Programme of MA studies

Programme

MA started in academic year  2026/2027 (new programme)

MA started in academic year 2026 2027 – Printable version of programme

MA new progamme _pdf

Why do we not provide credit methods and syllabi in the tables?

The detailed requirements vary between instructors and change rapidly. You will always find them in the current USOS card. Here, we outline the key factors to consider when planning your registration: title, course type, number of hours, and ECTS credits.

1st year

615 h (including 150 h of field training) • 60 ECTS

Course type of course hours ECTS
Introduction to Master Thesis Workshop class 30 h 4
Tutored Master Thesis Workshop workshop 15 h 2
Independent Master Thesis Workshop workshop 60 h 8
Academic seminar seminar 30h 3
Specialization Courses acc. to the offer ≥ 210 28
Methodology of Archaeology lecture 30 h 2
Interdisciplinary Archaeology lecture 30 h 2
Scientific Communication and Data Management Workshop workshop 60 h 6
Field training (long) 1 field training 150 h 5
SUM ≥ 615 h 60

First, the short course “Introduction to Master Thesis Workshop” introduces the formal requirements and the rules of cooperation with the thesis supervisor. Then, in each semester, you meet with your supervisor within the “Tutored Master Thesis Workshop” module, while the main part of the master’s thesis is prepared independently as part of the “Independent Master Thesis Workshop.”

Intellectual Property Protection and Occupational Health and Safety – attendance in this course is mandatory for all students who do not hold a valid certificate confirming the completion of equivalent training within the last four years.

2nd year

≥ 495 h (30 h field training) • 60 ECTS

Course type of course hours ECTS
Tutored Master Thesis Workshop workshop 30h 4
Independent Master Thesis Workshop workshop 120 h 16
Academic seminar seminar 30h 3
Specialization Courses acc. to the offer ≥ 195 26
Marketing and Management in Archaeology class 30 h 3
Selected General University Courses OGUN acc. to the offer 30 h 2
Selected General University Courses OGUN social sciences acc. to the offer ≥ 30 h 5
Field training (short) field training 30 h 1
SUM ≥ 495 h 60

In each semester, you meet with your supervisor within the “Tutored Master Thesis Workshop” module, while the main part of your master’s thesis is prepared independently as part of the “Independent Master Thesis Workshop”.

How to use the tables?

You arrange the plan in USOS – hours and ECTS show how to distribute the load evenly.

You book field training places – plan the long blocks (150 h) in advance; short exercises take place in March and October.

You can find the details – the forms of credit and the literature – in the syllabi; the course sheets in USOS.

Do you have questions? Take a look at the Studies tab or write to the Students’ Office – we’ll help dig up the right solution!

—————————

MA started in academic year 2022/2023, 2023/2024, 2024/2025, 2025/2026

Printable version of programme: MA started in 2022-2025

1st year

    • Seminar I: Bioarchaeology – 60 hrs  (9 ECTS)*
    • Seminar II: Near East Archaeology – 60 hrs (9 ECTS)*
    • History of Archaeology: Birth of Archaeology – Lecture, 30 hrs (2 ECTS)
    • Introduction to Bioarchaeology – Lecture, 60 hrs (4 ECTS)
    • Methodology of Archaeology – Lecture, 60 hrs (4 ECTS)
    • Scientific Writing Workshop – Obligatory class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)
    • Obligatory courses – Class, 2 x 30 hrs (2 x 3 ECTS):*
      • Obligatory course I: Basic Human Osteology – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
      • Obligatory course I: Advanced Human Osteology – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
        ————————————OR—————————————
      • Obligatory course II: Selected Problems of Mediterranean Archaeology – Class, 60 hrs (6 ECTS)*
    • Obligatory workshops  – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
      • Obligatory workshop I: Bioarchaeology – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
        ————————————OR—————————————
      • Obligatory workshop II: Archaeology – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
    • Facultative courses – Class, 2 x 30 hrs (2 x 3 ECTS)
    • Selected General University Courses [OGUN] – 60 hrs (5 ECTS)
    • Intellectual Property Protection – Lecture, 4hrs (0 ECTS)* *
    • Occupational Health and Safety – Lecture, 4hrs (0 ECTS)* *
    • Excavations – 150 hrs (9 ECTS)

Sum of ECTS: 60

* Students decide the specialisation they want to choose for their Master Thesis (either I. Bioarchaeology or II. Near East Archaeology). According to this choice they have to choose the appropriate obligatory courses (Obligatory courses I if Bioarchaeology is chosen or Obligatory courses II if Near East Archaeology is chosen) and, similarly, the appropriate obligatory workshop (either Bioarchaeology or Archaeological Geophysics in Practice). The course that a student is not obliged to pass as a part of their specialisation can be chosen as a facultative course (e.g. a Bioarchaeology student can choose Selected Problems of Mediterranean Archaeology as a facultative course).

* * Intellectual Property Protection and Occupational Health and Safety – attendance in this course is mandatory for all students who do not hold a valid certificate confirming the completion of equivalent training within the last four years.

The list of available courses is presented each year in the course schedule.

2nd year

    • Seminar – 60 hrs (9 ECTS)
      • Seminar I: Bioarchaeology – 60 hrs  (9 ECTS)
        ————————————OR—————————————
      • Seminar II: Near East Archaeology – 60 hrs (9 ECTS)
    • Facultative courses – Class, 5 x 30 hrs (5 x 3 ECTS)
    • Visualisation of research results (workshops) – class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)
    • Obligatory workshops  – Class, 30 hrs (2 ECTS)*
      • Obligatory workshop I: Bioarchaeology – Class, 30 hrs (2 ECTS)*
        ————————————OR—————————————
      • Obligatory workshop II: Archaeology – Class, 30 hrs (2 ECTS)*
    • Selected General University Courses [OGUN] – 60 hrs (5 ECTS)
    • Field survey training – 30 hrs (2 ECTS)
    • MA thesis – (24 ECTS)

Sum of ECTS: 60

The list of available courses is presented each year in the course schedule.

MA started in academic years: 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022

Printable version of programme: MA started in 2019-2021

1st year

    • Seminar I: Bioarchaeology – 60 hrs  (9 ECTS)*
    • Seminar II: Near East Archaeology – 60 hrs (9 ECTS)*
    • History of Archaeology: Birth of Archaeology – Lecture, 30 hrs (2 ECTS)
    • Introduction to Bioarchaeology – Lecture, 60 hrs (4 ECTS)
    • Methodology of Archaeology – Lecture, 60 hrs (4 ECTS)
    • Scientific Writing Workshop – Obligatory class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)
    • Obligatory courses – Class, 2 x 30 hrs (2 x 3 ECTS):*
      • Obligatory course I: Basic Human Osteology – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
      • Obligatory course I: Advanced Human Osteology – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
        ————————————OR—————————————
      • Obligatory course II: Selected Problems of Mediterranean Archaeology – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)
      • Selected Problems of Ancient Egyptian Culture – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
    • Obligatory workshops  – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
      • Obligatory workshop I: Bioarchaeology – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
        ————————————OR—————————————
      • Obligatory workshop II: Exploring Academic Research Papers – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
    • Facultative courses – Class, 2 x 30 hrs (2 x 3 ECTS)
    • Selected General University Courses [OGUN] – Lecture, 60 hrs (5 ECTS)
    • Occupational Health and Safety – Lecture, 4hrs (0 ECTS)
    • Excavations – 150 hrs (9 ECTS)

Sum of ECTS: 60

* Students decide the specialisation they want to choose for their Master Thesis (either I. Bioarchaeology or II. Near East Archaeology). According to this choice they have to choose the appropriate obligatory courses (Obligatory courses I if Bioarchaeology is chosen or Obligatory courses II if Near East Archaeology is chosen) and, similarly, the appropriate obligatory workshop (either Bioarchaeology or Exploring Academic Research Papers). The course that a student is not obliged to pass as a part of their specialisation can be chosen as a facultative course (e.g. a Bioarchaeology student can choose Selected Problems of Mediterranean Archaeology as a facultative course).

The list of available courses is presented each year in the course schedule.

2nd year

    • Seminar – 60 hrs (9 ECTS)
      • Seminar I: Bioarchaeology – 60 hrs  (9 ECTS)
        ————————————OR—————————————
      • Seminar II: Near East Archaeology – 60 hrs (9 ECTS)
    • Facultative courses – Class, 6 x 30 hrs (6 x 3 ECTS)
    • Obligatory workshops  – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
      • Obligatory workshop I: Bioarchaeology – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
        ————————————OR—————————————
      • Obligatory workshop II: Archaeological geophysics in practice – Class, 30 hrs (3 ECTS)*
    • Selected General University Courses [OGUN] – Lecture, 60 hrs (5 ECTS)
    • Field survey training – 30 hrs (1 ECTS)
    • MA thesis – (24 ECTS)

Sum of ECTS: 60

The list of available courses is presented each year in the course schedule.

 

PLEASE NOTE: When the number of students is low, the general programme may be modified each year. Students who are interested in other areas of archaeology may be allowed to enrol in some of our Polish seminars as external students (knowledge of Polish required). Some facultative courses and monographic lectures may be available on a bi-annual basis. Please consult the Head of Archaeology (Studies in English), Dr. Katarzyna Pyżewicz (wa.head.archeology@uw.edu.pl) if you would like to modify the schedule planned for the next semester.

 

TUITION FEE AND PAYMENTS

 

Foreign students have a right to learn the Polish language for free.
Students of the second cycle (Master’s degree) can get:
• 240 tokens for Polish language classes
• 180 tokens for lectures organized by Polonicum

http://polonicum.uw.edu.pl/en/courses-during-the-academic-year

For more details, please contact the Head of Archaeology (Studies in English), Dr hab. Katarzyna Pyżewicz wa.head.archeology@uw.edu.pl