Master's Degree in Advanced Studies in Archaeology
Barcelona, Spain
Master degree
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English, Spanish
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 19 / per credit *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* 19.37 euros per credit (82 euros for students who are not EU nationals and do not currently reside in Spain). Fees for the academic year 2025-2026
Key Summary
About: The Masters degree in Advanced Studies in Archaeology at The University of Barcelona offers advanced training in archaeological research, heritage management and conservation. The programme combines a shared core in theory and methods with specialised pathways in bioarchaeology, paleoenvironmental studies, materials and technological analysis, landscape recording and territory. You’ll train in field and lab techniques, GIS, photogrammetry, scanning and microstratigraphy.
Career Outcomes: Career opportunities include roles as research team member, archaeological field specialist, heritage manager, conservation technician, materials analyst, GIS and photogrammetry specialist; graduates will be suited to research labs, museums, heritage agencies, cultural management, consultancy or doctoral study.
The Master's Degree in Advanced Studies in Archaeology of the University of Barcelona offers advanced training at the forefront of current archaeological studies, which allow students to approach archaeology from a different perspective, taking advantage of the latest methodological and scientific advances available in the search for answers to archeological problems. It is therefore a highly multidisciplinary cross-cutting master's degree, where in addition to the tools traditionally used in archaeological studies, a whole series of disciplines, methods and techniques from other fields such as geology, geography, anthropology, biology, chemistry or conservation are used. This line of research is what is covered internationally under the umbrella term archeometry.
With this master's degree, we want to train professionals in archeological research and practice, as well as in the management and conservation of archeological heritage. This master's degree also gives access to doctoral studies, to write a dissertation. In order to better understand the events of the past, it is essential to know all the available tools that help to understand archaeological records in their full scope, by applying all the available resources to their study. It should be remembered that archaeology is linked to historical heritage that must not only be recovered, but also preserved and interpreted in historical terms.
The Master's Degree in Advanced Studies in archaeology has a highly qualified teaching staff with extensive national and international experience in multidisciplinary archaeological research. This staff guides students in this stage of advanced training through personalized tutorials.
The training plan includes a common pathway, focusing on methods and theories that can be applied to any chronology or theme in archaeology, and a specialized pathway, depending on the student's research interests: bioarchaeology and paleoenvironment, archaeology of materials and technological processes, and registers of structures and territorial sites. The objective is to offer training in applied research, so that each student is able to apply the knowledge acquired to specific practical cases.
COURSE PLAN
COMMON PATHWAY:
5 compulsory courses (30 ECTS) referring to the methods and general theory of Archaeological Sciences, ranging from chronological frameworks, quantitative analysis, experimental archaeology and ethnoarchaeology, diagnosis and conservation, to research design.
SPECIALIZED PATHWAYS:
15 ECTS to choose among the optional courses within the
3 specialisation research lines, completing at least one:
• Bioarchaeology and Palaeoenvironments
• The archaeology of materials and technological processes
• Recording structures and territories / GIS and digitalisation
MA THESIS: 15 ECTS
The master’s degree offers a wide range of research projects to enable you to choose the subject that you find most stimulating.
The University of Barcelona consistently ranks among the top institutions nationally, in Europe, and worldwide. Its performance in the most prestigious international rankings reflects excellence in teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and global engagement.
- Ranked 1st nationally in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)
- Ranked 1st nationally in the THE (Times Higher Education) World University Rankings
- Ranked 1st nationally and 68th in Europe in the QS World University Rankings
- Ranked 1st nationally and 27th in Europe in the Best Global Universities Rankings
Studying at the University of Barcelona means joining a world-class academic community recognized for its innovation and impact.
The master's degree in Advanced Studies in Archaeology provides students with comprehensive, up-to-date training in three areas of archaeology: bioarchaeology and paleoenvironmental studies, archaeology of materials and technological processes, and the record of archeological structures and the territory. In each of these areas, students will complete advanced theoretical and methodological training that will prepare them to work professionally or start a solid research career.
The training prepares graduates for a scientific career in close collaboration with members of research teams in the areas of archaeology, prehistory and heritage. Students who are interested in following this path will be provided with opportunities to join research teams and with all the information and support required to obtain research grants that could contribute to the development of a doctoral thesis and the start of a research career. Notably, the Archaeology and Paleontology Research Plan of Catalonia (PIACAT) promotes the training of professionals and the funding of research in the areas covered by the master's degree.
In the professional sphere, advanced training in fields and techniques for which there is high demand in current archeological practice (geoarchaeology, archeobotany, chemical analysis and petrography, microstratigraphy, GIS for recording, photogrammetry and scanning, etc.) provides added value in the archeological training of the student, and in improving competitiveness in the work environment, as knowledge is gained in a wide range of techniques and advanced methods.
In addition, the comprehensive, innovative, multidisciplinary nature of the master's degree is designed to train students in the study, management and dissemination of archeological heritage, as well as the coordination, execution and management of archeological and heritage projects in the public and private arena.
To improve the job opportunities of students in the sector of professional archaeology, seminars and conferences will be held with heads of companies and of the public administration.
Students should have a good level of English-language proficiency.