A pre-master track is intended for students who want to start a master in Archaeology, but who have a bachelor’s degree that does not fully meet the requirements of the chosen MA programme.
Deficiencies in the bachelor can be elimiated by means of a pre-master track, with a maximum of 60 ec.
Below you see the programmes that can be takes as a pre-master. Your definitive programme will always be compiled in consultance with and with the approval of the Admission Committee.
For whom?
The following BA graduates, whose intended MA focus areas do not concur with their previous education, are eligible for a pre-master in Archaeology:
Leiden University students (not from the Archaeology department)
other Dutch universities and HBO institutes (higher vocational education)
foreign universities
Prerequisites
What you need in order to be admitted to a pre-master track in Archaeology:
BA (university or HBO) obtained
deficiencies with a maximum of 60 ec (1 year)
the track and its courses are chosen in consultation with the Admission Committee and pre-master coordinator
you will only be admitted to the master track you are applying for.
Please note: these conditions will not automatically ensure you of admission to the pre-master track. Every application will be assessed individually, and all programme choices are made in consultation with the BA study adviser.
An interview may be part of the selection procedure.
Application
The application procedure is as follows:
Apply for the BA in Archaeology (higher year, not first year), via Studielink. Within a few days you will receive log-in details for the Leiden University online application portal, where you can opt for the Pre-master. In your motivation letter, please indicate for which of the 4 tracks in the Master you are applying.
If you want to have a chance to be admitted to the MA directly, you can also apply for the MA straight away.
The Admission Committee decides if you can be directly admitted to the MA or not. If you need to take a Pre-master programme, the Admission Committee will send you a negative admission decision for the MA, but including a proposal for a Pre-master programme. In that case you will have to apply for the BA, higher year, in Studielink and the Pre-master in the online application portal, as mentioned above. To prevent you from missing the deadlines, it is therefore advisable to fill out both the BA higher year/Pre-master and MA application at the same time.
Application deadline
Pre-master tracks start every September 1st. The deadline for application is 1 April for non-EU students and 15 June for EU students.
More information
For additional information and application please contact the Admission Committee.
Tracks
The Master tracks are:
Below is the programme (60 ec in total) intended as preparation for the Archaeology Master specialisation Global Archaeology.
Below you see a programme that is on offer as a pre-master. Your definitive programme may be tailor-made and will always be compiled in consultance with and with the approval of the Admission Committee.
| Course | EC | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mandatory |
|||
| Material Studies | 5 | ||
| Deep History | 5 | ||
| Complex Societies | 5 | ||
| Archaeological Theory (BA3) | 5 | ||
| Designing Archaeological Research | 5 | ||
| Imperial Powers, Global Cultures | 5 | ||
| Science Communication: Archaeology in the 21st Century | 5 | ||
|
Choose 1: |
|||
| Heritage Protection in the 21st Century | 5 | ||
| Globalisation in World History | 5 | ||
| Landscape Archaeology Projects | 5 | ||
| Material Culture | 5 | ||
| Museums and Collections: A Practical Introduction | 5 | ||
|
Choose 1: |
|||
| World Archaeology 1 | 5 | ||
| Landscape Dynamics 1 | 5 | ||
| World Archaeology 2 | 5 | ||
| Introduction to Heritage Studies 1 | 5 | ||
| World Archaeology 3 | 5 | ||
| Field Techniques | 5 | ||
| Landscape Dynamics 2 | 5 | ||
| Introduction to Heritage Studies 2 | 5 | ||
|
Choose 1 seminar (see the Seminars tab above) |
|||
|
Choose 2 courses from the BA1 or BA2 programme |
|||
Below is the programme (60 ec in total) intended as preparation for the Archaeology Master specialisation Applied Archaeology.
Below you see a programme that is on offer as a pre-master. Your definitive programme may be tailor-made and will always be compiled in consultance with and with the approval of the Admission Committee.
| Course | EC | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mandatory |
|||
| Heritage Protection in the 21st Century | 5 | ||
| Material Studies | 5 | ||
| Deep History | 5 | ||
| Complex Societies | 5 | ||
| Archaeological Theory (BA3) | 5 | ||
| Designing Archaeological Research | 5 | ||
| Imperial Powers, Global Cultures | 5 | ||
| Science Communication: Archaeology in the 21st Century | 5 | ||
|
Choose 1: |
|||
| World Archaeology 1 | 5 | ||
| Landscape Dynamics 1 | 5 | ||
| World Archaeology 2 | 5 | ||
| Introduction to Heritage Studies 1 | 5 | ||
| World Archaeology 3 | 5 | ||
| Field Techniques | 5 | ||
| Landscape Dynamics 2 | 5 | ||
| Introduction to Heritage Studies 2 | 5 | ||
|
Choose 1: |
|||
| Landscape Archaeology Projects | 5 | ||
| Globalisation in World History | 5 | ||
| Material Culture | 5 | ||
| Museums and Collections: A Practical Introduction | 5 | ||
|
Choose 1 seminar (see the Seminars tab above) |
|||
|
Choose 1 course from the BA1 or BA2 programme |
|||
Below is the programme (60 ec in total) intended as preparation for the Archaeology Master specialisation Heritage and Museum Studies.
Below you see a programme that is on offer as a pre-master. Your definitive programme may be tailor-made and will always be compiled in consultance with and with the approval of the Admission Committee.
| Course | EC | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mandatory |
|||
| Material Studies | 5 | ||
| Heritage Protection in the 21st Century | 5 | ||
| Deep History | 5 | ||
| Complex Societies | 5 | ||
| Designing Archaeological Research | 5 | ||
| Archaeological Theory (BA3) | 5 | ||
| Imperial Powers, Global Cultures | 5 | ||
| Museums and Collections: A Practical Introduction | 5 | ||
| Science Communication: Archaeology in the 21st Century | 5 | ||
|
Choose 1: |
|||
| Landscape Archaeology Projects | 5 | ||
| Globalisation in World History | 5 | ||
| Material Culture | 5 | ||
|
Free choice (5 ec): choose any course from the premaster BA2 course list that you have not chosen yet, or one from the BA1 courses below: |
|||
| World Archaeology 1 | 5 | ||
| Landscape Dynamics 1 | 5 | ||
| World Archaeology 2 | 5 | ||
| Introduction to Heritage Studies 1 | 5 | ||
| World Archaeology 3 | 5 | ||
| Landscape Dynamics 2 | 5 | ||
| Introduction to Heritage Studies 2 | 5 | ||
|
Choose 1 seminar (see the Seminars tab above) |
|||
Below is the programme (60 ec in total) intended as preparation for the Archaeology Master specialisation Archaeological Science.
Below you see a programme that is on offer as a pre-master. Your definitive programme may be tailor-made and will always be compiled in consultance with and with the approval of the Admission Committee.
| Course | EC | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mandatory |
|||
| Material Studies | 5 | ||
| Deep History | 5 | ||
| Complex Societies | 5 | ||
| Archaeological Theory (BA3) | 5 | ||
| Designing Archaeological Research | 5 | ||
| Imperial Powers, Global Cultures | 5 | ||
| Science Communication: Archaeology in the 21st Century | 5 | ||
|
Choose 1: |
|||
| Botany | 5 | ||
| Zoology | 5 | ||
| Osteology | 5 | ||
| Introduction to Programming for Archaeologists | 5 | ||
| Material Culture | 5 | ||
|
Choose 2: |
|||
| Bioarchaeology | 5 | ||
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 5 | ||
| Globalisation in World History | 5 | ||
| Landscape Archaeology Projects | 5 | ||
| Material Culture | 5 | ||
|
Choose 2 of the courses below, or other courses from the BA1 or BA2 programme: |
|||
| World Archaeology 1 | 5 | ||
| Landscape Dynamics 1 | 5 | ||
| World Archaeology 2 | 5 | ||
| Introduction to Heritage Studies 1 | 5 | ||
| Heritage Protection in the 21st Century | 5 | ||
| World Archaeology 3 | 5 | ||
| Landscape Dynamics 2 | 5 | ||
| Introduction to Heritage Studies 2 | 5 | ||
| Museums and Collections: A Practical Introduction | 5 | ||
Please note: seminar choices are to be made in consultation with the BA study adviser.
The block 4 seminars Botany, Zoology and Osteology are only accessible for those who are opting for the Archaeological Science track.