BA (Hons) Archaeology and Sociology Bachelor's degree at UHI
BA (Hons) Archaeology and Sociology at UHI combines core theory with research methods, applied practice and specialist options, culminating in an independent project and professional skills development.
About this course
Course type: BA (Hons) International: Available to study online Study at: Argyll; HTC; Inverness; Moray; North, West and Hebrides; Orkney; Perth; Shetland Start in: September Learning mode: Online You access classes and/or materials digitally. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Archaeology and Sociology is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at UHI, based in UHI Argyll,Highland Theological College UHI,UHI Inverness,UHI Moray,UHI North West Hebrides,UHI Orkney,UHI Perth,UHI Shetland. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Historical, philosophical and religious studies graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 10% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for History, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-22. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 60% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 7 modules
- Introduction to archaeology: approaches and methodsCore
- Making social lives: UHICore
- Understanding the social worldCore
- Introduction to science in archaeologyOptional
- Prehistoric Europe: Neanderthals to the Iron AgeOptional
- Reading the landscape through timeOptional
- World archaeology: politics and perspectivesOptional
Year 2 6 modules
- Being an archaeologist in ScotlandCore
- Belief, culture and communityCore
- Sociological theoryCore
- Digital heritageOptional
- Excavation skillsOptional
- Wetland archaeologyOptional
Year 3 11 modules
- Archaeological theory and interpretationCore
- Understanding archaeological scienceCore
- Work and societyCore
- Frontiers, landscapes and journeysOptional
- Sociology: contemporary Scottish issuesOptional
- Advanced social research methodsOptional
- Archaeology projectOptional
- Archaeology placementOptional
- Historical archaeology of UHIOptional
- Practical skills for environmental archaeologyOptional
- Prehistory of UHIOptional
Year 4 9 modules
- Biomolecular archaeologyOptional
- Iron Age Scotland c 800 BC – AD 800Optional
- Landscape archaeologyOptional
- People, plants and animalsOptional
- Sustainability past and futureOptional
- Vikings and Norse archaeology in the North AtlanticOptional
- Insiders and outsiders in societyOptional
- Network society: mass media and the information ageOptional
- Our digital future: societyOptional
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course combines archaeology and sociology, examining how people have lived, organised themselves and left traces in the material world. You'll usually begin with foundational study of historical sources, archives and how scholarly arguments are built, alongside surveys of medieval, early modern and modern worlds. In Year 2, a course like this typically moves to focused research in specific periods or themes, alongside historiography and public history, including museums and heritage work. You'll encounter specialisations such as modern history, medieval studies, global and imperial history, social and cultural approaches, public history and heritage, and archival research. In your final year, you'll undertake document-led depth study, choose advanced specialist options, and complete an original research project using primary evidence.
Who it's for
This course suits graduates and experienced learners seeking flexible, part-time study. Most entrants hold a previous degree, 60% of accepted students came in with one. If you're balancing study with work or other commitments, the part-time structure and distributed campus network across the Highlands and Islands make this accessible.
University & format
This is a part-time Bachelor's degree (BA Hons) offered by the University of the Highlands and Islands, a university founded in 2011. You'll study online, accessing classes and materials digitally. Teaching is delivered in English. The course is available to students at multiple UHI locations across Scotland: Argyll, Highland Theological College, Inverness, Moray, North West Hebrides, Orkney, Perth and Shetland. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, UHI's degrees are nationally recognised.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 100%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| a previous degree | 60% |
| another higher-education qualification | 25% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 15% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Published UHI fee framework
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What History graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £30,000 | £23,000 – £45,000 | 40 |
| 3 years after | £23,500 | £14,000 – £28,500 | 25 |
| 5 years after | £24,000 | £12,000 – £30,000 | 25 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in history · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs History nationally
National figures for History graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with History courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,423 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Skilled trades occupationsSOC 2020 5 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,241
- Leisure, travel and related personal service occupationsSOC 2020 62 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £22,297
- Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
- Caring personal servicesSOC 2020 613 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £23,668
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 15; response rate: 80%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How History graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where History graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Museums & archives
- Heritage bodies
- Schools
- Civil service & media
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit History graduates.
History & Humanities Lead, Flexible, Impactful TeachingChartereastdulwichHistory & Humanities Lead, Flexible, Impactful TeachingThe Charter Schools Educational TrustHistory Teachers in Kirklees and HalifaxCV-LibraryHistory TeachersSABIS NETWORK SCHOOLSIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Fees and funding
UHI publishes tuition by domicile, award level, study mode and delivery. Use the individual course page for the exact year-by-year fee.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.3 out of 10: NSS 97.7% · in work or study 90% · continued 60%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the Highlands and Islands
Historical, philosophical and religious studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is History right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International eligibility
The provider publishes this course-specific status:
Available to study online
Eligibility depends on the programme, study mode, delivery and approved study location. No visa or online-study eligibility is inferred beyond the provider statement.
Related courses
More at UHI
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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