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Archaeology: Research Master

A Research Master is an advanced two-year postgraduate programme with an even higher research component than the Master’s programme, and provides excellent scope for individual student initiative.

The Research Master programme in Archaeology focuses on the research areas that are strongly represented in Leiden. The heart of the programme is organised around the excellent research with which Leiden has made a name for itself internationally.

RMA-students share several modular courses with MA-students. However, there will be some differentiation in the learning objectives and assignments between MA and RMA. Depending on the courses, options for RMA-specific assignments could include one or a combination of the following:

  • a different focus in the essay and/or presentation assignment, for example: formulating new avenues for innovative future research for the theme selected, and/or

  • presenting a theoretical or methodological “meta” approach to the literature, e.g. in order to critically assess the intellectual position taken by the author(s), and/or

  • placing the research topic into a broader international context, making interregional comparisons in research outcomes and/or methodology; and/or

  • formulating a text on a specialist archaeological topic that is specifically aimed at a non-specialist audience;

  • organising, leading and reviewing a session discussion (either within the class environment or at a separate event);

  • attending and reviewing an international conference or workshop that is related to the course theme;

  • contributing to a publication by the research track that is related to the course theme;

  • presenting a poster or paper that is related to the course theme at an international conference or workshop.

Programme year 1

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

For RMA students only:

Advanced Archaeological Theory 5

For RMSc students only:

Advanced Scientific Methodology in Archaeology 5

General courses

Advanced Themes in Archaeology 5
Conferences and Workshops (ARCHON) Year 1 5
Teaching Assistance Year 1 5
RMA Thesis Archaeology Year 1 15

Research track

Research Seminar: Secret Skills for the Successful Scientist 10

Choose 2 modular courses (see the 'Modular courses' tab above') (2 x 5 ec)

Choose 1 elective course (see the 'Electives' tab above) (5 ec)

Programme year 2

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

General courses

Epistemology of Archaeology 5
Conferences and Workshops (ARCHON) Year 2 5
Teaching Assistance Year 2 5
RMA Thesis Archaeology Year 2 20

Research track: choose 1 of the following research seminars:

Research Seminar: Topics in Human Evolution 10
Research Seminar: A Global Revolution? Change and Innovation in Afro-Eurasia in the Final Centuries BCE 10
Research Seminar: Communicating Communities 10

Choose 2 modular courses (see the 'Modular courses' tab above') (2 x 5 ec)

Choose 1 elective course (see the 'Electives' tab above) (5 ec)

Modular courses

Choose 2 courses (2 x 5 ec).
For the timetables, see the research master time schedule.

Please note that some courses consist of 2 blocks.

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Prehistory

Advanced Archaeology of Hominin Diversity 5

Europe

Advanced Area Specialisation Europe 10
Advanced Studies in Key Developments in European Prehistory 5

Heritage & museum

Advanced Community Heritage and Public Archaeology 5

The Near East

Advanced Studies in Neolithisation in West Asia 5
Advanced Archaeology of the Assyrian Empire 5

The Mediterranean

Advanced Area Specialisation Eastern Mediterranean and West Asia 10
Advanced Current Issues in the Archaeology of the Frontier Regions of the Roman Empire 5
Advanced Archaeology of the Crusades 5

The Americas

Advanced Area Specialisation Americas 10

Sciences

Advanced Current Issues in Archaeological Science 5

Electives

Choose 1 course (5 ec).

For the timetables, see MyTimetable.

Please note that some courses consist of 2 blocks.

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Free choice from other MA/MSc Archaeology courses

Free choice from other Master courses outside Archaeology (after approval of Board of Examiners)