Master's Programme in Archaeology

Academic year 2023/2024

120 credits
Autumn 2023, Uppsala, 100%, Campus
Autumn 2023, Visby, 100%, Campus
Programme syllabus

Overview
Programme
Career
Admissions
Contact and further resources

Archaeology is the only discipline within the humanities that covers all of human history. The Master's Programme in Archaeology, lets you analyse historical processes and phenomena. Using methods from the natural sciences, the programme gives you a broad education within the cultural heritage, history and environment studies. The programme is vocational, but will also provide you with research skills.

The programme is offered in Uppsala and also at Campus Gotland in Visby. You need to choose to either study the programme in Uppsala or Visby.

Why this programme?

If you are interested in contract archaeology, cultural heritage management, or a career as a researcher, this is the programme for you. The programme is vocational but will also provide you with research skills. You will acquire skills in field studies, different methods and interpretative models in the exploration of the past. Through our laboratory exercises, you will learn Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and during fieldwork, you will dig under supervision.

The duration of the full programme is two years and is worth 120 credits, but you can also choose to complete your studies in one academic year, leading to a Master of Arts (60 credits) with Archaeology as the main field of study.

You will take a mixture of compulsory and elective courses during the programme. The Department of Archaeology and Ancient History offers courses in Archaeology, Classical Archaeology and Egyptology every semester. You can also choose courses from other subjects if you want to broaden your education further.

If you follow the two-year programme, you will take courses equivalent to 75 credits and write a Master's thesis worth 45credits. If you follow the one-year programme, the course work will amount to 30 credits and the Master's thesis will be worth 30 credits.

The Department of Archaeology and Ancient History at Uppsala University strives for excellence in its teaching and research and is currently ranked in the top 100 universities worldwide in the subject of Archaeology (QS World University Rankings 2022).

Upon completion of an MA in Archaeology our students have numerous transferable skills that enable them to find work in for example contract archaeology, cultural heritage management, tourism, jobs requiring Geographical Information Systems (GIS) within local and national government agencies or as educators, teachers, and researchers.

Student profile

The programme is international; Swedish students represent the majority, with a range of nationalities from elsewhere in Europe, North America, South America, China and also students from various other countries. Students come from either a background in archaeology; anthropology and Scandinavian studies with a strong component of archaeology within their studies. The student group in Uppsala is c. 20 students and at the Gotland campus c. 10 students.

Degree

The programme leads to a Master of Arts (120 credits) with Archaeology as the main field study. It is also possible to graduate after one academic year with a Master of Arts (60 credits).

Read the interview

Name: Kajsa Rosén-Wiksten
From: Hultsfred, Sweden

How did you choose this programme?
– I have always been fascinated by history, mainly the 1600s and 1900s. The reason I chose archaeology is to try to suppress the constant desire for more knowledge. And then the amazing feeling of finding an object and knowing that it is you and a human from maybe 1000 years ago who are the last two to hold this item. Further, I find the humanities and the cultural sector as a field of work very open, there is something for everyone.

What is the best thing about studying at Uppsala University?
– For me, it is the many opportunities provided in the form of seminars, exchange studies, the multitude of courses and all the fantastic teachers and researchers!

What is most challenging?
– In terms of studying, it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming with all the follow-up questions that arise along the way. It is not as simple as "just" digging up objects and documents, but you have to constantly challenge yourself and your worldview and mentality. However, I would like to add that it is a lot of fun and what feels tough and challenging is usually what develops you the most.

What are three things you will do this week?
– This very week I will food prep, continue to write my analysis work for my thesis and prepare for next week. Planning is essential!

What is your goal with the programme?
– My primary goal is to have a career in the cultural sector, hopefully in archaeology. My secondary goals are to work on several different archaeological excavations in Sweden and the rest of Europe to broaden my knowledge.

What advice would you like to give to someone who is considering applying for this programme?
– Perhaps the most common answer, but work on creating routines and structure as quickly as possible. It helps more than you think. Take all the chances that are offered, it will benefit you in the future. And don't forget the most important thing; have fun along the way!

Two quick questions
Favourite place in your student town?
– S:t Hansgatan, Kränku and the promenade.

Where is the best place to study?
– The archaeological lab at the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History here on Campus Gotland. For public areas, I warmly recommend the Almedal library or to book a group room on campus.

Spring 2023.

Programme

The Master's Programme in Archaeology starts with two compulsory courses, followed by a range of elective courses offered by the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History or by other departments at the Faculty of Arts.

The first compulsory course is Perspectives on the Past. It runs at 50% of a full-time study load and you will take the course together with students from the Master's Programme in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History and in Egyptology.

The second compulsory course, The Craft of Research, runs throughout the first semester and provides the foundation for the writing of your Master's thesis.

You will design your education according to your interests. At the beginning of the first semester, you will establish an individual study plan (ISP) together with the programme coordinator or director of studies. At that time, you will decide how to plan your studies; which courses to take, when to write your Master's thesis, etc. The ISP is revised every semester, or, more often if needed.

The department offers a number of courses, which normally run at 50% of a full-time study load. The idea behind this is that you should read two courses in parallel, or read one course while working on your thesis project. Apart from the courses offered by the department, which vary from semester to semester over a two-year cycle, you can choose to take an internship (worth 7.5 or 15 credits), or take courses individually tailored to suit your needs. You may also take courses offered by other departments at the university. Most of the department's courses are offered both in Uppsala and Visby, but some are only given at one campus.

You will write a 45-credit Master's thesis. It is divided up and written over several semesters. You can choose to devote your full attention to the thesis, or read a course at the same time.

Courses within the programme

You have the opportunity to arrange your own course of study in consultation with the Director of Studies. Below is an example of what such a study programme might look like for the full two-year programme.

Semester 1

Perspectives on the Past: Applied Theory and Method, 7.5 credits (compulsory)

The Craft of Research, 7,5 credits (compulsory)

Elective courses of 15 credits

Semester 2

Advanced field course in archaeology, 15 credits

Thesis module 1, 7,5 credits

Optional courses of 7,5 credits

Semester 3

Elective courses, 22,5 hp

Thesis module 2, 7,5 hp

Semester 4

Thesis module 3, 30 hp

Learning experience

Teaching typically includes two to four hours of seminars and lectures each week.

Between seminars, you are expected to read and digest texts and sometimes also discuss them with other participants. Some courses have a more practical orientation, such as internships, courses on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and archaeological excavations in the field. During these courses, you are expected to work 40 hours per week in an office, a lab or in the field.

Course assessment is normally continuous based on your active participation in seminars and assessed work. It may also consist of a longer essay submitted at the end of the course. The programme is taught in English. The programme is offered both in Uppsala and at Campus Gotland in Visby. You should choose to either take the programme in Uppsala or Gotland.

Gotland is an island located in the Baltic Sea between the mainland of Sweden and the Baltic States. Visby as a World Heritage site is the best-preserved medieval city in Scandinavia.

Career

With a Master of Arts degree in Archaeology, you are qualified for further PhD studies in this field. Previous students have found work as archaeologists, museum curators and educators, investigators for the public sector, aid workers, tour leaders and guides, cultural writers, librarians, teachers, forensic scientists and researchers.

Graduates have found jobs working with the Swedish Heritage Board, the County Administrative Board in Uppsala, and the police force (forensic section), and jobs requiring Geographical Information Systems (GIS) within local and national government agencies, museums in Sweden and internationally.

The department holds networking events in the areas of archaeology, museums and cultural heritage management where students can meet alumni who can provide insights into the job market as they prepare to graduate.

Career support

During your time as a student, UU Careers offers support and guidance. You have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities and events that will prepare you for your future career. Learn more about UU Careers.

Admissions

Below you will find details about eligibility requirements, selection criteria and tuition fees. For information on how to apply and what general documents you need to submit, check the application guide. Besides the general supporting documents, you also need to submit one programme-specific document: a statement of purpose.

Master's Programme in Archaeology

120 credits

Autumn 2023, 100%, Campus

Location: Uppsala

Application deadline: 16 January 2023

Application code: UU-M5025 Application

Language of instruction: English

Requirements:

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be archaeology.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Selection: Students are selected based on:

an overall appraisal of previous university studies; and
a statement of purpose.

Tuition fee-paying students and non-paying students are admitted on the same grounds but in different selection groups.

Fees:

If you are not a citizen of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees. Fees cover application and tuition only and do not cover accommodation, academic literature or the general cost of living. Read more about fees.

Application fee: SEK 900

Tuition fee, first semester: SEK 50,000

Tuition fee, total: SEK 200,000

Master's Programme in Archaeology

120 credits

Autumn 2023, 100%, Campus

Location: Visby

Application deadline: 16 January 2023

Application code: UU-M5026 Application

Language of instruction: English

Requirements:

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. The main field of study must be archaeology.

Language requirements

Selection: Students are selected based on: