MA in Archaeology (Research)
University of Groningen
Key Information
Campus location
Groningen, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 2,314 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* EU/EEA students: €2,314 | non-EU/EEA students: €16,000
Introduction
Are you interested in archaeology and want to increase your chances in the competitive job market? Do you want a graduate program that combines intensive training and a flexible structure?
Then this is the program for you! The aim of the two-year Research Master in Archaeology is to provide you with the theoretical abilities and methodological skills which will enable you to pursue a successful career as a researcher, a specialist, or a professional in leading positions. You will develop a thorough understanding of key debates in archaeology, develop a critical attitude and acquire essential organizational, networking, and teaching skills. Most importantly, you can tailor the program to your needs and special interests. The Research Master in Archaeology has a broad geographical and chronological coverage – from the Arctic and North-western Europe to the Mediterranean and the Near East, from the Mesolithic to historical archaeology.
In addition, the program will increase your chances in the job market: You can become a project assistant; you will be trained in writing peer-reviewed articles, grant applications, and a Ph.D. proposal. Our graduates have 80% employment rates: Out of the 17 who graduated since 2015, 7 got a Ph.D., 1 is in a predoctoral program, 4 work in the commercial sector, 2 in the Heritage sector, and 1 in the public sector.
Why study this program in Groningen?
The REMA Archaeology has been designated Top-Rated program, i.e. the best graduate program in Archaeology in the Netherlands, for two years in a row. The program offers:
- Challenging multidisciplinary approach
- A combination of taught courses and (a broad range of) elective components
- Intensive supervision by high-quality researchers in small groups
- Close monitoring of progress
Research in Archaeology
The Research Master in Archaeology is offered by the Graduate School for the Humanities, which offers also courses for Research Master students. The program has close links with excellent national and international research schools and institutes, research projects, museums, laboratories, and cultural heritage services. The University of Groningen is well known for its superior laboratory facilities, excellent reference collections, and technical support which support archaeological research.
Research takes place in different institutes and centers at the University of Groningen.
Admissions
Curriculum
Throughout their study, students can build up their own program by choosing elective courses ('Flexible Component') from MA or REMA courses in Groningen or in other Dutch Universities, or opting for tutorials supervised by a member of staff – always in consultation with the Director of Studies. Students are expected to attend research seminars, which they can also help organize.
They can also participate in courses on offer by the National Research School of Archaeology Archon, or in workshops and intensive courses on location in the Institutes in Rome, Athens, or Istanbul. They are encouraged to participate in the department's ambitious research program which builds on a long and internationally renowned tradition of multidisciplinary approaches. They can also do an internship with an external partner, e.g. a museum or research institute, or become a research assistant to one of the research projects run by members of staff.
Year 1
In the first year, you will attend three compulsory courses but can choose two courses yourself.
Courses
- Flexible Component (10 EC)
- Scientific approaches to Material Culture (10 EC)
- The Archaeology of the Settled Landscape (10 EC)
- National Research School Courses (10 EC)
- Flexible Component (10 EC)
Year 2
In the second year, you will once more attend two compulsory courses and one elective. You will complete the program by writing a thesis on a topic of your choice.
Courses
- Anthropocene: Humans Shaping the Earth (10 EC)
- Current Issues in Archaeological Theory (10 EC)
- Flexible Component (10 EC)
- Death as a Mirror of Life (5 EC)
- Research and Professional Skills (5 EC)
- Research Master's Thesis in Archaeology (30 EC)
Study abroad
- Study abroad is optional
- For an average of 16 weeks
- Maximum of 30 EC
Spending a period abroad is encouraged. Participation in fieldwork projects or work in the various laboratories at the department or elsewhere is facilitated.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Job prospects
The degree is excellent preparation for a research career in archaeology. While many of our graduates are successful in capturing a Ph.D. position in the Netherlands or abroad, they also have the possibility of obtaining other research-oriented positions (f.i. in museums, heritage institutions, and research institutes).
Job examples
- Research-oriented career
- Ph.D. research
- Position in research institutes
- Position in museum
- Position in heritage institutions