Archaeology

Archaeology is the discipline of things, exploring how people in the past created unique societies through their construction, use and perception of landscapes, plants, animals and things. Archaeology can explore the origins and character of past societies, population migrations, and the relationship between human behaviour, landscapes, material culture and climatic and environmental change. Archaeology holds many opportunities for an interesting and rewarding career, in archaeological practice, in cultural heritage and archaeological management and conservation, in museums and curation, in academic research and in public engagement and education.



Your learning will be built around engaging and training in key archaeological skills, such as Landscape Archaeology, Artefact and Material Culture studies, Environmental Archaeology, Geographical Information Systems (G.I.S.), LiDAR and Remote Sensing and Archaeological Field Practice. You will also have the opportunity to take specific modules and design and complete an MSc Dissertation so as to specialise in particularly chronological or cultural periods (e.g. Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age/Roman, Early Medieval, Medieval, Historical/Post-Medieval). You will complete your MSc Dissertation on a chosen topic, supervised by an expert in the field.

Core modules

Material Culture (10 credits)

Landscape Archaeologies: Reconstructing, Imagining, Writing (10 credits)

Archaeological Field Methods (10 credits).

Research Project Skills module (5 credits)

MSc Dissertation (30 credits)



Optional modules

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Remote Sensing (5)

Heritage Management Challenges (10)

Heritage Presentation and Interpretation (5)

Decolonising Ethnography (5)

Hunter-Gatherers (10)



Other Optional modules may be available, subject to timetabling and availability from the School of Archaeology's other programmes.



• Prehistories of Europe

• Hunter-Gatherer Archaeology

• Experimental Archaeology & Material Culture

• World Heritage Management

- Entry to MSc based on an Upper Second Class Honours (2H1) undergraduate degree (GPA 3.2, NFQ Level 8, or the international equivalent) in archaeology or anthropology, or other cognate disciplines (to be discussed with programme coordinator)



- If English is not your native language, proof of proficiency in English will be required, unless you took your primary degree through English. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL Internet Based Test is 90, on the IELTS system it is 6.5

How to apply?

The following entry routes are available:



MSc Archaeology FT (W491)

Duration 1 Years

Attend Full Time

Deadline Rolling*



* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised



The following entry routes are available:



MSc Archaeology PT (W492)

Duration 2 Years

Attend Part Time

Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

1 year full-time., 2 years part-time.

MODE OF DELIVERY: Blended

NEXT INTAKE: 2024/2025 September.

Career & Graduate Study Opportunity

The MSc in Archaeology will provide you with the skills required to develop a career in the archaeological profession or the cultural heritage sector, or to go on to further academic study. Transferable skillsets such as critical thinking and project design, management and completion will also provide you with an excellent grounding for future employment in other sectors. Graduates of this programme may progress to careers in:



• Further research, whether academic or professional

• Commercial archaeology and Cultural Resource Management (CRM)

• The Heritage sector

• State sector bodies (Museums, Archaeological Monuments Management)

• NGOs

• Education (Primary, Secondary, University/Higher Education Instiutions)

• Tourism and Public Engagement