University master's degrees
University Master's Degree in Prehistoric Archaeology

The UAB offers the only master's degree specialising in Prehistoric Archaeology in Spain. It prioritises hands-on, interdisciplinary training, and forming part of research teams of renowned excellence.

Admission Official Master's Degree in Prehistoric Archaeology

Access

Access to this master's degree is open to holders of an official bachelor's degree from a Spanish university or from another higher education institution within or outside the European Higher Education Area, provided this gives access to postgraduate studies in the country of issue.

Admission requirements

Research and professional practice in Prehistoric Archaeology are characterised by interdisciplinarity. Professionals from different disciplines collaborate on projects coordinated and led by archaeology professionals. Currently, the bachelor's degree in Archaeology is offered at a limited number of Spanish universities (UAB, University of Barcelona, Complutense University, University of Granada). However, training in archaeology, especially prehistoric archaeology, is to be found in many bachelor's degree syllabuses that fall within the general category of arts and humanities. For this reason, this master's degree responds to the needs of students with quite varied higher-education backgrounds.

It is open to graduates in the following subjects.

  1. Archaeology and equivalent subjects. Students with specialist training in Archaeology are assumed to be equipped to continue in these studies without any need for complementary measures.
  2. History, History of Art, Sciences of Antiquity, Humanities and equivalent subjects. Students with a degree in one of these subjects are given the same consideration as those in the previous group. In view of their CV and any gaps in their knowledge of key subject areas, the programme's teaching committee may require bridging courses to be taken.
  3. Sociology, Anthropology, Social and Cultural Gender Studies, Biology, Environmental Biology, Biochemistry and equivalent subjects. Students with a degree in one of these subjects probably do not have the knowledge required to successfully follow courses in prehistoric archaeology. Depending on their CV, they may need to take bridging courses, as suggested by the programme's teaching committee.

Selection criteria

1. Academic transcript (up to 70%). In accordance with the specific admission requirements, the qualifications reference scale has the following weighting: 

Group of qualifications Academic transcript Weighting
1. Archaeology and similar A-A with Honours 70%
B 65%
Pass 60%
2. History, History and Art, Sciencies of Antiquity, Humanities and equivalent subjects A-A with Honours 55%
B 50%
Pass 45%
3. Sociology, Anthropology, Social and Cultural Gender Studies, Biology, Biochemistry and equivalent subjects A-A with Honours 50%
B 45%
Pass 40%

2. Participation in research projects or dissemination of findings from these projects from others of similar standing (up to 20%). Official documents certifying this are required.

3. Participation in additional academic activities related to the area of prehistoric archaeology: seminars, conferences, research, publications and presentations in academic forums (up to 10%). Copies of publications or of documents certifying each activity must be supplied. 2.5% is awarded for each duly documented participation or publication, up to a maximum of 10%.

Complementary training

The programme's teaching committee will examine students' previous studies and determine whether bridging courses need to be taken or not. If required by the teaching committee, up to 18 credits in bridging courses must be taken by applicants who are not graduates in one of the above-mentioned subjects.

All bridging courses are in subjects within the syllabus of the bachelor's degree in Archaeology of the UAB.

• Bridging courses for bachelor's degree group 1. These are not ordinarily required.

• Bridging courses for bachelor's degree group 2:

  • Introduction to Archaeology. Code number 100720 (6 ECTS credits).
  • Prehistory. Code number 100719 (6 ECTS credits).
  • Management and Communication of Archaeology. Code number 100743 (6 ECTS credits).
  • Theoretical Currents in Archaeology. Code number 100725 (6 ECTS credits).

• Bridging courses for bachelor's degree group 3:

  • Introduction to Archaeology. Code number 100720 (6 ECTS credits).
  • Prehistory. Code number 100719 (6 ECTS credits).
  • Prehistoric Archaeology. Code number 100740 (6 ECTS credits).
  • Management and Communication of Archaeology. Code number 100743 (6 ECTS credits).
  • Social, Economic and Political Theory in Archaeology. Code number 100724 (6 ECTS credits).
  • Theoretical Currents in Archaeology. Code number 100725 (6 ECTS credits).
  • Quantitative Archaeology. Code number 100715 (6 ECTS credits).