Study in Greece: English-language MA in Greek and Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology

For those interested in mastering archaeology, a one-year postgraduate programme, taught entirely in English, is offered by the Faculty of History and Archaeology of Greece’s oldest University, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The programme, entitled “Greek and Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology”, is devoted to the advanced study of archaeology of Greece and the wider area of the Aegean, as well as Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, including Mesopotamia.

Modules combine an in-depth, systematic account of the evidence, the methodologies, and the current debates on Greek and Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology. Themes of interest range from the emergence of the Minoan and Mycenaean palaces and the great empires of the eastern Mediterranean, such as the Hittites and the Assyrians, to the formation and decline of the Greek city-state (the polis), the rise of Alexander the Great and the world of the East Mediterranean during the time of his successors, including the perception and importance of Greek and Eastern Mediterranean heritage today.

What’s more, all courses entail a strong hands-on learning element, such as classes and seminars held in archaeological sites and museums within Athens and its vicinity; besides this, students are expected to participate in field trips around Greece, including visits to archaeological sites in Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi, Vergina, Santorini and Knossos. The aim is to provide students with the systematic knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills required to assess archaeological records as professional researchers or specialists.

The programme runs for 12 months, September to October, with applications accepted from January 1st until May 31st.While ideal for archaeology graduates, the programme is also suitable for those with a degree in humanities, classics and other related subjects, who wish to prepare for doctoral research, to pursue a career in commercial archaeology, the museum sector, or the heritage industry at large. Graduates with no background knowledge but with a strong motivation to acquire an overview of the wider issues related to the archaeology of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean are welcome too.