Archaeology

Archaeology is a diverse and wide-ranging discipline that spans the humanities and physical sciences and is unique in exploring the human past in its entirety. In seeking to understand how ancient people lived their lives, structured their world, and engaged with their environment, archaelogists ask the big questions that can provide us with the tools to tackle global challenges in the present.

Why Aberdeen?

• Archaeology at Aberdeen has a northern focus unique in the UK, covering the heritage of Scotland, Scandinavia, northern Europe, the North Atlantic and the northern latitudes of Asia and North America
• Strong inter-disciplinary approach, drawing on the strengths of related academic subjects across the University within both humanities and the physical sciences
• Aberdeen is at the heart of a region that is among the richest in the UK in terms of sites of outstanding archaeological interest and is in close proximity to the World Heritage sites in Orkney
• Excellent laboratory facilities and library holdings, inter-disciplinary expertise across the full spectrum of the subject, research active staff among the world leaders in their fields

Programmes

You may also be interested in

Anthropology, Chemistry, Geography, Geology, History, History of Art

Study Abroad

Study abroad information

The opportunity to take Enhanced Study options as part of your degree and participate in co-curricular activities. See www.abdn.ac.uk/thedifference for more information.

First Year

The Human Past: An Introduction to World Prehistory:

• Being and becoming human
• Transformations in human society
• Perceptions of the past

Archaeology in Action

• The study of the past
• Doing archaeology
• The study of material culture

Plus six courses chosen from other disciplines.

Second Year

• Interpreting the Past
• Archaeologies of Social Life
• Archaeology of the North: Colonisation  and Culture Contact
• Archaeology of the North: Lifeways  and World-Views

Plus four courses chosen from other disciplines.

Third Year (Junior Honours)

• Advanced Archaeological Practice
• Archaeological Fieldwork Portfolio
• Archaeological Research Project Part 1
• The Archaeological Workplace

Plus three course options chosen from a range available: Scottish Archaeology; North American Archaeology; Archaeologies of Landscape; Hunter-Gatherers; Viking Archaeology; Geoarchaeology; Human Palaeoecology; Indigenous, Community and Public Archaeologies or courses from related disciplines.

Fourth Year (Senior Honours)

• Archaeological Research Project Part 2
• Current Issues in Archaeology

Plus four advanced course options chosen from a range available (see above), which must include Geoarchaeology and Human Palaeoecology if these were not taken in third year.

Please note, University of Aberdeen is proud to offer a fully-flexible distance learning degree in Archaeology (MA and BSc) in addition to our programme in MA Scottish Archaeology. For more information on our distance learning/flexible degree programmes please contact the Centre for Lifelong learning.

Teaching and Assessment

All students attend lectures, seminars, tutorials, and laboratory-based practicals, and make a number of excursions to ancient monuments and museums in Scotland. In the Honours years there is an emphasis on field and research skills, with a required fieldwork component. A dissertation provides students with the opportunity to tackle an original piece of research.

Honours students will participate on departmental field projects in Scotland and elsewhere in the northern world, where they will receive practical training in survey, excavation and documentation methods. There are also opportunities for places on our field schools in Iceland and Alaska. Beyond the formal training projects, students are strongly encouraged to improve their practical skills by seeking additional field and placement work. Staff are happy to advise and help with such opportunities, which include projects based overseas.

Assessment is by means of written exams and different types of continuous assessment, depending on the course. In the first year, continuous assessment takes the form of essays, but in upper years it also includes critical reviews, posters, laboratory assignments, field notebooks and oral presentations.

Careers

The curriculum is designed to equip graduates with the practical and research skills required to work as professional archaeologists. The broad-based nature of the discipline enables graduates to compete strongly in the market place. The analytical and communications skills acquired by Archaeology graduates make them sought-after in a wide variety of fields including industry, commerce, research and a range of professions. 

Finding your direction

Whatever stage you are at from first year to final year and beyond, the Careers Service can help you with career planning and offer you guidance on the way. There are many opportunities within the University of Aberdeen to gain experience and build a competitive set of skills. Enhancing your employability during your time with us is essential for your future career success.

• Careers Service
• Your Future

Entrance Requirements

SQA Highers - AABB*
A Levels - BBB*
IB - 32 points, 5 at HL*
ILC - AABB*
*including good performance in at least two Mathematics/Science subjects.

Advanced Entry - Advanced Entry is considered on an individual basis depending on prior qualifications and experience. Applicants wishing to be considered for advanced entry should contact the Director of Studies (Admissions) at our Student Recruitment and Admissions Office.

For further details of entrance requirements click here

Please click on the links below to find out more information on funding in your area.

• Scotland and EU (Excluding England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
• Rest of UK (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
• International
• Scholarships

Related Links

• Scholarships
• Entrance Scholarships
• Funding Database
• England Wales and Northern Ireland Finance Guide