Archaeology
Information for applicants for undergraduate studies in archaeology
Why choose archaeology at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń?
When you think about archaeology, what do you imagine? Travel, excavations, touching the past, corridors of secret caves, underwater depths, strongholds, castles, and secret magical buildings. Studying archaeology gives you comprehensive knowledge in a rapidly developing scientific discipline. Only it can transport you from today to the past – daily life, holidays, feasts, battles, rituals, and ceremonies – thanks to the knowledge and achievements of the teachers and scientists from the Institute of Archaeology. They offer a comprehensive overview of the methods used in archaeology, the humanities in general, as well as natural sciences (botany, zoology, anthropology, biomolecular genetics), and even the exact sciences. Our institute is a pillar of research and education, ranked among the ten best universities in Poland. From the very beginning, you will shape your career path, enjoying modern teaching facilities – laboratories, classrooms, the Artefact Room, the experimental archaeology park, and the library. You will receive support and guidance during the our excavations at archaeological sites that reveal the secrets of peoples from various eras, both in Poland and abroad.
What can you expect from the degree course?
- Archaeology is an undergraduate and graduate program: a three-year bachelor’s degree and a two-year master’s degree; you will then be ready for archaeological studies at a doctoral school;
- During the bachelor’s degree, you will gain basic knowledge of the history of the ancient inhabitants of Poland and Europe, from the most remote times (the Stone Age) to the historical periods (the Middle Ages and the modern period);
- By participating in excavations, you will learn about archaeological techniques, exploration and documentation methods, as well as the equipment and apparatus necessary for field work;
- You will learn valuable information during lectures, exchange observations during tutorials, and refine practical skills in the laboratory; the latter provides you with direct contact with original, ancient everyday objects – vessels, coins, and ornaments – collected in the institute’s Artefact Room;
- You will participate in field excavation exercises after the first and second years of study, and deepen your knowledge in student research groups, conduct experimental work (including in the field of living archaeology), conduct research, and help organise workshops and conferences.
- Studying archaeology at our institute gives you the opportunity for comprehensive development and the ability to independently decide on your academic path by choosing subjects and specialisation modules that allow you to acquire knowledge aligned with your interests.
- After your first year of bachelor’s studies, you can choose from three chronological modules (prehistoric archaeology, ancient archaeology, or historical archaeology) and one of four thematic modules (architectural archaeology, underwater archaeology, environmental archaeology, or conservation of archaeological monuments).
- Archaeology studies also offer a window to the world. You can pursue your academic and research interests by participating in trips organised by the Institute of Archaeology staff or research groups, independent research trips, and studies at Polish universities (MOST program) or international universities (Erasmus+). You’ll pursue your academic career from the first year of your studies, participating in excavations, research clubs, research projects led by the Institute of Archaeology, and start writing your own scientific publications.
- If you continue your education by joining the MA program , you will be able to specialise in an area of interest and, at the same time, acquire the practical skills necessary to obtain authorisation to conduct independent archaeological research.
- As an archaeology student at Nicolaus Copernicus University, one of the best universities in Poland, you are guaranteed a highly competent education, certified by the prestigious Polish Accreditation Committee.
What next after graduation?
As a graduate of the bachelor’s degree program, you can continue your education with a two-year master’s degree, which is required should you wish to pursue a profession in archaeology.
Information about undergraduate courses
Online Candidate Enrolment
Why choose archaeology at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń?
A bachelor’s degree offers an essential introduction to full-time archaeology. If you’re ready for more, we encourage you to continue your education and join our MA program. For those who missed the opportunity to explore archaeology in more depth during their bachelor’s degree, we offer support in the form of remedial classes for full immersion, allowing you to fully discover fascinating insights into the past, ancient civilisations, and human life.
Why study with us? Here’s why:
- Archaeology is an undergraduate and graduate program: a three-year bachelor’s degree followed by a two-year master’s degree. These programs will prepare you to study archaeology at a doctoral school.
- Our MA course will provide you with in-depth and specialised knowledge of the history of the ancient inhabitants of Poland and Europe, from the most remote times (the Stone Age) to the historical periods (the Middle Ages and the modern era).
- You will hone your archaeological skills by participating in fieldwork and excavations after your first year;
- You can expand your knowledge during lectures, engage in discussions during tutorials, and enhance your practical skills in our laboratories;
- You will conduct your own research, initiate and manage student research groups, conduct experimental work (in living archaeology too), and help organise workshops and scientific conferences;
- By studying archaeology at our institute, you can make your own decisions about your comprehensive development and further educational path by choosing subjects and specialisation modules that enable you to acquire knowledge aligned with your interests;
- During your MA program, you can choose modules in prehistoric, ancient, and historical archaeology, as well as architectural and underwater archaeology, bioarchaeology, and the theory of archaeology;
- Archaeology studies also offer a window to the world. You will pursue your scientific and research interests through collaboration with institute staff, participation in student research trips, and study at universities abroad (Erasmus+) or in Poland (MOST program); you will advance your academic career by taking part in research projects and writing your own scientific publications;
- By completing an MA program, you will gain specialised knowledge in your chosen module and, at the same time, acquire the practical skills necessary to become certified in conducting independent archaeological research;
- As an archaeology student at Nicolaus Copernicus University, one of the best universities in Poland, you are guaranteed to receive a highly competent education, as certified by the prestigious Polish Accreditation Committee.
What next after graduation?
As a certified archaeologist, armed with knowledge of natural and technical sciences as well as a thorough understanding of monument protection law, you can find employment in academic institutions, museums, monument protection offices, and cultural and heritage protection institutions. With field training and appropriate professional experience, you are qualified to direct and organise archaeological research, run your own business, and apply for grants. You can also continue your academic journey by enrolling on a PhD program, planning your own research, or participating in projects co-run with researchers from Polish and international universities.
The Institute of Archaeology in Numbers:
- The Institute of Archaeology’s team includes research workers, lecturers and researchers, tutors, and engineering-technical staff.
- The Institute comprises four departments, including three profiled according to cultural and chronological criteria: the Department of Prehistory, the Department of Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, the Department of the Middle Ages and the Modern Period, and the Department of Environmental Archaeology and Human Paleoecology, which studies the earliest history of humanity and the relationship between humans and the environment. The institute is equipped with specialised laboratories for trace analysis, paleobotany, and the conservation of ceramics, metal, wood, leather, and fabrics, installed with modern instruments and analytical tools and staffed by experienced specialists.
- The Institute of Archaeology boasts a rich library of over 30,000 volumes, constantly updated with the latest scientific publications, and a comfortable reading room with 40 seats.
- Learning facilities include two large lecture halls, four laboratories, and the Antiquities Room, which displays extensive collections of objects from research conducted by members of staff.
- The institute runs an outdoor exhibition of copies of historical objects from various prehistoric and early historic periods. Experimental workshops, such as those on ceramic vessel production, metallurgical production and blacksmithing, woodworking, meat smoking, tar distilling, and even experimental plant cultivation, are available. The institute also houses a repository of museum collections, which houses over 2 million archaeological sources of unique scientific value.
- The institute employs three prestigious Priority Research Teams, selected in a competition led by the Rector of Nicolaus Copernicus University.
- Members of staff at the institute have created the PAST Research Team, part of the University Centre of Excellence in the humanities, to study ‘Interactions – Mind, Society, Environment’.
