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Archaeology MA

Our master's in Archaeology inspires you to think about the human past from a variety of thematic and analytical perspectives.

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Start date(s):

  • September 2025
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Overview

Join our Master's in Archaeology and immerse yourself in a region rich with prehistoric, Roman, medieval, and post-medieval heritage.

Experience a dynamic learning environment with field trip opportunities that bring our rich archaeological landscape to life, and engage directly with archaeology through visits to our on-campus museum, Great North Museum: Hancock, which houses world-class collections that are essential to your learning experience.

The Archaeology Master's has six specialist pathways and a generic route. You can select a pathway to suit your individual needs, background and career aspirations. As well as a general ‘Archaeology’ pathway, you can choose from:

  • Prehistoric Archaeology
  • Classical Archaeology: Greek and Roman
  • Roman Frontier Studies
  • Late Antique, Medieval and Byzantine Archaeology
  • Historical Archaeology
  • Archaeology, Artefacts and Technologies

Newcastle University has a long and distinguished history of archaeological research, including:

  • Prehistoric archaeology in Britain, Western Europe and the Mediterranean
  • Greek archaeology
  • Roman archaeology
  • Archaeology of the late antique period
  • Western medieval archaeology
  • Byzantine archaeology
  • Historical archaeology (the post-1500 AD world)
  • Landscape studies
  • Material culture studies
  • Experimental archaeology

You'll join a vibrant archaeology community at Newcastle and receive specialist teaching from leading academics in subjects of their research expertise.

Throughout the course you'll have opportunities to engage and learn about our innovative research.

We have an extensive programme of invited speakers from across the country and around the world, giving you a chance to connect with researchers based in other institutions.

Join a vibrant community of postgraduate students from Archaeology, Classics and History through our Postgraduate Forum, which also has a seminar series, annual conference and e-journal.

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Important information

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Qualifications explained

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

What you'll learn

Build the degree that works for you. Pick from various period-based, practical, and theoretical modules.

Our compulsory modules build a solid foundation in archaeological research. Optional modules let you specialise in particular fields of interest.

Lectures, seminars, and practical activities will help you understand how archaeologists interpret data. In turn you'll better understand how to apply their methodologies and sources to your own research.

Modules

All students will take the following module:

Compulsory moduleCredits
ARA8099 Dissertation 60

All students will take at least one of the following modules:

Optional modulesCredits
ARA8025 Graduate Seminar in Artefact Analysis 20
ARA8150 Graduate Seminar in Roman Archaeology 20
ARA8180 Early Medieval Western Europe 20
ARA8291 Graduate Seminar in Historical Archaeology: Archaeologies of European Expansion 20
ARA8392 Graduate Seminar in Prehistoric Archaeology 20

If you choose to take a pathway (more information below) we highly recommend that you choose the graduate seminar for that pathway. For example, if you choose the Prehistoric Archaeology pathway, we recommend you choose ARA8392 Graduate Seminar in Prehistoric Archaeology.

Pathways

Before you start your degree you may choose to graduate with an MA in Archaeology, or you may choose to specialise in one of the following areas:

  • Prehistoric Archaeology
  • Classical Archaeology: Greek and Roman
  • Roman Frontier Studies
  • Late Antique, Medieval and Byzantine Archaeology
  • Historical Archaeology
  • Archaeology, Artefacts and Technologies 

When you graduate, your degree transcript will reflect the pathway that you choose, eg MA Prehistoric Archaeology

If you'd prefer not to specialise in one of these areas and instead graduate with an MA in Archaeology, you may choose your remaining credits (up to a total of 180) from any of the modules listed in the Archaeology section below.

However, if you choose a pathway, you must complete at least three modules from that pathway. For example if you choose Prehistoric Archaeology, you must choose at least three modules from the Prehistoric Archaeology section listed below, with any remaining credits used on modules in the Archaeology section.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

How you'll learn

Your development

Practical skills

You can develop a range of advanced practical skills depending on the modules you select. These can include:

  • Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
  • ancient languages
  • artefact and material culture analysis
  • field survey methods
  • archaeological laboratory practice
  • research skills

Work experience

We'll encourage you to gain archaeological experience outside of your course while you're part of our archaeology community.

We make every effort to provide opportunities for students to join on various ongoing research projects and excavations run by staff.

Your future

What can you do with a master's in archaeology?

The Archaeology MA provides you with outstanding skills and the ability to enter a range of professions. You'll gain advanced skills in:

  • research
  • project management
  • archaeological method and theory
  • communication
  • problem solving
  • responsibility/leadership
  • team work
  • time management

Many of our students go on to careers in the heritage sector, including commercial archaeology (cultural resource management), museums and non-governmental organisations.

We have extensive ties with local heritage organisations and provide opportunities to network with prospective employers.

You could also choose to continue your academic career with a PhD in archaeology.

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Facilities

Our archaeologists have exceptional facilities on campus. This includes over 200 years of scholarship, libraries and archaeological collections built up by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle and the Great North Museum: Hancock, through which you'll have access to one of finest archaeological collections in the UK.

You can access the following internationally important collections:

  • Prehistoric Europe collections
  • Ancient Greek collections
  • Etruscan collections
  • Roman collections (from across the empire)
  • Medieval artefacts
  • Gertrude Bell archive

The recently refurbished Armstrong Building is home to Archaeology. It has:

  • dedicated study spaces
  • Reading Room
  • computers
  • free printing
  • photocopying
  • laptops for research trips

The Wolfson Archaeology Laboratory has dedicated teaching spaces as well as resources to conduct your own research, including:

  • an animal bones reference collection
  • a thin section and microfossil slide collection
  • Roman pottery collections
  • Post-Medieval metalwork and ceramics collections
  • specialist equipment for soil, pollen, phytolith and other microfossil sample preparations.
  • material culture analytical suite with microscopy, spectroscopy, 3D scanning and x-ray facilities

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

  • matriculation
  • registration
  • tuition (or supervision)
  • library access
  • examination
  • re-examination
  • graduation

Find out more about:

Search for funding

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Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

How to apply


Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

 

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.


Apply Online  

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Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Sandra Fletcher
School of History, Classics and Archaeology
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7966
Email: pg.historical@ncl.ac.uk

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For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

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