Archaeology, MSc at University of Aberdeen

This MSc in Archaeology provides an ‘umbrella’ programme to appeal to archaeology students from a range of backgrounds interested in pursuing specific archaeological subjects under the banner of a broad degree designation.

Teaching is research-led and ties into current projects run by the staff at the department, who are prominent researchers and fieldworkers in Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Northeast Asia, the North Atlantic and the circumpolar region from Siberia to the Canadian Arctic.

You will learn about theory and method in archaeological research. The flexibility of our offering means you can choose courses based on your interests, such as Northern Worlds or Viking Archaeology. You can also learn key Geographical Information System (GIS) tools and techniques used in archaeology, and develop practical skills in cartography and geo-visualisation.

The University’s extensive museum collections also present unique opportunities to explore contemporary issues around the preservation and communication of archaeological finds, particularly in relation to osteoarchaeology.

This programme can be taken as preparation for higher research, as a professional qualification, or purely out of interest. This programme is also appropriate as a conversion course for students new to archaeology but with a background in a cognate discipline.

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

• FIELD TRIPS
• FIELD WORK
• GROUP PROJECTS
• INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS
• LECTURES
• TUTORIALS

Why Study Archaeology?

• Our location means we are ideally suited to access some of the country’s most interesting archaeological sites.
• You will be taught by a dedicated team of Archaeologists with a broad range of expertise and teaching experience.
• The University of Aberdeen’s Department of Archaeology, in partnership with the village corporation Qanirtuuq, Inc. and the Yup’ik Eskimo village of Quinhagak, Alaska, is working to record archaeological sites threatened by rising sea levels along the Bering Sea. This is something you could volunteer to be part of.
• Archaeological research at Aberdeen spans the arts and humanities, physical and biological sciences, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the Archaeology and the collaborative ethos within the University.
• Student numbers on the programme are small enough to allow for a strong level of teaching interaction and relationship building amongst students.

Careers

An Archaeology degree can be the gateway to many other professions, and the training in analytical and communication skills acquired by our graduates make them employable in a wide variety of fields including industry, commerce and research.

The broad-based nature of the discipline enables graduates to compete strongly in the employment market place. Today Archaeologists in the UK work in an increasingly wide range of professions. A significant percentage of graduates are employed in private or university-based archaeological units and consultancies. These professionals are responsible for mitigating the impact to archaeological sites in relation to different forms of development. Typically, such posts involve a good deal of fieldwork and the production of high quality scientific reports.

Others graduates go on to research, teaching and curatorial posts in universities, museums and private institutions and work in a range of areas from interpreting ancient environments to communicating archaeology to the public. In addition to more traditional occupations, a growing number of Archaeologists are now employed by a range of governmental and non-governmental heritage organizations.

Careers in this area are primarily involved in making decisions about the management and conservation of archaeological resources at local, national and international levels. Archaeologists and individuals with archaeological training also work in a growing number of non-traditional careers where archaeological knowledge is central. These positions range widely, from jobs with engineering firms, where knowledge of archaeological principals can be crucial to project planning, to careers which engage the public's appreciation of the past.