Yearbooks

Programme: MA Archaeology

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Code Faculty Department
01250177 Faculty of Humanities Department: Anthropology and Archaeology
Credits Duration NQF level
Minimum duration of study: 1 year Total credits: 180 NQF level:  09

Programme information

• A student for a master’s degree must complete his or her studies within four years after first registering for the degree. The study comprises a 30 000-50 000 word dissertation based on an research proposal approved by the Research Proposal and Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Humanities (see requirement for preparatory year).

• Students are also required to: (a) perform one outreach activity per semester registered; (b) to participate in the Departmental Seminar Series; (c) to construct a museum display of their dissertation research; and (d) submit an article based on their research to an accredited publication at the end of their study.

• Students are required to conduct at least 8 weeks of fieldwork by the end of the master’s programme and must demonstrate mastery over basic and intermediate field techniques.

Admission requirements

  1. Honours degree in Archaeology or relevant honours degree
  2. A cumulative weighted average of at least 65% for the honours degree 
  3. Students with a cumulative weighted average of at least 70% or more will receive preference
  4. An admissions essay may be required
  5. An entrance examination may be required

Note: Additional 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.

Core modules

  • Module content:

    A detailed and in-depth examination and discussion of a topic of archaeological relevance based on a Faculty-approved research proposal and ethical clearance. A 30 000–50 000 word dissertation based on primary field research and other relevant research sources that demonstrates a specialised knowledge of the archaeological research process. While research findings can be negative, the master’s dissertation must be methodologically detailed and replicable. The dissertation must demonstrate the candidate’s ability to formulate strategies and responses to contextual and abstract problems. The research process must be fully accountable and demonstrate a sensitivity to working in a postcolonial context. A version or section of the dissertation must be submitted for publication in an accredited journal.

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General Academic Regulations and Student Rules
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. The G Regulations are updated annually and may be amended after the publication of this information.

Regulations, degree requirements and information
The faculty regulations, information on and requirements for the degrees published here are subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this 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 (HEQSF) 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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