Archaeology (Taught)

About this course
Build essential skills for a career in archaeological research or the heritage industry with our flexible MSc Archaeology degree. Gain practical experience and benefit from our strong partnerships with leading museums and organisations in commercial archaeology, heritage management, and fieldwork.

We're ranked 7th for archaeology and 3rd for research quality in the UK (Complete University Guide 2026). We bring together expertise from across the University—including the National Oceanography Centre, Humanities, Medicine, Engineering, and Winchester School of Art—to provide you with both scientific capabilities and cultural understanding across diverse archaeological specialisms.

Personalise your studies to match your interests without committing to a single specialism. You'll develop practical skills alongside theoretical insights and period-based knowledge, with full access to dedicated facilities including specialist laboratories, extensive skeletal collections, and advanced imaging technology.

Your future career
You'll gain subject-specific and employability skills for rewarding careers as an archaeologist, heritage manager, museum professional, academic researcher, or in related heritage, conservation, and cultural sectors. Graduates work in local and national government, universities, museums, archaeological contractors, and heritage service providers.

Key features of this course
At Southampton you'll:
• gain hands-on experience with world-class facilities including isotope labs, scanning and micro-CT imaging suites, and extensive collections of stone tools, hominin skulls, and skeletal remains
• undertake a four-week professional placement with leading heritage institutions such as Historic England, Wessex Archaeology, or The Nautical Archaeology Society to develop real-world sector experience
• choose from specialist modules in bioarchaeology, maritime archaeology, palaeoanthropology, GIS, molecular archaeology, and geophysical survey, tailoring your path to your interests
• conduct original research for your dissertation, with the possibility of publication, whilst embedded with one of our active research groups
• access close proximity to World Heritage sites including Stonehenge and Avebury, and engage with archaeological projects globally

Further information
This one-year full-time master's degree offers ultimate flexibility to customise your learning. You can select from the full range of archaeology modules, include up to 30 credits from final-year undergraduate modules, or choose modules from other university departments with course leader approval. Placements with heritage organisations also count toward your credits. We offer four distinct pathways including Bioarchaeology, Higher Archaeological Practice, and Palaeoanthropology, or a general pathway to explore diverse areas. This master's is ideal if you have an undergraduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, geography, biology, history, or a related field. Visit our course page for a full list of modules and detailed entry requirements.

"Compulsory modules include: Archaeology in the Contemporary World; Archaeology Masters Disseration; Professional Placement in the Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Sector; Professional Practice. Optional modules include: Analysis of archaeological faunal remains; Bioarchaeology of Human Remains; Archaeology in the Contemporary World; Contexts for Human Origins Research; Applied Maritime Archaeology; Museums in the Modern World; Seeing beneath the soil: geophysical survey for archaeology; Palaeopathology in Context; The Analysis of Palaeolithic Stone Tool Assemblages.

For a full list of modules please visit: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/archaeology-masters-msc#modules

We'll assess your knowledge through: essays, exams, fieldwork reports, presentations, digital projects and dissertation.