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The University of Edinburgh: Archaeology
| Institution | The University of Edinburgh View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
| Web | https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying |
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Summary
Our PhD in Archaeology offers you the opportunity to study archaeology at an advanced level through independent research.
Each student is allocated at least two supervisors, allowing us to combine thematic, chronological and disciplinary expertise in the supervisory team. We also have close links with external organisations, such as the National Museums of Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland, and can include external partners in supervisory teams.
The Archaeology subject area offers research supervision across a wide range of fields.
We welcome applications from anyone keen to work in areas or on topics in which we have expertise. These include:
-
Aspects of Science-based archaeology
-
Osteoarchaeology
-
Coastal and marine heritage
-
Megalithic monuments
-
Early civilisations and urban societies in the Mediterranean and Europe
-
Near Eastern archaeology and Egyptology
-
Later European prehistory
-
The archaeology of Scotland
-
The Byzantine world
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
Our PhD in Archaeology offers you the opportunity to study archaeology at an advanced level through independent research.
Each student is allocated at least two supervisors, allowing us to combine thematic, chronological and disciplinary expertise in the supervisory team. We also have close links with external organisations, such as the National Museums of Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland, and can include external partners in supervisory teams.
The Archaeology subject area offers research supervision across a wide range of fields.
We welcome applications from anyone keen to work in areas or on topics in which we have expertise. These include:
-
Aspects of Science-based archaeology
-
Osteoarchaeology
-
Coastal and marine heritage
-
Megalithic monuments
-
Early civilisations and urban societies in the Mediterranean and Europe
-
Near Eastern archaeology and Egyptology
-
Later European prehistory
-
The archaeology of Scotland
-
The Byzantine world
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
MSc
Summary
The MSc Archaeology provides strong foundations for a career in different professional settings, including academia, development-led archaeology, and museums or heritage bodies.
Studying archaeology at the University of Edinburgh offers opportunities for advanced archaeological research to reimagine and reconstruct the lives of past societies, in ways that also contribute to contemporary themes such as planetary health, endangered heritage, and globalisation.
The degree covers themes in the archaeology of Europe, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Egypt and beyond, and will help you gain new skills in archaeological and heritage sciences, and up-to-date archaeological theory.
Studying in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, you will benefit from access to interdisciplinary networks and supervision from nationally and internationally-renowned scholars.
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
-
Megalithic monuments
-
Mediterranean archaeology
-
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
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
The MSc Archaeology provides strong foundations for a career in different professional settings, including academia, development-led archaeology, and museums or heritage bodies.
Studying archaeology at the University of Edinburgh offers opportunities for advanced archaeological research to reimagine and reconstruct the lives of past societies, in ways that also contribute to contemporary themes such as planetary health, endangered heritage, and globalisation.
The degree covers themes in the archaeology of Europe, the Mediterranean, South-West Asia, Egypt and beyond, and will help you gain new skills in archaeological and heritage sciences, and up-to-date archaeological theory.
Studying in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology, you will benefit from access to interdisciplinary networks and supervision from nationally and internationally-renowned scholars.
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
-
Megalithic monuments
-
Mediterranean archaeology
-
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
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
MSc (Res)
Summary
The MSc by Research in Archaeology is perfect if you have a specific topic of interest you wish to research in depth.
This one-year degree (or 2 years part-time) provides a solid grounding in the methods and techniques of research, while enabling you to pursue your own project and complete an extended thesis with the guidance of supervisors who are experts in the field.
We welcome applications from anyone keen to work in areas or on topics in which we have expertise. These include:
-
Aspects of Science-based archaeology
-
Osteoarchaeology
-
Zooarchaeology
-
Coastal and marine heritage
-
Megalithic monuments
-
Early civilisations and urban societies in the Mediterranean and Europe
-
Near Eastern archaeology and Egyptology
-
Later European prehistory
-
The archaeology of Scotland
-
The Byzantine world
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
-
Zooarchaeology and Environmental archaeology
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
The MSc by Research in Archaeology is perfect if you have a specific topic of interest you wish to research in depth.
This one-year degree (or 2 years part-time) provides a solid grounding in the methods and techniques of research, while enabling you to pursue your own project and complete an extended thesis with the guidance of supervisors who are experts in the field.
We welcome applications from anyone keen to work in areas or on topics in which we have expertise. These include:
-
Aspects of Science-based archaeology
-
Osteoarchaeology
-
Zooarchaeology
-
Coastal and marine heritage
-
Megalithic monuments
-
Early civilisations and urban societies in the Mediterranean and Europe
-
Near Eastern archaeology and Egyptology
-
Later European prehistory
-
The archaeology of Scotland
-
The Byzantine world
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
-
Zooarchaeology and Environmental archaeology
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.
The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 34th in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research …
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