Sustainable Development and Archaeology BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

The world is facing the prospect of a climate emergency, with decision-makers grappling with how to understand and respond to the pressures on our environment and society. BA (Hons) Sustainable Development and Archaeology presents you with situations from local to global and from past to present. Inevitable changes to our immediate future will impact on every facet of society, culture and the economy: this is a critical moment to study sustainability. 

On this course, you will learn the facts about climate change, explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and consider potential and emerging solutions such as the Green New Deals, the concept of ‘degrowth’ and the transition to wellbeing economies. By looking at long-term perspectives, you will explore how past cultures have adapted to changing climates, successfully and otherwise, and you will be ideally placed to influence or become one of the decision-makers guiding the future of our society. 

The degree also focuses on how communities can shape more sustainable forms of development, particularly in rural settings. Most of the teaching team are located in the Western Isles or Northern Isles, where communities are leading the way in community-based development, land reform, community empowerment and community energy projects, which can all contribute to this more sustainable future. 

To develop a critical understanding of the three pillars of sustainability (social, environmental, economic), you can study modules drawn from a range of social science and humanities disciplines, including geography, economics, politics, sociology, and environmental studies, as well as developing practical skills in fieldwork, research and working with communities. The modules take a critical approach to examining the historical context to development, whilst looking firmly to the future, drawing examples of change in action from around the globe. 

Delivered entirely online and available to study from anywhere in the world, you will benefit from collaborative discussions and activities with colleagues from a range of diverse backgrounds and experiences, facilitated by tutors with many years of experience in delivering online education. 

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

Special features

• Delivered by tutors with years of experience of teaching at a distance, and can be studied from home, full or part-time to suit your circumstances. The core archaeology fieldwork module will require participation in an excavation, but there is considerable flexibility in date and location 
• Recent graduates have careers in community economic development, managing rural development initiatives, working for UN agencies, and working on international renewable energy projects 
• Optional archaeological fieldwork, work placement and residential weekend are available. These usually take place in the Highlands and Islands, and although they have cost implications for students attending, they are an ideal opportunity to meet fellow students and staff in a relaxed and natural environment

Entry requirements

• 3 Scottish Highers at grades BBC or above or
• 2 A levels at grades BC or above
• At least 2 should be from the list of required subjects
• Additional qualifications and experiences will be considered on an individual basis

Advanced entry

• HNC Social Science (12 SCQF credits) with 3 additional SCQF 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

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following modules: 

Sustainable Development

• Archaeological theory and method (S1)
• Exploring economics in a changing world (S2) 
• Understanding sustainable development (S1) 

Archaeology

At least one of the following:

• European prehistories (S1)
• Historic landscapes (S2)
• Science and archaeology (S2)
• World archaeology (S2)

You will also choose two further option modules from archaeology, sustainable development, or our range of humanities subjects. 

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following modules: 

Sustainable Development

• Approaches to economic development (S1) 
• Empowering communities (S1) 
• Excavation skills (2 week residential field school)

Archaeology

At least one of the following:

• Digital heritage (S2)
• Managing archaeology for contemporary society (S1)
• Scottish archaeology (S1)
• Wetland archaeology (S2)

You will also choose two further option modules from archaeology, sustainable development, or our range of humanities subjects.  

Year 3 - BA

You will normally study the following modules: 

Sustainable Development

• Globalisation and sustainable development (S1)
• Sustainable Tourism and the Environment (S2)
• Advanced social research methods (S1) OR Climate change (S1) 

Archaeology

Three of the following modules:

• Archaeology and interpretation (S2)
• Archaeological project (S2)
• Archaeological science (S1)
• Archaeology work placement
• Practical environmental archaeology (2 week residential based at Orkney College)
• Prehistory of the Highlands and Islands (S1)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a double credit dissertation in either Sustainable Development or Archaeology (S1 and S2). 

You will also study at least one module from your chosen dissertation subject, and at least two modules from the other subject, for a total of 6 modules.

Sustainable Development 

Modules may include:

• Geo-political development issues (S1)
• The consumerist society (S2)
• Social enterprise and the social economy (S1)

Archaeology

Modules may include:

• Biomolecular archaeology (S1)
• Iron Age Scotland (S1)
• Landscape archaeology (S2)
• Neolithic Scotland (S2)
• People, plants and animals (S2)
• Sustainability past and present (S1)
• Viking and Norse in the North Atlantic (S2)

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.

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:

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.

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.

Additional costs

Excavation skills is a compulsory, 2-week, residential field school, normally taken during summer at a site location off-campus. You will be responsible for covering the costs of your travel and subsistence.  There is considerable flexibility with dates and locations.

If you wish to attend practical or placement modules, optional residential weekends, or other field trips, student contributions will be required towards the overall costs incurred. The cost will vary depending on the event, your location and the amount of other funding available towards the event (eg HISA contributions to the Student Society Residential weekend may reduce costs for individual students). Attendance at such face to face events is optional and not essential for completion of the course.