Yearbooks

Programme: PhD (Archaeology)

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Code Faculty Department
01264182 Faculty of Humanities Department: Anthropology and Archaeology
Credits Duration NQF level
Minimum duration of study: 2 years Total credits: 360 NQF level:  10

Programme information

A student for a doctorate degree must complete his or her studies within four years after first registering for the degree and the study comprises of a 60 000-100 000 word thesis based on a research proposal approved by the Research Proposal and Ethics Committee and ethical clearance. The thesis must produce positive research findings and substantively advance the state of archaeological knowledge.

Students are required to defend their written thesis in an oral presentation (AGL 900) – format to be decided by the thesis supervisor and the programme manager.

Students must conduct at least 16 weeks of fieldwork by the end of the PhD programme and demonstrate mastery over advanced field techniques.

Admission requirements

  1. Master’s degree in Archaeology or relevant master’s degree
  2. A weighted average of at least 65% for the research component of the master’s degree
  3. Students with a weighted average of 70% or more for the research component of the master’s degree will receive preference
  4. An admissions essay/examination may be required

Note: Additional work/modules may be required in order to reach the desired level of competency

Additional requirements

Students who do not have the required level of proficiency in English have to take an additional module TTS 751 Academic writing skills.

General information

University of Pretoria Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) verification project

The higher education sector has undergone an extensive alignment to the Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework (HEQF) across all institutions in South Africa. In order to comply with the HEQSF, all institutions are legally required to participate in a national initiative led by regulatory bodies such as the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The University of Pretoria is presently engaged in an ongoing effort to align its qualifications and programmes with the HEQSF criteria. Current and prospective students should take note that changes to UP qualification and programme names, may occur as a result of the HEQSF initiative. Students are advised to contact their faculties if they have any questions.

Core modules

  • Module content:

    A comprehensive and original contribution to archaeological knowledge based on an approved research proposal and ethical clearance. The research must be expert and show the ability to work within and beyond disciplinary boundaries. Thesis must be between 50 000–100 000 words and must substantively advance the state of knowledge in the discipline. The thesis must show mastery over advanced field and analytical techniques as well as sophisticated grasp and application of relevant archaeological theory. The entire project must be institutionally, socially and intellectually accountable, demonstrating an advanced grasp of what conducting archaeological research in a postcolonial context entails.

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Core modules

  • Module content:

    A comprehensive and original contribution to archaeological knowledge based on an approved research proposal and ethical clearance. The research must be expert and show the ability to work within and beyond disciplinary boundaries. Thesis must be between 50 000–100 000 words and must substantively advance the state of knowledge in the discipline. The thesis must show mastery over advanced field and analytical techniques as well as sophisticated grasp and application of relevant archaeological theory. The entire project must be institutionally, socially and intellectually accountable, demonstrating an advanced grasp of what conducting archaeological research in a postcolonial context entails.

    View more


Regulations and rules
The regulations and rules for the degrees published here are subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information.

The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and registered students of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at the University of Pretoria. On registering for a programme, the student bears the responsibility of ensuring that they familiarise themselves with the General Academic Regulations applicable to their registration, as well as the relevant faculty-specific and programme-specific regulations and information as stipulated in the relevant yearbook. Ignorance concerning these regulations will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression, or basis for an exception to any of the aforementioned regulations.

University of Pretoria Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) verification project
The higher education sector has undergone an extensive alignment to the Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework (HEQF) across all institutions in South Africa. In order to comply with the HEQSF, all institutions are legally required to participate in a national initiative led by regulatory bodies such as the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The University of Pretoria is presently engaged in an ongoing effort to align its qualifications and programmes with the HEQSF criteria. Current and prospective students should take note that changes to UP qualification and programme names, may occur as a result of the HEQSF initiative. Students are advised to contact their faculties if they have any questions.

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