Postgraduate Archaeology

With an international reputation for innovative teaching and research, the University of Edinburgh offers an ideal environment for postgraduate study in archaeology.

Postgraduate study in Archaeology

We provide an exceptional graduate education and research experience to students worldwide. 

Postgraduate studies in archaeology offer a first-class experience in researching the human past. Our expertise in research and practice supports postgraduates in finding future careers in academia, development-led archaeology, museums and the heritage sector.

Our research and fieldwork play a prominent role in university life and teaching, covering a wide range of themes and periods, including: late hunter-gatherers, the origins of farming in the Near East and the spread of farming in Europe, ancient architecture and megalithic monuments, later prehistoric and historic societies in Europe.

We offer excellent research facilities including a suit of six laboratories as well as reference collections for human osteoarchaeological research, zooarchaeology and material analysis. You will benefit from access to interdisciplinary networks and supervision from experts in a wide range of subjects including European prehistory, Mediterranean archaeology, Egyptology, osteoarchaeology, bioarchaeology, isotope geochemistry, coastal and marine archaeology, and cultural heritage studies.

A student holds a flint arrow head between finger and thumb against a sunset.

Students also benefit from top-tier library, computing, and research facilities, including the Main Library, one of the largest in the UK, housing over two million periodicals, manuscripts, theses, and books, as well as access to the National Library of Scotland, a key UK copyright library.

Edinburgh provides an ideal environment for academic research, development, and interaction, with frequent archaeological conferences, lectures, and events hosted by groups such as the Archaeology Society, the Munro Lectureship Committee, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and the First Millennia Studies Group. The city is also home to many professional archaeologists working in heritage management and commercial archaeology. Our strong partnerships and connections with these organisations enrich the student experience, offering valuable industry insight into career opportunities.

Our postgraduate programmes

Our postgraduate programmes include:

  • MSc Archaeology
  • MSc Human Osteoarchaeology
  • MSc Ancient Worlds (online)
  • MSc Research in Archaeology
  • PhD Archaeology
  • PhD Archaeology by Distance (online)

Archaeology taught postgraduate programmes

Find out more about the Archaeology taught postgraduate programmes at the link below.

Archaeology postgraduate research programmes

Find out more about the Archaeology postgraduate research programmes, MSc by Research and PhD, at the links below.

Archaeology Research Community

This article was published on