We interviewed two current MSc in European Archaeology students, Meghan and Melissa about the programme and their time with us. Meghan HTML Image Why did you choose the University of Edinburgh? The archaeology programme the University offers fits with what I wanted in a masters programme (see below). The University’s reputation, and history as one of the six ancient universities in the United Kingdom, was a major factor in my decision as well. I also had previously visited the city a couple times before and loved it instantly. One can feel the centuries of history of the old town around every corner. What attracted you to this programme in particular? Having an undergraduate degree that focused more on classical archaeology, I was looking for a masters programme that would provide a broader focus on the field of archaeology, both practically and theoretically, to better prepare me for a career in archaeology. The courses that the Archaeology department offers are comprehensive on these subjects. What are you enjoying most about your time here? The opportunities for surrounding oneself with history are innumerable. For example, I love to wander every now and again around the National Museum of Scotland’s vast collection as there is always something new to see. Also, nothing beats a cup of tea and a scone at the café on the second floor of the NMS. Another of my favourite experiences in the city was visiting the Scottish Parliament building. At a time of such unrest in the world, it is so reassuring to visit a building dedicated to the idea of government for the people and by the people. The commitment and excitement of everyone who worked there was inspiring. What are your plans for the future? I hope to be working in the archaeology field, either in field work or museum work. The classes I have taken and will take at the University of Edinburgh are providing me with the necessary practical skills I will need to succeed in this kind of work. If you could offer any advice to new or current students what would it be? Work hard - you will get as much out of your studies as you put into them. It is also important to appreciate how fortunate you are to have the chance to educate yourself at one of the top universities in Europe. Such an education is a precious opportunity that historically very few have been lucky enough to have. Melissa HTML Image Why did you choose the University of Edinburgh? In addition to the University itself, I wanted to live in a city that I could feel at home in. Edinburgh is so walkable which makes it easy for international students to explore and it’s just stunningly beautiful. There is such a rich cultural heritage in Scotland and the Scottish people are so open and friendly. I wanted both a quality education and quality living experience. What attracted you to this programme in particular? I loved that the Archaeology program was so flexible. There were a lot of options as to which facet of archaeology you could choose to focus on and I liked that freedom. It is also very hands-on which allows you to build an applicable skillset for future jobs or research. What are you enjoying most about your time here? I work at a science center and get to spend time getting to know locals. The university is such an international hub so by having a job where I can interact with locals allows me to have the best of both worlds. I also love all the hiking. It’s amazing to be in a city center that is surrounded by dormant volcanoes. The combination of the natural geography and the unique architecture just creates the most picturesque views. I also love the night life here. There is an array of life music played in pubs throughout the city from Jazz to Acoustic to Traditional Scottish sounds. Edinburgh is a city with so much to do but it has the comforting feel of a small town. What are your plans for the future? The Master’s programme really helped me to learn different research methods and how to critically assess scientific journal publications. I absolutely love Edinburgh and am making plans to earn my PhD here after finishing my Master’s degree in August. If you could offer any advice to new or current students what would it be? The Master’s Programme is intensive so if you do choose to work, I would recommend not working more than 2 days a week. This article was published on 2024-06-19
HTML Image Why did you choose the University of Edinburgh? The archaeology programme the University offers fits with what I wanted in a masters programme (see below). The University’s reputation, and history as one of the six ancient universities in the United Kingdom, was a major factor in my decision as well. I also had previously visited the city a couple times before and loved it instantly. One can feel the centuries of history of the old town around every corner. What attracted you to this programme in particular? Having an undergraduate degree that focused more on classical archaeology, I was looking for a masters programme that would provide a broader focus on the field of archaeology, both practically and theoretically, to better prepare me for a career in archaeology. The courses that the Archaeology department offers are comprehensive on these subjects. What are you enjoying most about your time here? The opportunities for surrounding oneself with history are innumerable. For example, I love to wander every now and again around the National Museum of Scotland’s vast collection as there is always something new to see. Also, nothing beats a cup of tea and a scone at the café on the second floor of the NMS. Another of my favourite experiences in the city was visiting the Scottish Parliament building. At a time of such unrest in the world, it is so reassuring to visit a building dedicated to the idea of government for the people and by the people. The commitment and excitement of everyone who worked there was inspiring. What are your plans for the future? I hope to be working in the archaeology field, either in field work or museum work. The classes I have taken and will take at the University of Edinburgh are providing me with the necessary practical skills I will need to succeed in this kind of work. If you could offer any advice to new or current students what would it be? Work hard - you will get as much out of your studies as you put into them. It is also important to appreciate how fortunate you are to have the chance to educate yourself at one of the top universities in Europe. Such an education is a precious opportunity that historically very few have been lucky enough to have.
HTML Image Why did you choose the University of Edinburgh? In addition to the University itself, I wanted to live in a city that I could feel at home in. Edinburgh is so walkable which makes it easy for international students to explore and it’s just stunningly beautiful. There is such a rich cultural heritage in Scotland and the Scottish people are so open and friendly. I wanted both a quality education and quality living experience. What attracted you to this programme in particular? I loved that the Archaeology program was so flexible. There were a lot of options as to which facet of archaeology you could choose to focus on and I liked that freedom. It is also very hands-on which allows you to build an applicable skillset for future jobs or research. What are you enjoying most about your time here? I work at a science center and get to spend time getting to know locals. The university is such an international hub so by having a job where I can interact with locals allows me to have the best of both worlds. I also love all the hiking. It’s amazing to be in a city center that is surrounded by dormant volcanoes. The combination of the natural geography and the unique architecture just creates the most picturesque views. I also love the night life here. There is an array of life music played in pubs throughout the city from Jazz to Acoustic to Traditional Scottish sounds. Edinburgh is a city with so much to do but it has the comforting feel of a small town. What are your plans for the future? The Master’s programme really helped me to learn different research methods and how to critically assess scientific journal publications. I absolutely love Edinburgh and am making plans to earn my PhD here after finishing my Master’s degree in August. If you could offer any advice to new or current students what would it be? The Master’s Programme is intensive so if you do choose to work, I would recommend not working more than 2 days a week.
