The Classical Studies element of the course provides a broad exposure to the literature, history, and culture of the Greek and Roman worlds, which sit at the heart of modern Western civilisation. Your literary modules, studied in translation, include poetry, tragic and comic drama, and cover broad themes such as love, loss, duty, war and peace. There is also the opportunity to discover how the ancient world has influenced modern literature and culture, and to study other aspects of the ancient past such as its art – including through first-hand access to our own unique collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities. At the University of Reading, our expertise in Archaeology starts with the earliest humans and spans up until the medieval period. We focus mainly on British, European and Near Eastern Archaeology, but explore other regions across the world. You will learn about Burial Archaeology, Material Culture, Bioarchaeology (including human remains), Forensics, Past Environments (including Geoarchaeology), Museums and Gender Archaeology. Benefit from our dedicated Archaeology Building and specialist equipment, and learn in purpose-built laboratories. This degree programme is also available as a 4-year course, giving you the option of spending your third year on a placement or studying for one year at a University abroad, gaining valuable professional and international experience. You can also combine the two options by spending one semester studying abroad and then undertaking a half-year professional placement abroad or back in the UK. We provide opportunities for you to undertake placements in a variety of contexts. Placements are an excellent way to enhance your work-related skills and develop a network of contacts, as well as strengthen your employability prospects. Past students have undertaken work placements in a charity, barristers' chambers and within a division of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Opportunities are also available working across the archaeological, heritage, planning and museum sectors including: research institutions, government organisations, local planning authorities, archaeological consultancies, field units, specialists and archivists. Alternatively you can choose a placement in a non-related business or industry, exploring different career options and enhancing your employability by drawing on the many non-vocational, transferable skills you obtain from an Archaeology degree. This joint degree can lead to a variety of careers. The course is an ideal foundation to begin your career in commercial archaeology, heritage management and research, as well as disciplines such as teaching, business, publishing and marketing.