Master's Programme in Archaeology
120 credits
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 in cultural heritage, history and environment studies. The programme is vocational, but will also provide you with research skills.
Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024, Uppsala, 100%, On-campus, English
- Location
- Uppsala
- Pace of study
- 100%
- Teaching form
- On-campus
- Instructional time
- Daytime
- Start date
- 2 September 2024
- Language of instruction
- English
- Entry 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.
- First tuition fee instalment: SEK 50,000
- Total tuition fee: SEK 200,000
- Application deadline
- 15 January 2024
- Application code
- UU-M5025
- Additional information
-
In addition to the general supporting documents, you also need to submit a programme-specific statement of purpose (1 page).
Check the application guide for information on how to apply and what other supporting documents you need to submit.
Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024, Visby, 100%, On-campus, English
- Location
- Visby
- Pace of study
- 100%
- Teaching form
- On-campus
- Instructional time
- Daytime
- Start date
- 2 September 2024
- Language of instruction
- English
- Entry 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.
- First tuition fee instalment: SEK 50,000
- Total tuition fee: SEK 200,000
- Application deadline
- 15 January 2024
- Application code
- UU-M5026
- Additional information
-
In addition to the general supporting documents, you also need to submit a programme-specific statement of purpose (1 page).
Check the application guide for information on how to apply and what other supporting documents you need to submit.
Autumn 2025 Autumn 2025, Uppsala, 100%, On-campus, English
- Location
- Uppsala
- Pace of study
- 100%
- Teaching form
- On-campus
- Instructional time
- Daytime
- Start date
- 1 September 2025
- Language of instruction
- English
- Entry 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.
- First tuition fee instalment: SEK 50,000
- Total tuition fee: SEK 200,000
- Application deadline
- 15 January 2025
- Application code
- UU-M5025
- Additional information
-
In addition to the general supporting documents, you also need to submit a programme-specific statement of purpose (1 page).
Check the application guide for information on how to apply and what other supporting documents you need to submit.
Autumn 2025 Autumn 2025, Visby, 100%, On-campus, English
- Location
- Visby
- Pace of study
- 100%
- Teaching form
- On-campus
- Instructional time
- Daytime
- Start date
- 1 September 2025
- Language of instruction
- English
- Entry 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.
- First tuition fee instalment: SEK 50,000
- Total tuition fee: SEK 200,000
- Application deadline
- 15 January 2025
- Application code
- UU-M5026
- Additional information
-
In addition to the general supporting documents, you also need to submit a programme-specific statement of purpose (1 page).
Check the application guide for information on how to apply and what other supporting documents you need to submit.
About the programme
The programme is offered in both Uppsala and at Campus Gotland in Visby. You need to choose where you want to study the 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 experience. You will acquire skills in field studies, different methods and interpretative models in the exploration of the past. Through our practical exercises, you will learn Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and during fieldwork, you will excavate under supervision.
The duration of the full programme is two years and is worth 120 credits. 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 45 credits. If you follow the one-year programme, the coursework 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 departments worldwide in the subject of Archaeology (QS World University Rankings 2024).
Upon completing a Master's degree in Archaeology our students have numerous transferable skills that enable them to find work in for example contract archaeology, cultural heritage management, tourism, tour leaders and guides, 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 are in the majority, with others representing a range of nationalities from elsewhere in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. Students come from either a background in archaeology, anthropology or Scandinavian studies with a strong component of archaeology in their previous studies. The student group in Uppsala is about 15 students and in Visby about 10 students.
Degree
The programme leads to the degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with Archaeology as the main field of study. After one year of study, it is possible to obtain a degree of Master of Arts (60 credits).
Content
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: Applied Theory and Method. It runs at 50% of a full-time study load and you will take the course together with students from the Master's Programmes 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 as required.
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 an individually designed in-depth course or a method course (7,5 credits) relevant to the field. 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 into three modules 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, 15 credits
Semester 2
- Advanced field course in archaeology, 15 credits
- Thesis module 1, 7.5 credits
- Elective course, 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 between two and 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 students. Some courses have a more practical orientation, such as internships, courses on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and archaeological excavations in the field. You are expected to study 40 hours per week throughout the programme.
Course assessment is normally continuous and 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. Written assignments can be submitted in either English or Swedish.
The programme is offered both in Uppsala and at Campus Gotland in Visby. You should choose to take either the programme in Uppsala or in Visby. Gotland is an island located in the Baltic Sea between the mainland of Sweden and the Baltic States. Visby is a World Heritage site, and is the best-preserved Medieval city in Scandinavia.
Career
Previous students have found work as:
- archaeologists,
- museum curators and educators,
- investigators for the public sector,
- tour leaders and guides,
- cultural writers,
- 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 knowledge of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) within local and national government agencies, museums in Sweden and internationally. With a Master's degree in Archaeology, you are able to apply for further PhD studies in the field.
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.
Is this programme right for you?
Read interviews with our students.
Register your interest
Keep updated about the application process.
Contact
- For programme-specific information, please contact the director of studies Carl-Gösta Ojala:
- carl-gosta.ojala@arkeologi.uu.se
- For admissions-related or general information, please contact our applicant support team:
- study@uu.se
Students
As a student you will find information about your studies in the student gateway.