World Archaeology in Leiden encompasses the study of societies, cultures, and human behaviour from the past, aiming to reconstruct and revive them. With our mix of education and research you lay a strong foundation for an international career in archaeology or heritage management.

Why study Archaeology?

Make a meaningful contribution to our knowledge of humankind by studying the activities and behaviour of people from the past. With learnings from history, you will gain new insights into our present-day world. You will look at contemporary issues like migration, globalisation, and climate change through an archaeological lense. With this unique angle, you may contribute to the public debate.

World Archaeology is a specialisation of the Bachelor's programme in Archaeology. You will choose your specialisation in the first year of your Bachelor's studies in Archaeology.

About the programme

The tree-year bachelor's programme in Archaeology is a many-sided programme in which you study societies, cultures, and human behaviour from the past, aiming to reconstruct and revive them. Dive into the development of human societies all over the world, from the Americas to the Middle East, from the Mediterranean, to North-West Europe.

Modes of instruction

Our instruction consists of lectures, seminars and tutorials:

• In the lecture the lecturer talks about his or her field. You prepare by studying articles and books at home.
• In the seminars and in particular in the tutorials, you examine the material in more depth and discuss it with your fellow students and the lecturer. You also carry out assignments, give presentations and write papers. You must make an active contribution to tutorials and attendance is compulsory.

After graduation

With a lot of theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and your bachelor's degree in the pocket, you are ready for the next step: either entering the archaeological job market or continuing your studies.

What are your skills with your bachelor's degree?

After three years of study, you have all the required knowledge of various materials, and you know about the possibilities of archaeometric and related techniques. You have the theoretical background needed to analyse your observations and hypotheses. Also, you are capable of reporting about your research. And you are well aware of the ethical aspects that are involved in working with cultural heritage.

Your career prospects

Where our alumni are employed after their studies depends on their chosen specialisations, personal interests and skills. Therefore it is extremely important to start thinking about your future well ahead of graduation. Do you want to continue your studies? Generally, a completed master's degree gives you a higher chance of an (academic) job, but with a bachelor's degree you can enter the archaeological job market as well.