Master's Programme in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History

If you are interested in Mediterranean archaeology and ancient history, this programme was made for you! Much of what we take for granted in politics, economy and culture has its roots in antiquity. In this programme, you will learn to analyse and communicate a cultural heritage which is central to European identity.

You will take a mixture of compulsory and elective courses during the programme. The Department of Archaeology, Ancient History and Conservation 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.

The Department of Archaeology, Ancient History and Conservation at Uppsala University strives for excellence in its teaching and research and is currently ranked highly in the subject of Archaeology (QS World University Rankings 2026).

Upon completion of a Master's degree in Classial Archaeology and Ancient History 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 represent the majority, with others coming from elsewhere in Europe and North America. Students come from a background in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History. The student group is based in Uppsala and is usually 5–10 students per year.

Career

Previous students have found work as:

• archaeologists
• museum curators and educators
• investigators for the public sector
  
• tour leaders and guides
• cultural writers
  
• teachers
• researchers

Graduates have found jobs working within tourist information (Destination Uppsala), the police force, and jobs requiring Geographical Information Systems (GIS) within local and national government agencies, and museums in Sweden and internationally. With a Master's degree in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History, you are able to apply for further PhD studies in this field.

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

Content

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) in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History.

The programme starts with two compulsory courses, followed by a range of elective courses offered by the Department of Archaeology, Ancient History and Conservation, or by other departments at the Faculty of Arts. The compulsory courses are taken together with students from the Master's Programmes in Archaeology and in Egyptology.

You will design your education according to your own 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 being 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 do an internship (worth 7.5 or 15 credits) or take an individually designed in-depth or a method course (7.5 credits) relevant to the field.

You will write a 45-credit Master's thesis. It is divided up into 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

Below is an example of what the programme outline might look like for the full two-year programme. If you follow the one-year programme, you will do your Master's thesis during the second semester.

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

• Thesis module 1, 7.5 credits
• Elective courses, 22.5 credits

Semester 3

• Thesis module 2, 7.5 credits
• Elective courses, 22.5 credits

Semester 4

• Thesis module 3, 30 credits.

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 students. Some courses have a more practical orientation, such as internships and courses on Geographical Information Systems (GIS). You are expected to study 40 hours per week throughout the programme.

Course assessment is normally continuous based on your active participation in seminars and assessed work. The assessment 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.

Degree

The programme leads to the degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with Classical Archaeology and Ancient History as the main field of study. After one year of study, it is possible to obtain a degree of Master of Arts (60 credits).