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You'll need a 2:2 degree in an arts, humanities, social sciences or science subject.

Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.

If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:

If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before you start your course.

Pre-masters

If you don’t meet direct entry requirements, you can apply to complete a Pre-Master's programme through our partnership with OnCampus.

You'll progress to your chosen course after successfully completing the programme.

Recognition of professional experience

If you’ve been away from formal study for some time we’ll assess your relevant professional experience, your subject knowledge and your aptitude for learning.

Your application will be considered on individual merit and you may be asked to attend an interview.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Your studies will run for a full year, from September to the following September.

If you’d like to take longer to complete this master’s you can study part-time over 2 to 5 years.

If you decide that you’d like to change to a different archaeology specialism within the first 2 weeks of term you’ll be able to change your degree.

Throughout your studies we’ll encourage you to engage with the wider research community through attending and presenting at seminars, workshops or conferences. In the summer you’ll focus on your personal research project, which you’ll complete with guidance from a personal supervisor.

What you'll study:

• You'll take 2 compulsory modules that focus on specialist palaeolithic knowledge and skills.
• alongside your compulsory specialist modules you can choose modules from the full range of available archaeology modules. You can also:
• include up to 30 credits from final-year undergraduate archaeology modules
• choose to study a module from another University department, subject to the approval of the course leader

Each module requires at least 150 hours of study time. As a full-time student you’re likely to be on campus up to 4 days a week.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Learning

There is a focus on student-led and independent learning and teaching on this course, though you also work and test ideas with leading experts.

As well as seminars and presentations, you'll learn through a variety of methods including:

• reconstructions
• designing exhibition proposals
• training in using a Total Station
• producing publication standard reports
• site mapping with Geophysical, GIS, LiDaR, remote sensing

Assessment

We'll assess you through:

• reports and portfolios
• written exams and essays
• digital projects
• mapping packages
• group presentations
• dissertation research project
• field,laboratory, and practical tests

Dissertation

Your dissertation is a personal research project which has a 20,000 word limit and takes about 600 hours to complete. You must take the dissertation module to complete this course unless otherwise agreed with the course coordinator.

Academic Support

Your contact hours will vary depending on your module choices. Full information about contact hours is provided in individual module profiles.

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £13,000.
• EU and international students pay £28,800.

Check fees for other versions of this course.

Deposit

If you're an international student on a full-time course, we'll ask you to pay £2,000 of your tuition fees in advance, as a deposit.

Your offer letter will tell you when this should be paid and provide full terms and conditions.

Find out about exemptions, refunds and how to pay your deposit on our tuition fees for overseas students page.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

Your fees also cover:

• the majority of the cost of fieldwork trips
• up to £350 transport costs for placements

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges and expenses regulations

10% alumni discount

If you’re a graduate of the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ, you could be eligible for a 10% discount on your postgraduate tuition fees.

Postgraduate Master’s Loans (UK nationals only)

This can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master's course. 

If you study part-time, you may not be eligible for this loan. .

Dean of Faculty of Arts and Humanities Global Talent Award

Up to 5 scholarships of £10,000 are available to first year international students starting an eligible full-time, on-campus, 1-year postgraduate taught programme in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

Learn more about eligibility criteria and conditions for the Dean of Faculty of Arts and Humanities Global Talent Award.

Other postgraduate funding options

A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

1. Use the blue 'apply for this course' button on this page to take you to our postgraduate admissions system.
2. Create an account which gives you access to your own application portal.
3. Search for the course you want to apply for.
4. Complete the application form and upload any supporting documents.
5. Submit your application.

For further details of our admission process, read our step by step guide to postgraduate taught applications.

Application deadlines

Application assessment fee

There is no application assessment fee for postgraduate courses starting in 2027.

Supporting information

When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.

You’ll need to include information about:

• your knowledge of the subject area
• why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
• how you intend to use your qualification

You'll also need to submit an academic reference.

Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.

What happens after you apply

You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.

If we offer you a place, you will need to accept the offer within 30 working days. If you do not meet this deadline, we will offer your place to another applicant.

Unfortunately, due to number of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Inclusion and Respectful Behaviour Policy.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000