Learning and assessment
How you will learn
You will be taught via a mixture of large-group lectures and smaller, interactive seminars.
You will also have practical teaching:
In one of our archaeology labs – dedicated to the study of materials, bones, zooarchaeology, archaeobotany, and isotope preparation.
Watch the 2021 archaeology laboratories tour video
Out in the field – as part of the compulsory fieldwork project and also via practical training at nearby Wollaton Hall.
Support
All new undergraduate students are allocated a peer mentor, to help you settle into life at Nottingham.
You are also assigned a personal tutor at the start of each academic year. Your personal tutor oversees your academic development and personal welfare.
Find out more about the support on offer
Teaching quality
100% of our class of 2020 graduated with a 1st or 2:1 degree classification. Source: UoN student outcomes data, Annual Monitoring (QDS) Analyses 2020.
Nine academics from the Department of Classics and Archaeology have received Advance HE recognition for their contribution to education, becoming Teaching Fellows.
89% of students from the Department of Classics and Archaeology agreed that 'Staff are good at explaining things'. 91% also agreed that ‘I have been able to contact staff when I needed to’ (National Student Survey 2021).
Teaching methods
- Field trips
- Lab sessions
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Placements
- Workshops
How you will be assessed
Our courses are modular, and range from full-year to semester-long modules. Assessment normally takes place towards the end of each semester, while beginners’ language modules are usually assessed by a coursework portfolio running throughout the semester.
Assessment methods
Assessment is based on a combination of coursework, including essays, research projects and the dissertation, oral presentations, and formal examinations. The precise assessments vary between modules and across the years of your degree. Some of our modules (such as 'Communicating the Past', or 'Classics and Comics') include the option of producing more artistic or creative coursework projects.
"I designed several T-shirts and hoodies which conveyed information about the site’s art and architecture, history, and its eventual ruination by ISIL in 2015. I wanted to combine my interest of fashion with my love for the Classical world, and this project gave me the opportunity to do so."
– Alexander Gadd, on the 'Communicating the Past' module
Feedback
We offer detailed written comments on all coursework, and the opportunity to discuss ideas and coursework with your tutor is an integral part of your studies at Nottingham. Whether by giving feedback on an essay plan or discussing the results of an assessment, we help you work to the best of your ability. There are appointed days in each semester to get feedback from tutors and module convenors, as well as other opportunities to discuss pieces of work.
Assessment methods
- Essay
- Dissertation
- Portfolio (written/digital)
- Presentation
- Reflective review
- Written exam
Contact time and study hours
You’ll have at least the following hours of timetabled contact a week through lectures, seminars and workshops, tutorials and supervisions.
- Year one: minimum of 12 hours
- Year two: minimum of 10 hours
- Final year: minimum of 8 hours
Your tutors will also be available outside these times to discuss issues and develop your understanding. We reduce your contact hours as you work your way through the course. As you progress, we expect you to assume greater responsibility for your studies and work more independently.
Your tutors will all be qualified academics. Our largest lectures are typically attended by up to 150 students, whereas the corresponding seminars are typically no bigger than 15. Other popular optional module lectures may be attended by up to 100 students, with up to 25 in each seminar group.
As well as scheduled teaching you’ll carry out extensive self-study such as:
- reading
- locating and analysing primary sources
- planning and writing essays and other assessed work
- collaborating with fellow students
As a guide, 20 credits (a typical module) is approximately 200 hours of work (combined teaching and self-study).
On this course, you will also undertake 10 days of fieldwork. This usually takes place during the summer break and can involve up to five days in a museum or similar environment.