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Bachelor's Degree Archaeological Studies



The Bachelor's degree in Archaeological Studies can be studied in both the 1-subject and the 2-subject model.

It deals with answering the following questions:

  • What do we know about ancient civilisations?
  • How did people live back then? What ideas did they have? What ancient technologies did they know? Why and how did they create art? What resources did they use?
  • What functions did objects and monuments have in their respective cultures? What conclusions can we draw about these cultures and their societies?
  • How can objects and monuments from past cultures be analysed and classified in terms of cultural history?
  • What scientific methods does archaeology use to analyse the material legacies of past cultures?

Start: Winter and summer semester

Duration: 6 semesters

Language of instruction: usually German

Admission: not restricted

Language skills: Knowledge of English and another language relevant to the subject as well as Latin (alternatively another old language relevant to the degree programme), to be verified when registering for the final BA degree.


Information on enrollment/application for German applicants



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Application information for international applicants



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This degree programme is unique because it...

  • provides an insight into classical antiquity and the periods of prehistory and early history as well as scientific applications in their research (archaeometry).
  • teaches more than the historical and cultural foundations of past cultures and the basic archaeological skills and methods for their study.
  • offers unique, interdisciplinary breadth and allows individual specialisation.

  • incorporates practical and professionally oriented aspects of archaeological and heritage conservation work, e.g. through integration of the Institute's teaching excavations, the University's own art collections, the Institute's own teaching collections and archives, a computer laboratory and an archaeobotany laboratory, a teaching workshop for experimental work and cooperating institutions such as the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum.


you bring to the table:

  • basic historical and geographical knowledge
  • good powers of observation and a good visual memory
  • curiosity about cultural-historical contexts and issues
  • the willingness to independently research groups of monuments and to read numerous specialised texts
  • the ability to present specialised content in oral and written form
  • idealism, coupled with frustration tolerance

you enjoy:

  • critically examining the material legacy of past civilisations in seminars and on site
  • communicating and imparting knowledge
  • developing your own ideas

you can fight through:

  • the wealth of archaeological finds from many excavation sites and many eras and cultures
  • extensive literature in foreign languages (e.g. English, French, Italian or Turkish)
  • the preparation of written papers and oral presentations
  • in museums and exhibitions
  • in the preservation of archaeological monuments
  • in media organisations and publishing houses
  • in adult education and tourism
  • in cultural management

A work placement is part of the curriculum. Duration: min. 4 weeks

A stay abroad is recommended. It is completed in the 3rd-4th semester. Duration: 1-2 semesters.
Partner universities: Numerous partner universities and institutes in Germany and abroad offer the opportunity to change universities during the degree programme.


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