Delve into the archaeology of modern conflict through a series of case studies. Explore Holocaust heritage and other aspects of our ‘dark heritage’, and gain valuable insight into the world of the heritage professional – all in the company of leading experts and fellow students.
Course Dates
Course details
Tutors
Key Features
Course highlights
During this part-time online diploma course, you will:
- build your knowledge in a fascinating new field of study
- develop academic skills in research, analysis, evaluation and problem-solving
- prepare for further study at postgraduate level.
Gain specialist knowledge in the emerging field of 20th-century conflict archaeology. Explore aspects of dark heritage, including that of the Holocaust, and get first-hand insight into the issues faced by practising heritage professionals – including decolonisation, repatriation of antiquities, and the question of who owns the past.
As part of our learning community, you will:
- enjoy the opportunity to specialise in the new field of the archaeology of 20th-century conflict, with a focus on the world wars
- explore how heritage practitioners and archaeologists work out what survives, what is valued, and what is selected to be preserved
- consider the challenges of managing our dark heritage, with time devoted to the management of the heritage of the Holocaust
- explore the idea of heritage as a contested domain in flux, with many ‘stakeholders’, layers of meaning, and uses
Course breakdown
This course will run from Wednesday 15th October 2025 to Wednesday 10th June 2026.
Each term's teaching usually takes place on Wednesday evenings, with occasional social sessions taking place on Saturdays. Exact teaching dates and times will be confirmed in the course guide upon enrolment.
Michaelmas term: Conflict Archaeology
Conflict Archaeology is an exciting young sub-discipline which considers the archaeological record of modern conflict such as the excavation of WWI trenches, WWII Prisoner of War and concentration camps, and – of course – the study of objects, both those that have been excavated and those made by soldiers and prisoners. This course also considers memorials and commemorations of war, and the methods of fieldwork, as well as teaching you how to write a report on conflict sites near where you live.
- Unit 1 start date: Wednesday 15 October 2025
- Unit 1 end date: Wednesday 7 January 2026
Lent term: Dark Heritage
Dark heritage is a form of heritage associated with death and the darker side of history: it includes buildings with a dark past, such as prisons and camps; museums with ‘dark objects’ of war, and of course that darkest of heritage: Holocaust heritage. This course introduces you to the methods of studying, interpreting and managing these dark places in the present, as well as learning how and why to safeguard such sites from threats, risks and challenges in the present.
- Unit 2 start date: Thursday 8 January 2026
- Unit 2 end date: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Easter term: Heritage Studies
Heritage is about in the present—what survives, what is valued, and what is selected to be preserved. Heritage is a contested domain in flux, with many ‘stakeholders’, layers of meaning, uses, and ways of caring for the past. This unit introduces heritage studies by engaging with the questions of how and why approaches to heritage have changed over time and what such shifts mean for theory and practice in the present and future. This unit will probe a range of pivotal heritage issues such as commodification, repatriation, illicit antiquities, decolonization and collecting the present.
- Unit 3 start date: Wednesday 8 April 2026
- Unit 3 end date: Wednesday 10 June 2026
After the course
If you enjoyed the Diploma in Conflict Archaeology and Heritage, why not take its companion course, the Diploma in Archaeology: Death and the Ancient World?
Students may take any two Diplomas in Archaeology to acquire a Diploma of Higher Education in Archaeology, which is equivalent to 120 credits at level 5, and is equivalent to the second year of an undergraduate degree.
Entry requirements
To be accepted onto a Diploma course, you will normally have passed a Certificate (level 4) qualification, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject.
We are able to make exceptions, especially if you have evidence of relevant professional experience that demonstrates your suitability for the course.
Please tell us about any previous study or relevant educational and professional experience when you apply.
Your application will be reviewed by the Course Director or Academic Director, who will decide whether to make you an offer of a place.
If you are still unsure which academic level to study, would like an informal discussion on academic matters before making your application, or would like to know more about the admissions process, please use the 'Ask a question' button.
English language requirements
If you are applying to study an Undergraduate Certificate, Diploma or Advanced Diploma and your first language is not English, you will need to meet the requirements of one of the language proficiency tests below. Your test must be completed and the results submitted to our admissions team no later than Friday 5 September 2025.
IELTS (Academic), IELTS for UKVI Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake
Overall score of 7.0, with not less than 7.0 in Speaking, Listening and Writing, and 6.5 in Reading.
TOELF iBT or TOEFL Home Edition
https://www.ets.org/toefl.html
Overall score of 100, with no element below 25.
Cambridge English C2 Proficiency
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/proficiency/
Overall score of 200, with no element lower than 185.
IT requirements
The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
You will therefore need to have access to:
- the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device
- speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material
- a webcam and microphone for any interactive sessions which may be available
Identity Check
As part of your application you are required to provide a copy of your ID. At the beginning of the course, you will be required to attend a live zoom session, so that we can verify your identity. Please note we will not be able to issue the award if an identity check has not been completed.
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 by guest speakers and facilitators, and interactive and experiential learning activities. We will also give you reading and assignments to complete outside of classroom sessions.
You will normally be asked to submit two assignments totalling 3,000-4,000 words for each unit to demonstrate your learning. 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 second year of a full-time undergraduate degree. You will earn 60 CATS credits on successful completion. CATS credits are recognised by higher education institutions and employers.
Students who have successfully completed two of our 60-credit level 5 Diplomas in Archaeology can apply to be awarded the Diploma of Higher Education in Archaeology (120 credits at level 5).
How many hours of study are required?
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.
The fee for this course is £3,300. You can either pay:
- in full when you enrol,
or - Your account will be set up for you to pay in 3 equal instalments: the first when you enrol, the second by 1 January, and the third and final instalment by 1 April – (standard instalment plan). The exact dates will be confirmed in your booking details.
Important: your place on the course is not secured until we receive your first payment along with any required documents, such as proof of English language proficiency.
If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay. Please note that places are limited and on a first-come first-served basis.
Help with fees
We have many sources of financial support that you can explore.
Refunds
This course will require a minimum number of students to run. In the rare event that the course is cancelled by us, due to minimum numbers not being met, or for any other reason, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid.
Disability Support
The University’s Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre Non-Matriculated Service (ADRC NMS) provides advice, guidance, and resources to University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) award-bearing undergraduate and postgraduate students who have a diagnosed disability or medical condition, including mental health conditions. The support provided can include:
- appointments with a Senior disability adviser or Neurodiversity disability adviser
- reviewing/assessing medical or diagnostic evidence
- production of a Student Support Document (SSD)
- signposting to sources of disability-related funds (Disabled Students’ Allowances [DSA], as well as other internal funds for home and international students)
- coordination of human support, such as specialist mentoring or specialist study skills
- neurodiversity screening service (Autism, Specific Learning Difficulties, ADHD)
- signposting to disability library services
- signposting to assistive technology and software support
If you would like to access support then please indicate this on your course application form and then complete the ADRC NMS online Student Information Form so they can work with you to fully support your studies. Please upload medical evidence (written in English) when prompted to within the Student Information Form. The following links to guidance on medical evidence or diagnostic evidence will help to answer any questions you may have.
If you have any questions concerning disability support then please contact the ADRC NMS team via [email protected] or view their website.
Wellbeing Support
It is important that all our learners feel safe in their learning environment and student wellbeing is our key priority. We have a dedicated Student Support team who can offer a variety of support mechanisms to those who are experiencing challenges maintaining positive mental wellbeing. The PACE Student Support Team are here to support you throughout the duration of your studies with us and can:
- meet with you via teams/zoom (camera can be off) to discuss any concerns surrounding your wellbeing, mental health, academic pressures, or welfare
- advise you on options and signpost you to appropriate sources of guidance which range from self-guided resources to wellbeing conversations
- direct you to specialist support and help concerning welfare, wellbeing, safeguarding and prevent
- in specific circumstances (where there is a clear need unmet elsewhere) provide access to counselling
- provide access to study skills resources
If you have any questions concerning learning support, then please contact us.
