Name: James
Hometown: Penzance
Course: BSc (Hons) Archaeology
Next Steps: University of Malta’s Master of Arts in Global Maritime Archaeology
My Story
When James opened the envelope containing his results, the news was life-changing: a First-Class Honours degree in BSc Archaeology from the University Centre Truro and Penwith. It wasn’t just a proud moment; it was a passport to the next step in his journey: a prestigious master’s in Underwater Global Maritime Archaeology in Malta.
James, who lives by the mantra “life begins at the edge of your comfort zone”, has always felt a strong pull toward the sea. With aspirations to become a Maritime Archaeologist, his journey began with the FdSc Archaeology degree at the University Centre. Even though the course doesn’t directly focus on maritime archaeology, James found it the perfect launchpad: “The lecturers are always keen to promote your particular niche in your studies whilst adapting areas of the course to help incorporate them,” he said.
Over his two years on the foundation degree, James praised the small class sizes and the flexibility the course structure offers. “The course is extremely flexible and allows me to travel multiple times a year,” he said. That flexibility was essential, allowing him to pursue his maritime interests far beyond the classroom.
James’ chosen career path has required a significant amount of independent research, but he embraced it fully. His self-directed studies have already taken him around the world, to places such as Venezuela, Gran Canaria, Santa Pola and Malta.
As part of his course’s professional work placement, James completed a maritime field school on the Dutch Antilles Island of Bonaire. “That enabled me to discover and record maritime archaeology whilst building on and learning new methodologies and techniques underwater,” he explained. Despite his strong maritime focus, James still appreciated learning about more traditional, ‘mud-based’ archaeology. “It was very valuable to have a greater knowledge of the science as a whole,” he reflected.
Progressing from the FdSc to the BSc (Hons) Archaeology top-up degree was a natural step for James. In his final year, he was able to tailor most of his assignments to his specialist interest. “My first assignment was mud,” he joked, “and then everything else was my choice. So, I did maritime in a mud-based degree – I got to do everything that I wanted, everything that I knew about.”
James’ dissertation project took him to Egypt, where he conducted a site survey of a WWII shipwreck in the Red Sea. “We had our own ship and survey equipment… I got to float around on the Red Sea for a few weeks, come back and then write about it—and then they gave me marks for it!” he said.
This and other opportunities came from James’ determination to find real-world experience, including reaching out to Dutch universities and archaeologists. “I found a mentor with a Dutch doctor who then took me under his wing,” he explained. “Every time there was a project, he reached out and said, if you can get here, you’re on it. And I did.”
That global field experience has taken him to the Caribbean, Egypt, and across Europe. His lecturers were fully supportive of his work. “If I said I need to go, they’d say it’s fine,” he said. “They were more excited to see what I was coming back with each time.”
Studying locally was also important to James: “Talent leaves Cornwall all the time,” he said. “But for me, the heritage is already down here. I just need the qualifications. So, with the University Centre, I get to stay home. And I get to stay in the heritage that I’m learning about.”
Looking ahead, James plans to take on internships and projects in the Caribbean, North America, Antigua, and Venezuela before returning home. His long-term goal is to work in cultural heritage management in Cornwall —preserving underwater sites for future generations. “We have so much down here,” he said. “There’s over five million shipwrecks around the coast of the UK and most of them are around the edge of Cornwall.”
He encourages others to take the leap: “You know, when you’re a kid and you go, ‘If I could be anything…’ So, I thought, well, I’ll do it. And it turns out I’m quite good at it.”
Inspired by his time at the University Centre Truro and Penwith, James has not only discovered a future he’s passionate about—he’s already begun to shape it.
