
I've decided I want to pursue Archaeology (& History, if possible) in any way I can. I'm mainly looking into a University pathway - as I feel as if it would be the most comprehensive way for me to experience and learn all I can. I'm leaning towards Celtic, Egypt, and Mesopotamian study. The issue is that I never got great grades in school (one pass in HS, I later achieved a Media Diploma in college), and I believe this would severely hinder me. I've done some research and found that some Universities offer a 'Foundation Year', but I doubt I even qualify for this. My current plan, prior to any sage wisdom here, is to spend 2025 in an Access To HE Course, and then transition to an Archaeology BA in 2026 if all goes well. Which subjects could help my case? Is there anything else for me to consider? Perhaps a different way for me to get into University? Really anything would help.
I am currently applying to volunteer at a local Museum to further help my application when the time comes, and to of course learn and help out our museums in the meantime.
Thank you :smile:

*Apologies for any errors, I poured this out of my mind without corrections*

@CFitton
Hello, I've taught on Access to HE for over 10 years so I can help :smile:

Firstly, there is a great article here on archaeology careers
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/archaeology#:~:text=Social%20and%20humanities%20scientist%20(22,ten%20jobs%20held%20by%20graduates.

In terms of your Access programs available, I would speak to the Universities to see which Access program they would recommend. Of the common ones, Access to HE Social Sciences (Sociology, Psychology, Criminology) might be the one, but some providers also do Humanities ones with History units so check with the admissions tutor.

If you have done Level 3 before, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to pay for the course, uniquely to Access, this is completely written off when you complete your degree. It is also cheaper than a Foundation Year which is why the Government prefer them after something called the Auger Review into further and higher education.

There are some good online providers out there, but if you get the chance to study at a Further Education College you will likely get tutorials to support your academic progress, and help with UCAS etc

Marc
Arden University Student Ambassador