MA Archaeology
Please note: This page is for 2027 entry. Click here for 2026 entry.
| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time 2 years part time |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above in a social science* or humanities subject, biology, chemistry, heritage or environmental science. |
|---|---|
Why study MA Archaeology at Exeter?
- Exposure to core methods and issues in contemporary archaeology
- Flexibility to choose subjects around your own interests through a range of options
- You will achieve a respected standalone qualification or training for a PhD degree in line with UK Research Council requirements
- Our location is surrounded by sites of archaeological interest and you may also have opportunities for international fieldwork
Top 40 in world subject rankings for Archaeology
QS World University Subject Rankings 2026
Top 10 in the UK for Archaeology and Forensic Science
10th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
Top 10 in the Complete University Guide 2027
4th in the UK for internationally excellent Archaeology research
Based on research rated 4* and 3* in REF 2021
Entry requirements
We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above in a social science* or humanities subject, biology, chemistry, heritage or environmental science. While we normally only consider applicants who meet this criteria, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant work experience, we would welcome your application.
For applicants from different academic backgrounds or with relevant work experience, please use your Personal Statement to provide additional information. This might include:
- Why you want to study this course at the University of Exeter and what personal qualities make you suitable for postgraduate study.
- Relevant background (work/degree experience).
- Lecturers/modules you are particularly interested in and why.
- Career/future ambitions and how the course will help you achieve them.
Feel free to informally contact the Programme Director (see above) for advice before submitting your formal application.
*Accepted social science subjects include:
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Area and Development Studies
- Criminology
- Demography
- Development Studies
- Economics
- Economic and Social History
- Education
- Environmental Planning
- History
- Human Geography
- International Relations
- Law
- Linguistics
- Management and Business Studies
- Media and Communication Studies
- Philosophy
- Politics and International Studies
- Psychology
- Science and Technology Studies
- Social Policy
- Social Statistics, Methods, and Computing
- Social Work
- Socio Legal Studies
- Sociology
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
Entry requirements for international students
Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course.
The required IELTS test scores for this course fall under Profile B1.
Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Course content
The programme is divided into units of study called modules which are assigned 'credits'. The credit rating of a module is proportional to the total workload, with 1 credit being nominally equivalent to 10 hours of work.
The modules below provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
You must take 120 compulsory credits and 60 optional credits.
You may take a maximum of 30 credits at level 6.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Dissertation | 60 | |
| Themes in Archaeological Theory and Practice | 15 | |
| Landscape Archaeology: Understanding the Historic Environment | 15 | |
| Material Culture | 15 | |
| Research Skills in Archaeology and History | 15 | |
ARCM004: Dissertation
The dissertation is a self-contained study of 20,000 words based on your own research, counting for 60 credits. It offers you the chance to undertake research and present the results at greater length than you have had in other parts of your course. You will need to work out a topic to study, in conjunction with a potential supervisor, and to establish how you will set about answering the questions posed (i.e. a methodology). The choice of topic is your own; it is important to choose something that offers good possibilities for developing an independent piece of work. While there is no requirement that the topic is 'original', in the sense that a PhD must be original, it must obviously not be something where you can simply copy from a few basic texts. You need to work out your own approach; we encourage you to collect and analyse your own data in the field or the laboratory, though library-based studies are also possible.
The work on the dissertation is designed to enable you to develop your skills at individual work within a research framework. You will learn how to collect and collate information from a range of sources, to analyse and present published or unpublished data, to develop skills relating to illustration, and to create hypotheses about the data based on your analysis. The completed work should be a well-written study of the topic under discussion, with illustrations of high quality and a fully developed bibliography.
ARCM120: Themes in Archaeological Theory and Practice
This module aims at providing you with a range of analytical and interpretative skills through the exploration of theoretical and methodological approaches to contemporary archaeological research. This will be achieved through lectures and class discussions, where we will have the chance to examine in detail different perspectives and approaches through a wide range of case studies. You will be encouraged to think about the integrated nature of theory and practice in archaeological research, and to develop your critical analytical skills through the examination and discussion of a variety of approaches in a wide range of settings.
Knowledge of archaeological theory and methods is essential for anyone entering research in archaeology. Critical analytical and interpretative skills deriving from the systematic study of these can also be useful for professional and personal development within a wider framework.
ARCM225: Landscape Archaeology: Understanding the Historic Environment
You will examine on this module sources, methods, and themes in the archaeological study of landscapes (e.g. settlement patterns and hierarchies, communication routes, field-systems and other land-uses, building remains, multi-phase sites, continuities and discontinuities in landscapes), and explore key themes in the evolution of landscapes in a variety of locations, including Britain and continental Europe. Although there are no pre-requisite modules, you will need to have a basic understanding of the techniques of archaeology (equivalent to undergraduate introductory level modules). On completion of the module, you will understand the major sources and techniques used in the archaeological study of landscapes and you will be able to critically assess which methods are appropriate for studying particular landscapes.
ARCM300: Material Culture
This module introduces advanced archaeological and interdisciplinary approaches to material culture, drawing on anthropology, history, heritage studies, sociology, geography, psychology, and related fields. You will develop a critical understanding of how material culture shapes and reflects human societies, and examine the key theories used to interpret objects, technologies, and material practices. You will gain a set of conceptual and analytical tools applicable to research, museum and heritage work, and artefact based professional environments, with an emphasis on evaluating theoretical perspectives and applying them to archaeological and contemporary contexts.
Throughout the module, you will engage with a variety of theoretical texts, empirical case studies, and hands-on examples. Seminars emphasise critical discussion, reflective practice, and the integration of theory with archaeological evidence. Assessment typically asks you to synthesise and evaluate complex theoretical perspectives, and to apply them creatively to materials or contexts of your choosing.
HASM026: Research Skills in Archaeology and History
Research - the acquisition of new knowledge - is one of the most personally fulfilling aspects of academia, and in life more generally. To be a successful researcher requires an understanding of the entire research process: beginning with idea generation and networking/team building, through the design of coherent, ethical and risk-assessed projects/funding applications, to collaborative working in equitable partnerships in order to generate data. All of this comes before evidence can be synthesised, analysed, visualised, interpreted and presented. Presentation itself is a vital part of the research process, and there are many audiences that require different kinds of engagement.
This module will provide you with understanding of the research process through first-hand experience. The module takes an active learning approach where, in addition to mini-lectures, discussions and research exercises, the class will work together on a number of activities, including the organisation and running of a Departmental Conference (physical or virtual). During classes you will work on tasks that you will tailor to your own interests and skill development needs. By the end of the module, you will have gained new experiences that will benefit your CV whilst advancing your own research.
Module aims:
Provide you with an understanding of approaches to archaeology, history and forensics and how these disciplinary fields interdigitate.
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Optional 1 | ||
| Archaeology of the Americas | 15 | |
| Lords to Lepers: Medieval Social Worlds | 15 | |
| Trading Places, Towns, Royal Palaces and Fortifications: Early Medieval Centres in Europe | 15 | |
| Understanding the Landscape of Roman Britain | 15 | |
| Palaeobotany | 15 | |
| Aerial Survey | 15 | |
| Professional Skills in Archaeology | 15 | |
| Advanced Project | 15 | |
| Skeletal Anatomy | 15 | |
| Researching Heritage Online | 15 | |
| Advanced Analysing Artefacts and Materials | 15 | |
| Funerary Archaeology | 15 | |
| Practicing Archaeological, Forensic and Heritage Science | 15 | |
| Discovering the Past with Molecular Science | 15 | |
| Field Study | 15 | |
| Advanced Zooarchaeology | 15 | |
| Advanced Human Osteology | 15 | |
| Zooarchaeology | 15 | |
| The Archaeology of Humans and Other Animals | 15 | |
| Forensic Anthropology: Principles and Practice | 15 | |
| Rome: Globalisation, Materiality | 15 | |
| Ancient Epigraphy | 15 | |
| Pandemics and Disease in the Ancient Mediterranean | 15 | |
Fees
2026/27 entry
UK fees per year:
£12,650 full-time; £6,325 part-time
International fees per year:
£25,550 full-time; £12,775 part-time
Scholarships
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship
We are pleased to offer the University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship, a scholarship for University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship worth 20% of the cost of your first year tuition fees.
Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply.
University of Exeter MA Archaeology Ayudar Scholarship 2026/27
We have on offer a full, donor-funded scholarship for a student from Colombia (or other South American country) beginning MA Archaeology in September 2006, to focus their dissertation on exploring some of South America’s earliest and most visually striking rock art. More information is available on the MA Archaeology Ayudar Scholarship 2026/27 webpage.
Teaching and research
Teaching
Most of our teaching is done collaboratively in small groups because we feel this is the best way to help you develop. Your classes will be a mix of lectures, seminars and workshops where you will learn the methodology and practical skills you need. We have a range of specialist equipment and excellent facilities including laboratories, kiln room, and spaces for experimental archaeology.
Engagement
All members of staff are actively engaged in research, both in Britain and abroad, and regularly attend conferences, symposia and workshops. It is through this active engagement in the discipline that we are able to supply top quality teaching by experts in their field and as a result we have a 24/24 grading for our teaching from the Quality Assurance Agency.
Modules
The MA in Archaeology is a flexible programme that allows you to tailor your modules to fit your own interests across the first two terms. Your progress on your modules will be assessed through the coursework you produce which might include written reports, essays and presentations. In the third and final term you will work exclusively on your dissertation, an original piece of research on a topic of your choice.
Research
Our research at Exeter is world-leading and all our academic staff are actively engaged in both Britain and further afield. We are regular attendees at conferences, symposia and workshops and this active engagement with the wider research community allows us to offer top quality teaching by key experts in different specialisms.
Expertise
We are particularly unique for our expertise in the fields of Bioarchaeology and Experimental Archaeology. Our interests run from early prehistory through to the post-medieval period. Our geographic specialisations include the Americas, the British Isles, Europe, South Asia and North Africa.
Funded research
Interdisciplinary work is an increasingly important part of funded research and we regularly work with colleagues from across the College of Humanities and wider University. We have particular crossover with the History, Classics and Ancient History, and Theology Departments.
My research has a strong interdisciplinary dimension and I am particularly interested in medieval elite culture, buildings and landscapes. I also research the archaeology and history of designed landscapes, towns and townscapes; conflict archaeology; and medieval warfare.
Professor Oliver Creighton
Programme Director
Facilities
As a member of the Archaeology Department and key part of our postgraduate community you will have full access to our exceptional, modern facilities.
• Experimental Archaeology Labs
• Bioarchaeology Lab
• Clean Lab and fume cupboards for preparing stable isotope samples
• Landscape archaeology project office
• Microscope room equipped with high specification microscopes and image processing facilities
• Digital Humanities Lab
• Wet labs for artefact and environmental sample processing
• Digital x-ray facilities and equipment for elemental analysis
• State-of-the-art surveying equipment
• Outdoor experimental space
SHArD 3D Laboratory
The University of Exeter's Science, Heritage and Archaeology Digital 3D (SHArD 3D) Laboratory, is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to digitally replicating and preserving biological and cultural artefacts. Funded by nearly £893,000 from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), SHArD 3D employs advanced scanning and microscopy techniques to create detailed 3D models, enhancing the study of archaeological finds and bio-cultural heritage.
This cutting-edge laboratory offers students unparalleled opportunities to engage with the latest digital preservation technologies, including portable 3D scanning equipment for fieldwork and a microCT scanner for non-destructive imaging of artefacts. Collaborations with institutions like Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum will further enrich the learning experience, providing practical skills in digital archiving and analysis.
By studying Archaeology at the University of Exeter, students will be at the forefront of innovative research methods, preparing them for dynamic careers in heritage preservation and forensic analysis.
Learn more about our facilities
Collections
On top of all that we also have extensive reference collections of artefacts, animal bones and plant remains. So whatever your specific interests within archaeology we have the kit for it.
And of course you will have access to the wider resources of the University too, including the Library and Special Collections.
Careers
Many of our MA students go on to study at PhD level, and the MA in Archaeology serves as excellent preparation. Your tutors and the Archaeology academic staff will help you put together applications for funding and develop a research proposal if you should choose to take this path.
Of course, doctoral study is not the only option available to you, you will graduate with a full range of skills that will make you competitive in the archaeology job market.
An Ofsted report on recurrent funding for 2021/22 describes Archaeology graduates as “crucial to the sustainability of the UK workforce in development-led archaeology”. It highlights the national shortage of archaeologists due to the huge increase in major construction projects with field workers being recruited abroad to make up the deficit.
They’ve highlighted Archaeology as a recognised construction skill and a “necessary part of the supply chain for the delivery of housing and infrastructure development, for instance HS2, Crossrail, and the A14 corridor project.” It’s also essential to meet planning policy requirements, particularly when it comes to delivering sustainable development. Archaeology skills are recognised by the UK Government as being subject to a shortage, with archaeology jobs currently listed on the UK Shortage Occupation List.
On completion of our MA Archaeology, you will be well placed to go on to work in either Archaeology or the wider Heritage Sector, in other jobs within construction, community-based projects, or within the third sector, as just some examples.
Recent careers
Some of our recent graduates have gone on to careers such as:
- Archaeological Assistant
- Experimental Archaeologist
- Field Archaeologist
- Museum Curator
- Time Team Archaeologist/Community Archaeologist
Employment support
While studying at Exeter you can also access a range of activities, advice and practical help to give you the best chance of following your chosen career path. For more information visit our Careers pages.
