Explore past cultures across continents
A wide-ranging introduction to the archaeology of cultures across the world that will give you a new understanding of past societies and the issues that affect them today. In the company of expert tutors and fellow enthusiasts, you’ll explore the key concepts, methodologies, case studies and topical issues that are being debated in the field right now.
Why choose this course with us?
- Learn at Cambridge, whatever your experience: this is an open-entry course
- Access Cambridge teaching in a flexible format: part-time and online
- Gain a credited, Cambridge award: boost your learning and career opportunities
- Join our peer-learning and Cambridge alumni communities: connection and support, for life
Course Dates
Course details
Tutors
Course information
Course highlights
During this part-time online certificate course, you will:
- learn about archaeological cultures in different continents
- learn about key concepts archaeologists are grappling with today
- develop key study and writing skills
Explore the richness of human diversity across multiple continents, such as Europe, the Americas, India and Africa. Each geographic region has a fascinating archaeological record. Some of it may be familiar to you and much of it may be new. Your expert tutors will guide you across the familiar and the unknown, giving you fresh perspectives on the world. You’ll explore the key concepts, methodologies, case studies and topical issues that are being debated in the field right now.
As part of our learning community, you will:
- become familiar with the diverse range of evidence used by archaeologists
- consider how to identify and question cultural assumptions in a variety of contexts
- explore the ethical issues surrounding archaeology’s legacies, uses and abuses
- find out how to interpret and analyse a variety of cultures through their material culture
- learn about a range of methodologies for analysing and interpreting primary data.
Course breakdown
The course will run from 6 October 2026 to 9 June 2027.
Each term's live teaching usually takes place on Tuesday evenings, with occasional sessions taking place on Saturdays. Exact teaching dates and times will be confirmed in the course guide upon enrolment.
Michaelmas term: Introduction to Themes in World Archaeology
- Course (unit 1) start date: 6 October 2026
- Unit 1 end date: 6 January 2027
This course will introduce students to themes in world archaeology, taking case studies from a wide range of regions and time periods and examining them within a comparative perspective. The course focuses on cross-cultural topics and themes rather than a single geographical area, for example, the development of agriculture and social complexity, and anchors these in different case-studies. By focusing on topics of global significance, it adopts a multidisciplinary approach that helps students understand the patterns and processes that have shaped human cultures across the world. Students will learn about the emergence and development of societies from different regions and time periods, thus gaining a solid understanding of the diversity of human behaviour.
Lent term: The Archaeology of the Indian Subcontinent
- Unit 2 starts: week commencing 4 January 2027
- Unit 2 end date: 24 March 2027
This unit will explore the archaeology of the Indian subcontinent, one of the world’s earliest centres of civilisation and home to one-third of the global population today. Covering the modern regions of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and parts of Afghanistan, this unit will introduce you to the major cultural and societal developments that shaped the subcontinent from the Neolithic period to the early medieval period. Main themes include the development and spread of agriculture, the rise of early urban societies, the appearance of some of the world’s major religions, India’s central role in ancient trade and exchange throughout the Indian Ocean and the development of early kingdoms and states. The unit will also situate the subcontinent’s archaeology within its colonial and postcolonial contexts, engage with contemporary debates around heritage, identity and interpretation, and provide a globally informed understanding of one of the most diverse and influential regions of the ancient world.
Easter term: Themes in African Archaeology
- Unit 3 starts: week commencing 29 March 2027
- Unit 3 end date: 9 June 2027
This unit takes you across the African continent, exploring its complexities and intricacies. The history of the continent is ancient. The find of the fossilised Australopithecus Africanus skull in Taung, South Africa, in 1924, is interesting in terms of archaeology and gendered colonial exploitation. This course tells the story of our past, asking who gets centred in narratives, while also placing this diverse continent centre stage. We will explore hunter-gatherers, pastoralists, urban societies and empires, and also look at very complex and diverse ways of life that manifest in unique ways across the continent. We will explore current trends and challenges and the ways in which local communities are now preserving and protecting their heritage and creating new knowledge. This is a unique opportunity to access knowledge that is not readily available elsewhere.
After the course
Why not consider studying one of our other certificates and diplomas in archaeology, such as:
- Certificate in Archaeology of the Ancient World
- Certificate in Archaeology of Ancient Britain
- Diploma in Archaeology: Death and the Ancient World
- Diploma in Archaeology: Conflict Archaeology and Heritage
Students who successfully complete 2 out of 3 of the Certificates in Archaeology will be eligible for the award of the Certificate of Higher Education in Archaeology, a nationally recognised qualification which is equivalent to 120 credits at level 4.
Entry requirements
There are no formal academic entry requirements for this course. It’s open to all learners who are interested in the subject.
English language requirements
Our courses are taught in English and require a good level of fluency. If English is not your first language, you’ll need to meet the requirements of one of the language proficiency tests below. You’ll need to complete your test and submit the results to our admissions team by 15 September 2026.
IELTS (Academic), IELTS for UKVI Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake
Overall score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in any component.
TOEFL iBT or TOEFL Home Edition
https://www.ets.org/toefl.html
Overall score of 92, with no element below 20.
Please note that changes to the TOEFL Internet Based Test and Home Edition mean that it will no longer be suitable for entry to Cambridge at Undergraduate level from 21 January 2026. Tests taken after this date will not be accepted.
Cambridge English C2 Proficiency
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/proficiency/
Overall score of 176, with no element lower than 169.
As part of our open and inclusive learning environment, you can enjoy the world-class resources and expertise of the University of Cambridge wherever you are on your academic journey.
Our video-based teaching platforms offer a flexible way to access lectures, while our Virtual Learning Environment makes it easy to study and learn online and interact with your tutor and fellow students.
Our teaching methods include lectures, presentations, and interactive and experiential learning activities. We will also give you reading and assignments to complete outside of classroom sessions.
You will demonstrate your learning using a range of assignments submitted during and at the end of each unit. There are more details about how this course is assessed in the course guide we will send you once you have enrolled.
Qualifications
This course is equivalent to half of the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree. It offers 60 CATS credits, which are recognised by higher education institutions and employers.
Students who successfully complete 2 of our certificates in archaeology will be eligible for the award of the Certificate of Higher Education in Archaeology, a nationally recognised qualification which is equivalent to 120 credits at level 4.
Hours of study
The award of academic credit is a means of quantifying and recognising learning and within the UK, one credit notionally represents 10 hours of learning. This course attracts 60 credits, so students should expect to need to study for approximately 600 hours in total to complete all units successfully. However, it is recognised that students study at different paces and use a variety of approaches, so this is a recommendation, rather than a hard-and-fast calculation.
SEEC Credit Level Descriptors for Higher Education (2021) here.
Fees
The total fee for this course is shown above in 'Course details'.
To help you manage your finances more comfortably, you can pay the fee in instalments. For more information on payment options, and how to secure your place, see how to pay.
Funding
We're dedicated to reducing and removing financial barriers to learning. Visit financial support before applying to find out what options may be available to help you in your studies. You can explore external funding and stay up to date on our concessions and bursaries.
We're committed to supporting you in your learning journey, and we offer a variety of support opportunities to meet individual needs. Visit student support to find out more about how we can help.
