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. 

• Please note: The last student cohort on this MA will start in February 2025. A revised version of this MA will run from September 2025.

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.

Entry requirements

Related courses

How does distance learning work?

Our courses are designed to work for a global audience of students who often lead busy lives. They are delivered by expert academic staff (the same people who teach our campus based courses!). You work remotely at your own pace. You will be given access to our Virtual Learning Environment where all the materials for whichever module you are currently studying will be accessible as well as a student forum with overarching information about our courses.

You can start your studies at two different points in the year, either in October or February and you can study part time, taking one module at once, or full time studying two modules at a time. You can pause your studies at the end of a module if you need to.

The teaching semester is divided into a series of study sections. Every module includes an opportunity for you to complete a first assessment during your study of the module. This is followed by further sections of study material before you complete your final assessment. There are no set times when you need to attend class or complete your study work except for assessment deadlines. This means you can fit your studies around your work and family life in a way that works for you whether that is studying in the evenings, at the weekend, or during the daytime.

Each module has its own space in the Virtual Learning Environment where our staff have designed content to help you learn. This might include recorded lectures, guided readings, podcasts, discussion boards and optional live sessions: each module is different! These materials will guide you through the module content. Each module has a module co-ordinator who is responsible for the delivery of the module. You will hear from them regularly as they guide you through your learning.  You will also have access to an e-reading list where all the key sources for the module are linked. In addition, you will also have access to our university Library, which has masses of digital resources you can access online - but they will also post you physical books too. In addition, they are able to provide lots of help and support, from finding resources to improving your academic skills.