Archaeology and Heritage MA, PGDip, PGCert, by distance learning, 1 or 2 years, full- or part-time
Course information
UK/EU fee £10,765
International fee £10,765
Taught by Archaeology and Ancient History
Contact
Distance Learning Hub
+44 (0)116 252 2903
dladmissions@le.ac.uk
How should archaeological sites be presented to the public? What are the ethical concerns around preservation and restoration? This degree is about understanding how we value and understand archaeological heritage.
Course description
Course description
This degree explores approaches to the archaeological heritage in general, landscape archaeology, archaeology and education, and the archaeology of standing buildings. These fields are explored within a global framework, encouraging both critical intellectual engagement with more advanced academic research while developing skills and understandings in relation to with practical applications. The course materials have been developed for an international student body and are designed to be both relevant to your specific concerns and backgrounds, while seeking to extend horizons globally in new and exciting directions.
The four modules of this MA encourage you to develop new understandings, skills and interests at different scales, from the study of individual standing buildings to that of the largest landscapes. You will also explore in a critical way how archaeologists and others may engage with and interpret archaeological monuments, sites and landscapes to various audiences within ‘public archaeology’, engaging with a range of heritage discourses from Europe, North America, and beyond. The role and value of archaeology in education and society, in the broadest sense, is critically examined, exploring its educational roles in fundamental debates concerning the human condition and who we are, as well as the nature of the archaeological record and the past. How do we approach different kinds of archaeology? Why do we do it? Why do we do it as we do? Might there be other ways?
This MA provides you with an excellent and wide-ranging course of advanced study and is particularly suitable for those already engaged with archaeology and the heritage sector, or with shared professional interests. The course offers opportunities to build on existing skills and knowledge, while developing intellectual rigour. Students of this long-established and successful MA are commonly working within the heritage sector or related disciplines, while graduates from this course have gone on to work for English Heritage/Historic England, the National and State Parks Services, Parks Canada, and similar organisations, while many within the private sector.
Distance learning offers you the opportunity to study flexibly, while still benefiting from full support of our expert academic staff. The course also gives you the option to defer studies if external demands require.
Most distance learning courses are part-time. However this MA can be taken full-time in just one year.
If you have any questions about this course, join us for a live online chat with academic tutors and admissions staff.
What's the difference?
For the MA you need to complete four modules and a dissertation. For the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) you need to complete four modules. For the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) you need to complete two modules. The PGDip and PGCert are not available full-time.
Download a prospectus (PDF, 1.2MB)Entry requirements
Entry requirements
A good second class (2:1, or equivalent) honours degree in Archaeology (or Anthropology in North America) or a closely related subject.
If you have a degree in a less-relevant subject, you may be able to apply for this degree after completing specific conversion modules to an appropriate standard, by prior agreement with the Course Director.
If you have extensive relevant professional experience (5 years or more) the Course Director may consider this, on an individual basis.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries ListFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK and EU Students
This is the total fee. You will pay this fee wherever in the world you live.
Starting in February 2021 or June 2021
- MA: £10,765
- PGDip: £7,170
- PGCert: £3,585
Find out more about how to pay and scholarships and funding.
Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan?Find out if you’re eligible. (MA only; not available for PGDip or PGCert.)
International Students
This is the total fee. You will pay this fee wherever in the world you live.
Starting in February 2021 or June 2021
- MA: £10,765
- PGDip: £7,170
- PGCert: £3,585
Find out more about how to pay and scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Archaeology courses are designed to enable you to develop your skills and knowledge, whether to enhance your career prospects, proceed to further study, or for general interest.
There are opportunities to develop your practical skills, and employability skills are embedded throughout our curriculum. Consequently, our courses are highly valued by employers who will recognise the key transferable and subject-specific skills gained.
Our Career Development Service is here to support you – by email, phone or skype – with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience and more. From registration to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Course structure
MA modules
MA modules
Core modules
Plus your Archaeology Dissertationof 15,000 words (MA only)
Option modules
Choose three option modules from:
- Archaeology and Education
- Archaeology of Standing Buildings
- Landscape Archaeology
- The Historical Archaeology of England
- Doing Historical Archaeology (compulsory if you are doing a Historical Archaeology-focused dissertation)
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
PGDip modules
PGDip modules
Core module
Option modules
Choose three option modules from:
- Archaeology and Education
- Archaeology of Standing Buildings
- Doing Historical Archaeology
- Landscape Archaeology
- The Historical Archaeology of England
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
PGCert modules
PGCert modules
Choose two modules from:
- Archaeology and Education
- Archaeology of Standing Buildings
- Critical Approaches to the Archaeological Heritage
- Doing Historical Archaeology
- Landscape Archaeology
- Mini-Dissertation
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Archaeology and Ancient History at Leicester is ranked in the top 100 in the world by the QS University Rankings. Our academic staff are active in research on every continent, with research interests from early prehistory to the recent past.
Our courses cross the traditional academic boundary of archaeology and ancient history, letting you gain a wider knowledge in your chosen area.
Our staff are active in research on all continents while many work closely with UK contract archaeology and the heritage sector not least through their work with ULAS (University of Leicester Archaeological Services).
Teaching and learning
All of your modules are delivered by distance learning and we will provide you with excellent support from the same expert archaeology academics who deliver our on-campus courses. We understand you are combining study with external commitments and you can defer your studies if necessary. Up to a third of our students take advantage of this flexibility.
You will receive specially prepared self-study materials by post and additional teaching material will be made available electronically through the virtual learning support environment, Blackboard. You will have access to the library’s special service for distance learning students.
During the course, you will be allocated an academic tutor for each module and you will receive one-to-one supervision throughout your course.
Each of the modules you choose will be assessed using at least two written assignments. You will be provided with detailed written feedback on each piece of work that you submit for assessment. All of your assignments will be graded by two markers who are academics or professional archaeologists.
Distance Learning
Online learning is an important feature of this course, therefore it is essential that you have reliable, regular access to the internet (preferably with a broadband connection) in order to participate.
As a distance learning student, you will have access to the University Library's electronic service, the Leicester Digital Library, which includes a large number of e-journals and e-books. You are also welcome to join campus-based activities (by prior arrangement) at any time.
If you live close to Leicester you can, of course, visit the Library in person. For UK-based students who wish to use other libraries, we can issue you with a card which allows you to do so. This is a national scheme which allows distance learning students to borrow material from up to three other participating libraries.
Key dates
Start date: 8 February 2021
Application deadline for February 2021 start: 25 January 2021
Start date: 14 June 2021
Application deadline for June 2021 start: 31 May 2021
Start date: 11 October 2021
Application deadline for October 2021 start: 27 September 2021
Start date: 14 February 2022
Application deadline for February 2022 start: 31 January 2022
Start date: 13 June 2022
Application deadline for June 2022 start: 30 May 2022
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Archaeology and Heritage by distance learning | Qualification MA | Duration 2 years part-time | Start Dates February, June and October each year | Availability Apply Now |
| Course Archaeology and Heritage by distance learning | Qualification MA | Duration 1 year full-time | Start Dates February, June and October each year | Availability Apply Now |
| Course Archaeology and Heritage by distance learning | Qualification PGDip | Duration 18 months part-time | Start Dates February, June and October each year | Availability Apply Now |
| Course Archaeology and Heritage by distance learning | Qualification PGCert | Duration 8 months part-time | Start Dates February, June and October each year | Availability Apply Now |