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Archaeology, Master Degree, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

the Netherlands

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Study options for this course

The award	How you will study	Study duration	Course start	Domestic course fees	International course fees
Master Degree	find out	1 year	September	EUR 2694 per year	EUR 25900 per year

About Archaeology, Master Degree - at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Are you looking for a world-class education in the archaeology of Europe and the adjacent Mediterranean area? Want to get hands-on experience doing fieldwork at archaeological sites? Then the Master’s in Archaeology – with its two distinct specialisations – may be the programme for you.

Archaeology in Amsterdam

This Master’s is offered jointly by VU Amsterdam and the University of Amsterdam – combining their expertise in Archaeology, Ancient History and Classics in the Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology (ACASA). This merging of specialisations encourages collaboration and extends the options when it comes to the supervision of your Master’s thesis. Not only is the teaching strongly related to the research expertise of the staff, but you’ll also be a partner in research during your studies.

The Master’s in Archaeology gives you a world-class education in the archaeology of Europe and the adjacent Mediterranean area. You will obtain advanced skills that enable you to define relevant research questions, conduct independent research, and to report your findings according to the highest professional standards.

Learn more about Archaeology, Master Degree - at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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Entry requirements

The Master's programme Archaeology is open for application to students with a Bachelor's degree in:

Archaeology, or
Geo-archaeology, Ancient Studies, Anthropology, History (with demonstrable relationship to Ancient Studies), or a similar degree programme with a minimum of 30 ECTS (equivalent to a full-time semester of academic studies) taken in the field of Archaeology.

You must demonstrate the following knowledge, understanding and skills:

Knowledge and understanding: knowledge and understanding of current research methods and theories within the field of Archaeology or Ancient Studies
Knowledge and understanding: basic knowledge and understanding of the material culture and historical frameworks of Mediterranean or European Archaeology
Skills: the ability to carry out a survey of (material) sources and secondary literature and to derive from this a 'status quaestionis'

Proof of sufficient proficiency in English

You must always present official test results proving your proficiency in English. You can apply online without having the test results, but in case you haven't taken a test yet we advise you to plan a test date as soon as possible. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. Below you will find the minimum English test scores for the English-taught programmes at the Faculty of Humanities:

TOEFL score 600 paper based with a minimum of 55 in each of the subtests plus 4.0 in TWE, score 250 computer based or score 100 internet based with a minimum of 20-23 (in each of the subtests).
IELTS score of 7.0 overall band score (with none of the separate section scores dropping below a minimum score of 6.5).
Cambridge English: Cambridge Proficiency Exam with score A, B, or C; or Cambridge Advanced Exam with score A, B, or C.

Exemptions from providing the English test scores are applicable to students, who:

have completed an English-taught secondary or higher education degree in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia; or
have earned a Bachelor's or Master's degree in an English-taught programme accredited by NVAO in the Netherlands, or
have earned a Bachelor's or Master's degree in an accredited English-taught programme in another member state of the European Union

The required evidence should, if possible, be included with the complete application. If either unsatisfactory or no evidence of English language proficiency has been provided with the application, admission will be conditional upon the provision of such evidence. This condition will be clearly indicated on the offer letter and must be fulfilled before enrolment at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Fees, Funding and Scholarships at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Need financial assistance? Read about scholarships: Scholarships for Master's programmes

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Masters Webinar

Each year, we organise an online session for aspiring Master's students that covers everything you need to know about the application process and beyond. This year, the International Master's webinar took place on Tuesday, October 15, at 16:00 (CET). You can watch the recordings all year.

During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to:

Discover what it is like to study at VU Amsterdam;
Learn everything you need to know about the admission and application process;
Get the latest insights on scholarship opportunities;
Hear first-hand experiences from one of our current international students about being a student in the Netherlands' dynamic capital city.

Bachelors Webinar

Each year we organise an online session for aspiring Bachelor's students that covers all you need to know about the application process and beyond. This year, the International Bachelor's webinar took place on Thursday 24 October at 16:00 (CET). You can watch the recorder version all year.

During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to:

Discover what it is like to study at VU Amsterdam;
Learn everything you need to know about the admission and application process;
Ask all your questions about the housing market in Amsterdam;
Hear first-hand experiences from one of our current international students about being a student in the Netherlands' dynamic capital city.