BA (Hons) Sustainable Development and Archaeology Bachelor's degree at UHI
BA (Hons) Sustainable Development and Archaeology at UHI was founded in 2011 and combines environmental sustainability with archaeological practice.
About this course
BA (Hons) Sustainable Development and Archaeology is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at UHI, based in UHI Argyll,UHI North West Hebrides. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Agriculture graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, typical earnings around £26,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Agriculture & Animal Science, 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: 90; 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 2022-23. Continuation 80% (2022-23; 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
- Exploring economics in a changing worldCore
- Introduction to archaeology: approaches and methodsCore
- Understanding sustainable developmentCore
- Introduction to science in archaeologyOptional
- Prehistoric Europe: Neanderthals to the Iron AgeOptional
- Reading the landscape through timeOptional
- World archaeology: politics and perspectivesOptional
Year 2 7 modules
- Approaches to economic developmentCore
- Being an archaeologist in ScotlandCore
- Empowering communitiesCore
- Digital heritageOptional
- Excavation skillsOptional
- Wetland archaeologyOptional
- Sustainable development approaches in an international contextOptional
Year 3 10 modules
- Climate scienceOptional
- Community-based economic developmentOptional
- Globalisation and sustainable developmentOptional
- Sustainable tourism and the environmentOptional
- Archaeology placementOptional
- Historical archaeology of UHIOptional
- Practical skills for environmental archaeologyOptional
- Prehistory of UHIOptional
- Advanced social research methodsOptional
- Archaeological projectOptional
Year 4 10 modules
- Agroecology: regenerative food systemsOptional
- Consumerism and the circular economyOptional
- Geo-political development issuesOptional
- Social enterprise and the social economyOptional
- 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
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 sustainable development with archaeological study, grounding practical agricultural and animal science alongside environmental and heritage perspectives. A course like this typically moves from foundational animal and crop science, agri-food systems and practical farm skills in Year 1, through nutrition, grassland management and agricultural technology in Year 2. From Year 3 onwards, you'll usually pursue specialist options such as livestock production, equine science, agronomy, animal behaviour and welfare, or agri-tech, alongside farm business management and a final dissertation or industry project. Hands-on experience with animals, land and machinery runs throughout, often integrated with farm placements.
Who it's for
This course suits students interested in understanding past human societies and their relationship with the environment, alongside contemporary sustainability challenges. Nearly half of accepted students (45%) entered with another higher-education qualification, reflecting the course's appeal to those seeking to broaden or deepen existing academic credentials. First-year retention stands at 85%, with students either still enrolled or having completed the programme.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Agriculture and Animal Science courses, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 40% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Graduate earnings data shows starting salaries of £22,000–£27,000 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £22,525–£31,800 after five years. These are national figures from Graduate Outcomes and LEO data, not university-specific guarantees. Check the university's funding pages for bursaries and scholarships.
University & format
BA (Hons) Sustainable Development and Archaeology is delivered full-time over 4 years by the University of the Highlands and Islands, a university with campuses at UHI Argyll and UHI North West Hebrides. Teaching is in English. The University of the Highlands and Islands is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your degree is nationally recognised.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 92%.
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.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
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 |
|---|---|
| another higher-education qualification | 45% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 40% |
| Other | 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 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. 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 Agriculture & Animal Science 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 | £26,000 | £24,000 – £30,000 | 90 |
| 3 years after | £25,500 | £20,500 – £31,000 | 15 |
| 5 years after | £30,000 | £25,500 – £34,000 | 15 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 90; 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 agriculture & animal science · 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 Agriculture & Animal Science nationally
National figures for Agriculture & Animal Science 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: 90; 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 Agriculture & Animal Science courses at the same study level.
Compared with 285 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Agriculture & Animal Science 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 Agriculture & Animal Science 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
- Agribusiness & food producers
- DEFRA & agencies
- Estates & farms
- Animal & wildlife charities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Agriculture & Animal Science graduates.
Agriculture Litigation Solicitor – Rural & EstatesBirketts LLPAgriculture TrainerRise Technical RecruitmentAgriculture Legal Director & Partner – HybridErrington LegalAgriculture & Estates Lawyer - Suffolk / NorfolkBWF Legal RecruitmentAgriculture ManagerMarks and SpencerAgriculture Lawyer - BristolChadwick NottIs 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 £26,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.6 out of 10: NSS 88.6% · in work or study 90% · continued 80%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the Highlands and Islands
Agriculture, food and related studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Agriculture & Animal Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
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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