Archaeology

Information for applicants to our Archaeology programmes.

Study at one of the world’s leading universities where we’ve been exploring the human journey for more than 100 years.

Our Archaeology students are introduced to a wide range of scientific expertise, notably artefact and materials analysis, digital imaging techniques, visualisation and modelling, and the study of human and animal remains (bioarchaeology). 

Degree programmes and structures

Need a refresher on the details of the degree programme you've applied for? Our Degree Finder provides more information about your programme, such as:

  • what you will study
  • where you will study
  • career opportunities
  • fees, costs and funding 

Archaeology degree programmes: 2025 entry 

 

A Degree Programme Table (DPT) provides comprehensive information about the structure of a degree programme, including both compulsory and optional courses. The detailed programme content for 2025/26 are available below. 

 

Archaeology degree structures 2025/26

This is an example of what your timetable could look like in Semester 1 of Year 1 of Archaeology if you took Human Geography as your Outside Courses for Archaeology option course and Introduction to Social Anthropology as your option course, for example. There is a high level of flexibility in the other courses you can study. You can discuss this with your academic cohort lead and student adviser. 

Courses may be subject to change and availability and your timetable may be different.

Monday

  • 9am to 9:50am Introduction to Social Anthropology (lecture)
  • 11:10am to 12:00pm Human Geography (lecture)
  • 3:10pm to 4:00pm Archaeology 1A (lecture)

Tuesday

  • 10am to 10:50am Introduction to Social Anthropology (tutorial)
  • 3:10pm to 4:00pm Archaeology 1A (lecture)

Wednesday

  • 11:10am to 12:00pm Human Geography (lecture)

Thursday

  • 1:10pm to 2:00pm Introduction to Social Anthropology (lecture)
  • 2:10pm to 3:00pm Human Geography (tutorial)

Friday

  • 2:10pm to 3:00pm Archaeology 1A (tutorial) 

This is an example of what your timetable could look like in Semester 1 of Year 1 of Archaeology and Social Anthropology if you took Human Geography as your option course, for example. There is a high level of flexibility in the other courses you can study. You can discuss this with your academic cohort lead and student adviser. 

Courses may be subject to change and availability and your timetable may be different.

Monday

  • 9am to 9:50am Social Anthropology 1A (lecture)
  • 11:10am to 12:00pm Human Geography (lecture)
  • 3:10pm to 4:00pm Archaeology 1A (lecture)

Tuesday

  • 10am to 10:50am Social Anthropology 1A (seminar)
  • 3:10pm to 4:00pm Archaeology 1A (lecture)

Wednesday

  • 11:10am to 12:00pm Human Geography (lecture)

Thursday

  • 1:10pm to 2:00pm Social Anthropology 1A (lecture)
  • 2:10pm to 3:00pm Human Geography (tutorial)

Friday

  • 1:10pm to 2:00pm Social Anthropology 1A (tutorial)
  • 2:10pm to 3:00pm Archaeology 1A (tutorial) 

This is an example of what your timetable could look like in Semester 1 of Year 1 of Archaeology and Ancient History if you took The Roman World 1A as your Greek World and Roman World Courses option course and Introduction to Social Anthropology as your option course, for example. There is a high level of flexibility in the other courses you can study. You can discuss this with your academic cohort lead and student adviser. 

Courses may be subject to change and availability and your timetable may be different.

Monday

  • 9am to 9:50am Introduction to Social Anthropology (lecture)
  • 2:10pm to 3:00pm The Roman World 1A (lecture)
  • 3:10pm to 4:00pm Archaeology 1A (lecture)

Tuesday

  • 10am to 10:50am Introduction to Social Anthropology (tutorial)
  • 2:10pm to 3:00pm The Roman World 1A (lecture)
  • 3:10pm to 4:00pm Archaeology 1A (lecture)

Wednesday

  • No classes

Thursday

  • 1:10pm to 2:00pm Introduction to Social Anthropology (lecture)
  • 2:10pm to 3:00pm The Roman World 1A (lecture)

Friday

  • 11:10am to 12:00pm The Roman World 1A (tutorial)
  • 2:10pm to 3:00pm Archaeology 1A (tutorial) 

Why study Archaeology at Edinburgh?

A city filled with archaeology

Edinburgh is a thriving and cosmopolitan city but also a historic one where the earliest human habitation is traced back to a Mesolithic campsite dated to around 8500BC. Traces of later Bronze Age and Iron Age settlements have been found at a number of sites in the city including the hill fort of Din Eidyn beneath Edinburgh Castle. The rich archaeological story extends through medieval and later times and is found below and across the modern city as a constant reminder of a living archaeological record.

With archaeological sites on your doorstep and nearby, including the spectacular prehistoric henge and cairn at Cairnpapple and the World Heritage site of the Antonine Wall, Edinburgh provides the perfect setting in which to study Archaeology.

Flexibility and choice

At Edinburgh, we offer something for everyone interested in archaeology. From prehistoric art and Egyptology, to human osteoarchaeology and laboratory work, to zooarchaeology and computer applications in archaeology.

The international coverage of our courses extends from the north of the British Isles and Scandinavia, through Europe and the Mediterranean basin, to Turkey and the Near East. We cover the whole of the prehistoric period and beyond into historical times including the Classical World and Byzantium. You will also have the opportunity to study bioarchaeology from Year 2, working in our laboratories with human and animal skeletal remains.

A world-leading university with unique facilities

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s leading universities. We are consistently ranked amongst the top 50 best universities in the world.

We have five archaeological laboratories, which support archaeological science, the study of human and animal remains and computational archaeology. With our Vere Gordon Childe Collection, you will be able to handle, draw and learn from artefacts from the Indus Valley, the Near East including Egypt, and Europe. 

A key feature of our degrees is the amount of practical archaeological experience, mostly undertaken during vacation periods. This can include excavation or archaeological survey work.

Our students often get involved in staff projects during vacations or as part of their final year’s dissertation. In recent years our staff have worked on projects in Scotland, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey and Egypt.  

All students are required to undertake practical archaeological fieldwork and we encourage students to take the Archaeological Fieldwork course option in fourth year which requires further fieldwork experience. 


Have you applied for a joint honours degree? Don't forget to look at the information for each of your subjects. 

Not sure which School looks after the other subject of your degree? Check our School list for information on the subjects they manage. 

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences: Schools and subjects 


This article was published on