MA Archaeology
-
Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 12 months Part Time: 24 months
-
Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 12 months Part Time: 24 months
Our flexible MA Archaeology course prepares you for a career in research, the commercial sector or heritage management.
Study at the UK's top university for archaeological research
The University is in the top 100 in the world for Archaeology (QS World Rankings by Subject, 2024, Archaeology. The ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø is ranked 51-100 in the world).
The ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø is ranked 1st in the UK for research quality and research outputs in Archaeology (Times Higher Education Institutions Ranked by Subject, based on its analysis of the latest Research Excellence Framework 2021).
Our world-class research is nurtured by three research clusters and a regular research seminar programme, which you can join as part of our research community.
What you'll study
This course allows you to discover archaeology for the first time, or deepen your existing knowledge. You'll gain an effective grounding in archaeological practice and research.
We offer a focused pathway, enabling you to concentrate on specialised research areas through your dissertation and core modules.
Choose from a variety of options, including:
- specialisms from the palaeolithic to medieval period
- theoretical approaches and contemporary challenges
- heritage practice
- professional placements
- integrated social and scientific approaches
- post-excavation and graphics skills.
Assessments are varied, providing a mix of vocational and research opportunities, such as:
- article critiques
- essays
- project design and professional reports
- practical assessments
- catalogue entries and object biographies
- seminar and conference presentations
- a research proposal and dissertation.
Research opportunities
As part of your degree you can take an optional research and enterprise placement module. You'll be placed with a member of staff at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, or gain experience of working in an external environment such as the British Museum or Oxford Archaeology.
You may also have the opportunity to participate in staff research excavations in Europe, including:
- our Rethinking the “Green Revolution” in the Medieval Western Mediterranean (6th-16th Centuries) project
- excavations at an Anglo-Saxon monastery in the vicinity of Holy Trinity church in the village of Cookham.
Facilities
You'll have access to advanced facilities in the Department of Archaeology, including:
- fully-equipped and dedicated laboratories
- a dedicated graphics suite
- microscopy suite
- MA study room.
Our analytical suites allow you to access a range of techniques for your research projects.