Program Overview

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Archaeology of the North, MSc

Introduction

The MSc Archaeology of the North is the only programme of its type in the world, investigating the material culture and heritage of the far northern hemisphere. With an emphasis on colonisation and culture contact, lifeways and world-views, this programme will help you develop knowledge and critical awareness of issues specific to northern archaeology, providing a solid foundation for further study or professional employment.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MSc
• Duration: 12 months or 24 months
• Study Mode: Full Time or Part Time
• Start Month: September

Developing the research skills required to investigate the material culture and heritage of the far northern hemisphere, a region that includes Scotland and the circumpolar region from Mongolia to the Canadian Arctic.

With an emphasis on colonisation and culture contact, lifeways and world-views, every graduate is provided with a thorough knowledge of the theory and practice specific to northern archaeology, together with the foundation for further study or professional employment.

In addition, every graduate will have acquired detailed competence in a specialist regional or chronological field, chosen from a range of options across the entire northern world.

The degree can be taken as preparation for higher research, as a professional qualification or purely for interest.

What You'll Study

Stage 1

• Information for part-time students: The course will be spread over two years. In year 1, students will take PD5006, AY5002, and AY5501. In year 2, students will take AY5001, AY5504, and AY5902.
• *Subject to agreement, these courses can be replaced with other Archaeology courses or one from a sister discipline, such as Anthropology (note, only a maximum of 30 credits can be taken in non-archaeology courses across Stages 1 and 2).

Compulsory Courses

• Northern Worlds (AY5001)
• Theory and Method in Research (AY5002)
• Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)

Northern Worlds (AY5001)

• 30 Credit Points
• In a series of research-led lectures and seminars, students investigate what characterises the Archaeology of the North from environmental, socio-cultural, and ideological aspects.

Theory and Method in Research (AY5002)

• 30 Credit Points
• In this course students will follow the development of archaeological thought from its roots in the scientific revolution of the 17th century through to the post-modern thinkers and finally discovering where the current theoretical debates stand.

Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)

• This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across a number of weeks.

Stage 2

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Northern Peoples and Culture (AY5501)
  • Advanced Archaeological Approaches (AY5504)

Northern Peoples and Culture (AY5501)

• 30 Credit Points
• In a series of text-based student-led seminars we study past Northern Peoples and Cultures through key topical debates, characteristic for different cultural regions and time periods.

Advanced Archaeological Approaches (AY5504)

• 30 Credit Points
• As an advanced engagement with current trends and approaches in Northern Archaeology students examine current cutting-edge debates associated with new theories and methodologies in archaeological research.

Stage 3

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Dissertation in Archaeology (AY5902)

Dissertation in Archaeology (AY5902)

• 60 Credit Points
• This course lets the students build on the skills and knowledge they acquired in the other courses of the MSc in Archaeology of the North, as they design and conduct their own research project.

Fee Information

• Fee category | Cost
  • EU / International students | £22,000
  • UK | £10,000
• Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year
• In addition to the tuition fees, students will be required to pay an offsite training fee TBC.

Scholarships

• All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students starting in September 2025 will receive an £8,000 scholarship.

Related Programmes

• You may also be interested in the following related postgraduate degree programmes:
  • Anthropological Research
  • Archaeology
  • Bioarchaeological Science
  • Biomolecular Archaeology
  • Cultural Heritage
  • Geographical Information Systems
  • Osteoarchaeology
  • Viking and Medieval Nordic Studies

How You'll Study

Learning Methods

• Field Trips
• Field Work
• Group Projects
• Individual Projects
• Lectures
• Research
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

• Assessment for each 30-credit taught module is on the basis of one 3000-word essay and one project on topics relevant to the course, chosen in consultation with the course coordinator.

Why Study Archaeology of the North?

• You will benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of the archaeological research undertaken at the University of Aberdeen.
• The MSc Archaeology of the North is the only programme of its type in the world, investigating the material culture and heritage of the far northern hemisphere.
• Reflecting this, our staff are prominent researchers and fieldworkers in Northern Europe, Scandinavia, the North Atlantic and the circumpolar region from Siberia to the Canadian Arctic.
• The University of Aberdeen is an excellent location to study archaeology due to the vast number of archaeologically significant locations in Aberdeenshire, and the Highlands and Islands.

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.
• A significant percentage of graduates are employed in private or university-based archaeological units and consultancies.
• In addition to more traditional occupations, a growing number of archaeologists are now employed by a range of governmental and non-governmental heritage organisations.

Entry Requirements

• Qualifications:
  • 2:2 UK Honours degree, or an Honours degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth in Archaeology or a related discipline.
• English Language Requirements:
  • IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 5.5; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
  • TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
  • PTE Academic: OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
  • Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 162; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Our Experts

• Programme Coordinator: Dr Charlotta Hillerdal
• Deputy Programme Coordinator: Professor Kate Britton
• Other Expert: Dr Gordon Noble

Facilities

• Petrographic and stereomicroscopes
• Palynology laboratory
• Hydrology laboratory
• Dirty and clean sedimentary laboratories
• Soil chemistry laboratory
• Bioarchaeology laboratory and faunal reference collection
• Archaeological Chemistry laboratory
• Trace Element Speciation Laboratory

Department Field work Projects

• Staff and Research Students at University of Aberdeen are involved in a range of excavations and field projects, including both those directed by University of Aberdeen staff and in collaboration with other individuals and institutions.

Department Research

• Archaeological research at Aberdeen spans the the arts and humanities, physical and biological sciences, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the Archaeology and the collaborative ethos within the University.