There will always be people who cannot attend evening classes or enter for full-time courses in archaeology. They may, for example, work shifts, be based abroad or have families to look after. Universities and others will sometimes cater for such people by providing courses that can be studied at home, by correspondence. Many people turn to the Open University as their first port of call in finding such courses. Unfortunately, the Open University does not offer archaeology and only has a few archaeology programmes within other courses.
Instead, people interested in distance learning should contact more traditional universities. These may offer opportunities for distance learning through their continuing education or lifelong learning centres, or through the mainstream archaeology department. Courses may be offered at postgraduate level, leading to the award of a Masters degree or Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate, or at undergraduate level as an undergraduate Certificate. There are as yet no full undergraduate degrees available by distance learning, although this may change in the future. Aberdeen University offer an undergraduate degree by remote teaching and video-conferencing in the Highlands and Islands.
Other opportunities exist outside universities at A level or GCSE. Web-based opportunities also exist at this level. Details of course providers are given below.
Potential students should consider carefully the type of course they wish to study. Some will demand a certain amount of background knowledge, while others will be more suitable for beginners. Methods of assessment also vary from course to course, as does the level of academic staff support for students. Some courses will require attendance at summer schools or residential courses as part of the programme of study. People should also ensure that their course is offered by a reputable educational institution or a tutor with experience within such an institution.
Qualifications offered should be recognised by the appropriate regulatory bodies, eg the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. There is nothing to stop anyone setting up a correspondence course and offering a paper qualification of any description. Contact the Education Officer of the Council for British Archaeology for information about reputable course providers and qualifications.
Bournemouth University School of Conservation Sciences, University of Bournemouth, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB, tel 01202 595273, email barker@bournemouth.ac.uk, web www.btinternet.com/~ron.wilcox/
College-on-the-net Co-ordinator Lynn Bright, tel 07092 194837, fax 07092 194837, email info@college-on-the-net.co.uk, web www.college-on-the-net.co.uk
Northampton University College Faculty Registry, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University College Northampton, Park Campus, Boughton Green Road, Northampton NN2 7AL, tel 01604 735500, web www.northampton.ac.uk
University of Exeter Dept of Lifelong Learning, University of Exeter, St. Luke's Campus, Heavitree, Exeter EX1 2LU, tel 01392 262828, email dll@exeter.ac.uk, web www.ex.ac.uk/dll
University of Lancaster Dept of Continuing Education, Lonsdale College, University of Lancaster, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YN, tel 01524 592623, email conted@lancaster.ac.uk, web www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/conted/index.htm
University of Leicester Distance Learning Office, School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, tel 0116 252 2729, fax 0116 252 2729, email adm3@le.ac.uk, web www.le.ac.uk/archaeology/
Department of Museum Studies University of Leicester, 105 Princess Road East, Leicester LE1 7LG, tel 0116 252 3963, email museum.studies@le.ac.uk, web www.le.ac.uk/museumstudies/
University of Manchester Centre for the Development of Continuing Education, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, tel 0161 275 2053, email angela.grandey@man.ac.uk, web www.man.ac.uk/cce/certificate/egyptologydl.html
Ron Wilcox Combeside, Weston Lane, Bath BA1 4AA, tel 01225 429379, web www.btinternet.com/~ron.wilcox/
Contact details are given under the institutions listed above.
MA in Archaeology & Heritage, University of Leicester
MA in Cornish Studies, University of Exeter
MA/MSc in Museum Studies, University of Leicester (Department of Museum Studies)
MSc in Industrial Archaeology, Northampton University College
Postgraduate Certificate in Archaeology of Standing Buildings, University of Leicester
Postgraduate Certificate in Landscape Archaeology, University of Leicester
Postgraduate Certificate in Planning and Management of Archaeological Projects, University of Leicester
Postgraduate Certificate in Presentation and Interpretation of the Archaeological Heritage, University of Leicester
Certificate in Archaeology, University of Leicester
Certificate in Egyptology, University of Manchester
Certificate in Post-Roman and Medieval Archaeology, University of Bournemouth
GCSE Archaeology, College-on-the-net
AS level Archaeology, College-on-the-net
A level Archaeology, College-on-the-net
A level Archaeology, Ron Wilcox
Ancient Egyptian Civilisation, College-on-the-net
The Archaeology of Medieval and Tudor Britain, University of Exeter
The Archaeology of Viking Age England and France AD800–1100, University of Exeter
Britannia: the Archaeology and History of a Roman Province, University of Exeter
British Prehistoric Archaeology: the Bronze Age, University of Exeter
British Prehistoric Archaeology: the First Millennium BC, University of Exeter
A Concise Introduction to Archaeological Techniques, University of Exeter
An Extended Introduction to Archaeological Techniques, University of Exeter
An Introduction to Ancient Egypt, University of Exeter
An Introduction to Ancient Nubia, University of Exeter
Introduction to British Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Exeter
An Introduction to Cornish History, University of Exeter
People and Landscape in the Lake District, University of Lancaster
The Religion and Art of Ancient Egypt, University of Exeter
Rural Life: Local Historical Approaches, University of Exeter
World Archaeology Online, College-on-the-Net
last revised June 2002
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Today's date: 5/7/2008
This page last updated:
3/2/2003 17:28
