Earth Sciences courses

About Geographical And Archaeological Sciences (ba (hons)) in University College Cork

This course will appeal to students interested in the past and present relationship between human societies and their environments, and issues relating to heritage management, the environment and sustainable living. 

Geography and Archaeology are closely related disciplines, concerned with concepts of time and space in relation to human culture and landscape. This BA offers a broad foundation in both, with relevant teaching in the areas of computer science, earth science and environmental science. The aim is to provide you with a wide range of vocational skills relevant to Geography and Archaeology that are also transferable to other areas of employment.

This is the first university degree course in the disciplines of archaeology and geography currently on offer in the Irish university system.

Archaeology and geography are two closely related third-level disciplines, with common interests in the fields of anthropology/social science and earth/environmental science.

This degree combines both disciplines in a course that has a strong scientific orientation, with contributions from the computer/information technology and earth/environmental science areas.

The aim is to produce graduates with particular learning and skillsets for different areas of employment in archaeology and geography, as well as a broad range of transferable skills for work in other areas.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

You will have the opportunity to add a year on to this three-year degree to study abroad. You may spend Year 3 studying at one of our partner universities. We currently have links with universities in the following countries: Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden Mexico, and the USA.

Skills and Careers Information

The aim of this course is to provide you with a range of vocational skills relevant to archaeology and geography that are transferable to others areas of employment.

The course will be attractive to employers due to its multidisciplinary and skills-based design, in which you will develop a high level of critical thinking and problem-solving ability, an ability to analyse complex issues, and various technical competences that can be applied to different work situations. These include skills in computing and information technology, lab practice and fieldwork, basic research and report writing.

As well as being an exciting and interesting subject, archaeology is a professional career area, with varied and flexible employment opportunities at home and abroad. In Ireland, archaeologists work in the State heritage sector and local authorities, or as consultants working in the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Many geographers pursue rewarding careers in education, business, government agencies, and non-profit organisations.

The private sector is increasingly interested in the technical skills of geographers as many businesses use spatial information and geo-informatics in their work.

Academic qualification equivalents

 1.    All India Senior School Certificate 

 2.    Higher Secondary Certificate / Standard 12 

 3.    Indian School Certificate (Year 12) 

Band 1 Programmes

Minimum average of 90% + in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Band 2 Programmes

Minimum average of 80-89% in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Band 3 Programmes

Minimum average of 75-79% in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Additional Requirements

Where Maths is required for a specific degree programme, a minimum score of 85% in Maths is required.

Where a Lab Science subject is required for a specific degree programme, a minimum score of 85% is required in the appropriate Lab Science subject.

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS: 6.5  Minimum individual sections 5.5
• TOEFL: TOEFL 90  Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing 17
• PTE: 63 Minimum individual sections 51

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