Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Mediterranean Archaeology MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Mediterranean Archaeology

The area around the Mediterranean presents many opportunities for archaeological research. This MSc allows you to explore the region through the examination of periods, geographical areas and themes.

You will:

  • analyse contemporary theoretical approaches
  • hone your skills in current methodologies
  • take advantage of the specialist fields and periods of study that our staff, and those in history and classics, can offer

What will I learn?

You will develop an understanding of:

  • specific regions and periods
  • current theories, methodologies and major research issues

This will provide the basis for a PhD or future participation in excavation, survey or lab work.

Resources and expertise

Edinburgh is ideal for archaeological study and research.

You will benefit from national and local institutions and heritage agencies, such as the:

  • excellent collections of the National Museum
  • archival and bibliographic resources of Historic Environment Scotland
  • expertise and practical advice from staff in commercial companies

Breadth of expertise

We have a  wide range of expertise covering different areas, time periods and themes, including

  • Bioarchaeology and isotope studies
  • Egyptology
  • Roman and ‘Celtic’ archaeology
  • The Byzantine World and Late Antiquity  
  • Megalithic monuments
  • Prehistory of Europe, the Mediterranean and North-East Africa
  • Early civilisations and urban societies
  • The archaeology of Scotland
  • Cultural heritage and sustainability
  • Digital heritage and heritage policy
  • Archaeomaterials analysis  
  • Human evolution
  • Conflict archaeology
  • Medieval archaeology
  • Computational archaeology
  • Marine and coastal archaeology
  • Buildings archaeology
  • Archaeological survey-Landscape Archaeology

Focal areas of research include:

  • Bioarchaeology/ Human Osteoarchaeology/ Biological Anthropology
  • Human–environment interactions
  • The transition from hunter-gatherer to farming communities
  • The development of complex societies
  • Cultural heritage perspectives on the past, present, and future

You will:

  • complete one compulsory course
  • select a further five options from a wide range on offer
  • take a variety of seminar-style courses in small groups
  • develop your own research project, in the form of the dissertation, on an approved subject of your choice

The compulsory course is:

  • Research Sources and Strategies in Archaeology

Option courses previously offered include those listed below (option courses change from year to year and those available when you start your studies may be different from those shown in the list).

  • Ancient Egyptian Religion and the Afterlife
  • Bronze Age Civilisations of the Near East and Greece
  • From Foraging to Farming: the Beginnings of Agriculture in the Mediterranean and Europe
  • Archaeological Illustration
  • Archaeology of the Roman Economy
  • Biomolecular Archaeology: the appliance of science
  • Theoretical Archaeology
  • Archaeology of the Roman Economy
  • The Hellenistic City
  • Archaeology of 'Celtic' Europe: Communities and Interactions
  • The Hittites: The Archaeology of an Ancient Near Eastern Civilization
  • Conflict archaeology: materialities of violence
  • Handling Greek Pottery
  • The Archaeology of Children and Childhood
  • Theoretical Archaeology
  • Space, Place and Time: The Archaeology of Built Environments
  • Practical Zooarchaeology
  • Themes in Egyptian archaeology: the foundations of the state to the end of the Middle Kingdom
  • Marine Archaeology
  • The Maccabaean Revolt
  • Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs: The Basics and Beyond
  • Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs II: Texts and Contexts

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScMediterranean Archaeology1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2024/25
MScMediterranean Archaeology2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2024/25

The programme will help you develop potential research interests and explore these with a view to progressing to research.

You will also acquire a range of transferable intellectual and practical skills, including:

  • a good understanding of the distinctive nature of archaeology and its contribution to a critical and informed understanding of the past
  • a good understanding of theoretical and methodological debates within archaeology
  • familiarity with a number of important fieldwork studies
  • a broad knowledge of archaeological methods, techniques and practices in current use

This programme equips you to go on to advanced study and provides a solid foundation for a career.

You will:

  • gain practical as well as academic experience
  • improve your teamworking and analytical skills
  • be able to work in a variety of contexts

Examples of career paths available to archaeology graduates (although some may require additional training) include:

  • higher education
  • heritage management and agencies
  • commercial archaeology
  • teaching
  • tourism industry
  • broadcasting
  • police

An archaeology degree does not restrict you to a career in archaeology.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, a minimum US 3.25 GPA or international equivalent, in a subject related to this programme, preferably Archaeology or Classical Archaeology, or another degree or combined degree in which archaeology figures prominently (such as Anthropology in the case of applicants from the USA).

We will also consider honours degrees in some other subjects such as History, Classics or Ancient History if your personal statement demonstrates how you are equipped to undertake the programme.

Relevant experience, or professional or other qualifications will also be considered.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
  • Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScMediterranean Archaeology1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MScMediterranean Archaeology2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money

    • taking out a loan

    • family support

  • personal savings

  • income from work

  • employer sponsorship

  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK government's loan schemes.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your residency status.

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • School of History, Classics & Archaeology
  • William Robertson Wing
  • Teviot Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9AG
Programme start date Application deadline
8 September 2025 31 July 2025

If you are applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

Please note that for an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including references and transcripts. If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements e.g. via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, please upload that evidence as soon as you have it.

(Revised 12 November 2024 to add application deadline information)

You must submit one reference with your application.

Please read the application guidance for more information:

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • School of History, Classics & Archaeology
  • William Robertson Wing
  • Teviot Place
  • Central Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 9AG