Architectural History and Archaeology MA (Hons) Level: Undergraduate Subject: Architecture and Architectural History & Heritage Year of entry: 2026 Key facts UCAS Code VVH4 Award MA (Hons) Duration of study 4 years Delivery Full-time Study location Lauriston campus Start date September 2026 School Edinburgh College of Art College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Study abroad Available Accreditation Available Placement Available Open days and events Overview About the degree programme Our undergraduate degree MA Architectural History and Archaeology is the only degree programme at this level in the UK. It is a small, diverse and friendly programme taught by specialist, research-active staff.Architectural history explores how people have imagined, designed and used buildings and places in the past. It also considers how these places can be understood today, and what they can tell us about bigger themes in social, political and urban history.Architectural history involves the study of buildings and places. Our programme offers an unrivalled breadth of study in the historic built environment.It places the history of architecture in the context of urbanism and the cultural history of cities. We also consider issues in contemporary architectural heritage.Archaeology is the study of the human past from our origins several million years ago to recent times.While historians are primarily concerned with oral, written and transcribed accounts of the past, archaeologists use material remains to study the lives, societies and cultures of past peoples. How long it takes to complete this degree programme This programme is usually studied over 4 years, however, some students may be eligible to enter in the second year and complete the programme in 3 years. How a joint degree programme works A joint programme allows you to gain a well-rounded learning experience. You will have more exposure to different disciplines, allowing you to expand your knowledge and expertise.Teaching on joint programmes is split across the two subject areas, and teaching will take place in locations associated with both subjects.You will gain a different perspective through studying more than one subject and have a wider skill set that is highly attractive to future employers. Programme rankings 1st in Scotland and in the UK's top 10 universities for architecture/built environment in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 20256th in the UK for Architecture in the Guardian University Guide 20258th in the UK for History of Art, Architecture and Design in the Complete University Guide 2025 Programme benefits There are opportunities for study abroad, work placements, and field trips within the programme.This degree is highly distinctive as an undergraduate programme focused on architectural history and heritage, which also makes links to other subjects such as history of art.You will be taught by one of the largest concentrations of architectural history specialists at any UK university, drawing on the latest research.Teaching makes use of the exceptional libraries and archives at the University of Edinburgh as well as the resources of the wider city, a World Heritage Site.The degree is ideally suited for those with interests in history and architecture and may be a gateway to careers/further study in heritage and conservation, or a wide range of other professions.We work closely with local heritage organisations, including Historic Environment Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland, and usually can offer placements within the heritage sector as an element of our Year 3 and 4 teaching. There’s an unprecedented number of professors who are experts, which makes it special. Matty MA Architectural History and Heritage, graduated 2024. Entry requirements Find your entry requirementsUse the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.Select the qualification you are studying or studied. Where you are studying or where you studied United KingdomAfghanistanAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBhutanBoliviaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanYemenZambiaZimbabweMy country is not listed Qualification - Select a qualification -SQA Highers: standard requirementsSQA Highers: widening access requirementsA levels: standard requirementsA levels: widening access requirementsIB: standard requirementsIB: widening access requirementsOther UK qualificationsMature applicants (including adult returners)International qualifications by country United Kingdom, Fees and funding Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Architectural History and Archaeology View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Architectural History and Archaeology. Additional costs In Year 1 we expect you to participate in an archaeological fieldwork project. Normally, the minimum requirement is three weeks of field experience. Archaeological projects often charge a participation fee.We can make a contribution to your mandatory fieldwork fee but the overall cost is dependent on the type of work and location you choose. You can also complete extra practical archaeological work in the vacations following Years 2 and 3.You will pay for the costs of printing.There may be other costs associated with travel to visit exhibitions. These are usually limited to £10 to £20 per visit. Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.This estimate covers the costs of:accommodationfoodutility billstravel within Edinburghhealth and wellbeing costsSee a breakdown of living costs Scholarships and funding Funding information You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section. Funding Programme details What you will study You do not need prior knowledge of architecture or architectural history to study this programme.The first two years of the programme offer a foundational survey of the history of architecture in a range of global contexts. We also introduce archaeology.In Years 3 and 4 of the programme, teaching is more specialised. We offer a range of courses which draw on the expertise of our research-active staff. There is usually the opportunity to do an assessed work placement with a heritage organisation.In Year 4, you will write a 10,000 to 12,000-word dissertation with staff guidance. This is an opportunity to explore a topic in depth and to demonstrate the skills of research, analysis and argument which are not only at the core of the degree but are also useful in many different careers.Changes to teaching and learningAs part of our commitment to offering high-quality education, there may be changes to course options and delivery.We try to provide a wide range of option courses to choose from, but these may be changed or cancelled at short notice. Therefore, we cannot guarantee every student their top choice of option courses. Year 1 In Year 1 you will: study a combination of the survey courses in architectural historystudy Archaeology 1A and Archaeology 1B which offer a broad introduction to our human pastbe able to take optional courses from other academic areas across the Universitycomplete three weeks of fieldwork over the long vacation at the end of the academic year Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 2 Year 2 focuses on the city as a social and cultural phenomenon. In this year, you will:take a course dealing specifically with techniques and practices concerning heritage management and conservationstudy an archaeology course on Scotland 'before history' and archaeology in actionbe able to take optional courses from other academic areas across the University Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 3 In Year 3 you will study: Texts and Theories in Western ArchitectureArchaeology in PracticeTheoretical ArchaeologyYou will also choose optional courses in architectural history and have the opportunity to take a work placement. Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Year 4 In Year 4 you will choose specialist honours courses on the same basis as Year 3. You will also complete a dissertation. Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year) Study abroad Study abroad options are available. We organise these with the Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA) Exchanges Coordinator. They vary according to timing and location.What are my options for going abroad? Placements You will have the opportunity to apply to go on placement with a local heritage-based organisation in Year 3. You will gain experience in assessing and studying methods and strategies for managing the historic built environment. Field trips Many of our courses include teaching in locations around the city of Edinburgh, including key streets, buildings, and archives. Several courses include day trips to locations beyond Edinburgh. Teaching and assessment Teaching Teaching varies from course to course. You should expect a mixture of lectures, which offer a quick way to orientate yourself with new material, and interactive tutorials and seminars. You will also work independently, reading around the subject to develop your understanding.You can expect:lecturesseminarsprojectsstudy tripspractical experienceWithin summer vacation at the end of Year 1 you will complete three weeks of fieldwork either inside or outside of the UK. Fieldwork or other practical work in later years is optional, but it can contribute towards your final degree and can also contribute to your dissertation research. Assessment You will be assessed through: courseworkexamspresentationsYou will also complete a dissertation in Year 4. Sample timetable You would normally be on campus each day of the week, attending lectures and tutorials, and working independently in the libraries. You would normally be studying for around 35 hours per week during the teaching semesters. Support for your studies ECA’s Student and Academic Support Service (SASS) supports students throughout their studies in all degree programmes at ECA.You will have a dedicated Student Adviser, based within SASS, who is specially trained to support you during your studies. Your Student Adviser will be your first point of contact for any support, including questions about your studies or your well-being. Your Student Adviser can support you with:personal or wellbeing issues that you are facing, including how to access specialist supportqueries related to your programme, such as course enrolments, programme transfers and academic progressionapplying for extensions and special circumstancesadvice about how to take a break from your studiesregistering with the Disability and Learning Support ServiceIf you’re unsure who to ask, you can contact your Student Adviser as a first point of contact.Support for your studies Our academic staff All members of staff are research-active and are recognised specialists.Our core architectural history team consists of:Professor Richard Anderson (architecture of the Soviet Union and the Socialist world during the twentieth century)Professor Alex Bremner (nineteenth-century architecture in Britain and its Empire; architecture and energy)Dr Alistair Fair (architecture and planning in twentieth-century Britain)John Lowrey (eighteenth-century Scottish architecture)Professor Emeritus Angus Macdonald (architecture and structure)You can learn more about the staff who will teach you on ECA's people directory.ECA People Directory Where you will study Study location Teaching in this programme takes place across a range of facilities, all located in the Central Area. This includes lecture theatres and seminar rooms. You will also learn on-site at city locations. Academic facilities You will have access to:specialist facilities at ECA and the wider Universitya range of study spaces and specialist classroomscomputing facilities and creator labslibraries and special collectionsAdditionally, the Archaeology department has five archaeological research and teaching laboratories. These include post-excavation processing and wet chemistry labs, and a large teaching laboratory for the study of skeletal remains.Investing in our learning environmentEdinburgh College of Art is excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston Campus over the next three years, from April 2024 to April 2027. The project aims to maximise the use of existing space, improve accessibility, and create a vibrant campus that fosters collaboration and innovation.The project involves refurbishing and repurposing various spaces across the Lauriston campus, including technical facilities, student and teaching spaces, and the relocation of the Reid School of Music from Alison House to the Lauriston Campus. New social spaces, seminar rooms, and studios are being created to accommodate our growing community.You can find more about the project at the below link:Building work starts at ECA’s Lauriston Campus - Edinburgh College of Art Virtual tour You can take a closer look at the Edinburgh College of Art and explore our facilities and campus with our virtual tour.Take a virtual tour of Edinburgh College of Art Career paths and further study Career paths Architectural history and archaeology is directly relevant for further study or careers in:the conservation of buildings and citiesland managementheritage or historical consultancyeducationapplied archaeological companies and consultanciesHowever, our graduates also go on to work in a wide range of other areas, using the research and communication skills encouraged by this degree. Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.With the Careers Service, you can:access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisionsVisit the Careers Service website Further study After you complete your programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:a masters degreea postgraduate diploma or certificatea PhDa second undergraduate degreeFind out about options for further study Postgraduate degrees you might be interested in could include: Architectural Conservation MScArchitecture, Landscape and Environment MSc, PgCert, PgDipCultural Studies MScRCultural Studies PhDArchitectural History PhD, MPhilArchaeology MScArchaeology MScRArchaeology PhD Applying How to apply You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.Guidance on applying through UCAS What you need to apply As part of your application, you will need:your academic qualificationsa personal statementevidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)a reference How we select If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.How we select applicants When to apply 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.Search degrees that are open on the UCAS websiteKey application dates and deadlines After you apply After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:How to submit your qualificationsAttend an offer holder eventReceiving our decisionAccepting your offerAfter you’ve accepted your offerIf you have a disability and need more support at university Applying as an international student As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS. Find out more about applying through UCAS Visas and immigration If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme. Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. Applying for a visa Agents An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact. Find contact details for an education agent Life at Edinburgh What our students say What is it really like to study here? Our students share their experiences on our social media.You can find out what a day in the life is like for an Edinburgh College of Art Student, from late nights in the library to their favourite walks around the city!Instagram: Edinburgh College of Art Our team of History, Classics and Archaeology (HCA) student writers share their experiences and thoughts on the things that matter to them, including:life as a student on a joint degreetransitioning to university as a mature studentstudying in Edinburgh when English is not your first languagetips for disabled studentsRead the HCA student blog Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.University accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSports clubs The city of Edinburgh Our vibrant capital is a blend of culture, history, nature and modern city life. A fantastic place to live, it is also the perfect location to study architectural history and archaeology.As a place of outstanding architectural interest and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Edinburgh offers the perfect setting in which to study the built environment. Edinburgh’s dynamic cultural scene boasts the largest collection of historic buildings, museums, art galleries and theatres of any city in Scotland.The University of Edinburgh’s museums and galleries include:the Talbot Rice GalleryCentre for Research CollectionsSt. Cecilia’s Hall: Concert Room and Music MuseumEdinburgh is home to several major annual festivals, each bringing talent from around the world to our streets and stages, making the celebration of diversity an intrinsic part of the city’s culture. These include the:Festival FringeFilm FestivalArt FestivalBook FestivalJazz & Blues FestivalSome of our students even participate in our annual festivals. Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities to daily life, including: sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include:a student counselling servicea health centre (doctor's surgery)support if you're living in University accommodationdedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentHealth and wellbeing support services Contact and events
