Archaeology unlocks the mysteries of humanity’s past. Archaeologists discover and excavate archaeological sites and interpret the material recovered from them.

Our well-regarded degree is specifically designed to prepare you for a successful career in archaeology, either as a researcher or heritage consultant.

You will be trained in methods of archaeological investigation and develop both skills, experience and knowledge of fieldwork, museums and heritage and community engagement. Unique to Australia, this degree takes a global outlook on the practice of archaeology and the production of knowledge about past societies.

Throughout the ANU Bachelor of Archaeological Practice you will have exciting opportunities to participate in local or international fieldwork experiences.

Digital + Material
Innovation + Engagement

Combine cutting-edge digital practices with internationally-renowned art and craft studio disciplines in the Bachelor of Design.

Design students will benefit from deep immersion in digital, manual and theoretical studies and a wide overview of creative practices. From coding, to making, to manufacture, students apply hands-on design to digital and physical materials. Students delve into web design, data visualisation, and interaction design, and experiment in studios to develop expertise in the latest digital form and fabrication processes.

This degree prepares students with transferable knowledge and skills required to make their mark on a rapidly changing world.
 

Employment Opportunities

The technical and analytical skills learned through this program provide highly practical knowledge, skills and training in the methods of archaeological investigation. Graduates may find work in Commonwealth heritage agencies, national parks, mining companies, as independent consultants, advisors to Aboriginal Land councils and many other fields.

The technical and analytical skills learned through this program provide highly practical knowledge, skills and training in the methods of archaeological investigation. Graduates may find work in Commonwealth heritage agencies, national parks, mining companies, as independent consultants, advisors to Aboriginal Land councils and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of a Bachelor of Archaeological Practice, graduates will be able to:

1. Undertake archaeological fieldwork using different techniques and approaches to locate, map, record, collect and excavate archaeological materials by determining the conditions in which those techniques and approaches are optimal.
2. Critically analyse archaeological materials. This includes the examination of human remains, artefacts, archaeo-fauna and archaeo-flora, archaeological sediments and other materials.
3. Apply interpretative approaches and skills including archaeological theory and quantitative analysis.
4. Design research frameworks and practise their application.
5. Reconstruct archaeological sequences and culture histories, and environmental archaeology.
6. Identify aspects of archaeological interpretations of human evolution and culture change.

Upon successful completion, students will have the skills and knowledge to:

1.    Demonstrate skills and knowledge of the practices, languages, forms, materials and technologies in their relevant discipline.
2.    Research, develop and evaluate design concepts and processes by thinking creatively, critically and reflectively.
3.    Apply skills and knowledge to the creation, visualisation and production of design projects.
4.    Work independently and collaboratively on design projects and respond to project demands.
5.    Interpret, communicate and present ideas, problems and arguments in modes suited to a range of audiences.
6.    Recognise and reflect on social, cultural technological, environmental and ethical issues of creative practice and design considering local and international perspectives.
 

Admission Requirements

Admission to all programs is on a competitive basis. Admission to undergraduate degrees is based on meeting the ATAR requirement or an equivalent rank derived from the following qualifications:

• An Australian year 12 qualification or international equivalent; OR
• A completed Associate Diploma, Associate Degree, AQF Diploma, Diploma, AQF Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate or international equivalent; OR
• At least one standard full-time year (1.0 FTE) in a single program of degree level study at an Australian higher education institution or international equivalent; OR
• An approved tertiary preparation course unless subsequent study is undertaken.

Click HERE for further information about domestic admission.

More information about ATAR requirements for individual programs can be found HERE.

The table below is a guide to the entry level required for domestic applicants. Exact entry level will be set at time of offer.

Domestic applicant entry requirements

Queensland Band equivalents are a guide only - selection is made on a UAI equivalent that is not available to students.

International applicant entry requirements

International applicants may view further information on admissions requirements at Entry Requirements for International Undergraduate Applicants

The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs as required.

Prerequisites

Entry into the Bachelor of Design is based on ACT or NSW HSC equivalent and interview and portfolio. Once an application has been lodged through the Universities Admission Centre (UAC), applicants are required to register for an interview and upload a portfolio on the ANU website at soa.anu.edu.au/how-apply/undergraduate-applications.

International applicants lodge an application directly with ANU. Once an application has been lodged, applicants are required to register for an interview and upload a portfolio on the ANU website at
soa.anu.edu.au/how-apply/undergraduate-applications.

Adjustment Factors

The National Access Scheme 2014

ANU offers bonus points for nationally strategic senior secondary subjects, and in recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Bonus points are applied to all applicants with an ATAR at or above 70. Points are awarded in accordance with the approved schedule, and no more than 10 points (maximum 5 academic points and maximum 5 equity points) will be awarded.

Bonus points do not apply to programs with an ATAR cutoff of 98 or higher.

Bonus Points are only awarded to domestic applicants applying for admission through UAC who have not previously attempted tertiary study.

How to apply

Academic Bonus Points: senior secondary students do not need to apply for ANU academic bonus points. They are automatically added in accordance with the schedule.

Educational Access Scheme: senior secondary students do not need to apply if their school is part of the Priority School Funding Program or Country Areas Program. All other applicants should refer to http://www.uac.edu.au/eas/  for more information.

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Archaeological Practice flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must include:The Bachelor of Archaeological Practice flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must include:

12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

ARCH1111 Archaeology Uncovered

ARCH1112 From Origins to Civilizations

A maximum of 30 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARCH2004 Australian Archaeology

ARCH2041 Introduction to Environmental Archaeology

ARCH2052 Archaeology in Film and Fiction

ARCH2060 International Archaeological Field School Extension

ARCH2061 Archaeological Field Methods

BIAN2015 Human Skeletal Analysis

HUMN2000 Introduction to Heritage and Museum Studies

HUMN2051 Introduction to Cultural Heritage Management

A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARCH2055 Archaeological Fieldschool

ARCH2059 International Archaeological Field School

A minimum of 6 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:

ARCH3000 Research Design and Analysis in Archaeology

ARCH3023 Thinking through the past: archaeological theory from 1950

ARCH3025 World Rock Art

ARCH3026 History of Archaeology: Discovering the Past

ARCH3028 Archaeology of Death and Mortuary Practices

ARCH3029 Making-Taking-Using-Breaking: Material Culture Studies and Technology in Archaeology

ARCH3108 Animals, Plants and People

BIAN3010 Scientific Dating in Archaeology and Palaeoenvironmental Studies

48 units from completion of two of the following minors:

Advanced Forensic and Evolutionary Archaeology Minor

Advanced Global Archaeology Minor

Advanced Environmental Archaeology Minor

The Bachelor of Design flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 42 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must include:

24 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

DESN1001 Making Online: Context and Presence

DESN1002 Visual Communication: Design and Production

DESN3010 Design Practice: Engagement, Internship and Entrepreneurship

12 units from completion of foundation courses from the following list:

ARTV1020 Figure & Life

ARTV1021 Image and Object

ARTV1033 Hold Everything: Studio Foundation

DESA1021 Precise Drawing and Model Making

6 units from completion of an introductory art and design history course from the following list:

ARTH1006 Art and Design Histories: Form and Space

ARTH1007 Art and Design Histories: Making and Meaning

A minimum of 6 units from completion of art and design theory courses from the following list: 

ARTH2043 Modernism and Postmodernism in Art and Design: 1850-2000

ARTV2018 Cyberculture

ARTV2030 Theories of the Object

ARTV2031 Theories of the Image

ARTV2035 Issues in Contemporary Craft and Design

ARTV2055 Costume, Fashion and Visual Culture

ARTV2056 City Sites: studies in art and urbanity

A minimum of 12 units from completion of design courses from the following list:

DESN2002 Foundations of Creative Code

DESN2003 Creative Data Visualisation: representing data in visual and material form

DESN2004 Dynamic Design and Generative Systems

DESN2011 Your Practice / Your Brand

DESN2006 Front-End Web: Crafting Online Experience

DESN2001 Digital Form and Fabrication

DESN2005 Form and Fabrication in Context

DESN2007 Design Fiction: Speculative and Critical Design

DESN2008 Design Thinking: Human-Centred Design Methodologies

DESN2009 Typography in Context: digital typographic design

A minimum of 18 units from completion of studio-based courses listed in the Visual Arts Practice minor

Unless otherwise stated, a course used to satisfy the requirements of one list may not be double counted towards satisfying the requirements of another list.

Minors

Bachelor of Archaeological Practice Minors

Bachelor of Design Minors

Study Options

Honours

For information about honours, please Bachelor of Archaeological Practice (Honours)