BA in Archaeology - Heritage and Society

Leiden University

In the specialisation Heritage and Society you explore the role of heritage in society. With our combination of education and research you lay a strong foundation for an (inter)national career in heritage management and policy.

Why study Heritage and Society?

Cultural heritage is important for a community. It plays a role in a people's identity and can determine the way they experience history. In this specialisation you will investigate the interaction between cultural heritage and society.

• Reflect on the future of cultural heritage and the preservation choices that are being made;
• Learn about the theoretical and practical sides of heritage policy from an archaeological perspective;
• Dive into topical themes, by, for example, exploring the role of cultural heritage among migrant communities.

Heritage and Society is a specialisation of the Bachelor's programme in Archaeology. You will choose your specialisation in the first year of your Bachelor's studies in Archaeology.

Study Archaeology at Leiden University

• Study at a Faculty that has quite rightly earned a place in the top ten of archaeology research and teaching institutes in the world.
• Benefit from our large network in international research.
• Use our modern facilities and consult the world-renowned collections of the University Library.

Is this the programme for you?

Archaeology at Leiden University is the programme for you if:

• you literally and figuratively want to dig into the past;
• you have an investigative nature;
• you are interested in people and their (material) culture;
• you are practical, but not daunted by academic theory;
• you have a good grasp of English;
• you are social and are able to work well together with others.

After graduation

With a lot of theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and your bachelor's degree in the pocket, you are ready for the next step: either entering the heritage job market or continuing your studies.

What are your skills with your bachelor's degree?

After three years of study, you have all the required knowledge of heritage, and you know about the theory and practice of heritage management and policy. You have the theoretical background needed to analyse your observations and hypotheses. Also, you are capable of reporting about your research. And you are well aware of the ethical aspects that are involved in working with cultural heritage.

Your career prospects

Where our alumni are employed after their studies depends on their chosen specialisations, personal interests and skills. Therefore it is extremely important to start thinking about your future well ahead of graduation. Do you want to continue your studies? Generally, a completed master's degree gives you a better chance of an (academic) job, but with a bachelor's degree you can enter the archaeological job market as well.