Length

1 year full-time,
2 years part-time,
3 years part-time

Department

Department of Archaeology

Start date

September 2025 (semester dates)

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in the UK for archaeology

QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024

in the world for archaeology

QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024

This course provides professional training in the growing fields of digital archiving, visualisation, museums and heritage sector curation, interpretation and education.

Digital practices are becoming increasingly important in the heritage sector. This course draws together the Department of Archaeology's strengths in archaeological information sciences and cultural heritage to provide a combination of theoretical and applied study of heritage management with practical training in new technologies.

You will be working with a team of technology pioneers and computing scholars who lead the field in researching and developing interpretative content and digital applications for the heritage sector worldwide. You'll have the opportunity for practical placement experience within the heritage sector, develop essential IT knowledge and skills, have access to a full suite of research computing hardware and software and receive tailored careers advice from staff with significant experience of recruiting within the sector.

This course is ideal for graduates of Archaeology, History, Art History, Museum Studies, Education, Anthropology, Cultural Studies and related fields, and for candidates with proven IT experience.

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Study with us

The mix of theory and practical modules in the Digital Heritage course enabled me to stand out when communicating with employers in the museums field, and I loved being able to be really creative and experimental whilst developing a wide range of exciting new skills.
Bethany, MSc Digital Heritage

Feel at home

Informality is one of our distinctive qualities - the atmosphere in our department is friendly, supportive and enthusiastic. We want you to develop your potential and thrive at York.

World-class archaeology

With historic buildings and significant remains from the Roman, Viking and Medieval periods, York has an impressive concentration of archaeology.

Research excellence

Ranked 6th overall for our research according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).

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Course content

You will study 180 credits over the duration of your course:

Semester 1 - one core and two option modules
Semester 2 - one core and two option modules
Summer Semester - 60 credit dissertation

Modules

Core modules

Option modules

You will choose four option modules from examples including:

It is recommended that you choose a minimum of one, preferably two digital optional modules to prepare you for dissertation work.

You'll also have the opportunity to choose options from our full module catalogue. Some option modules combinations may not be possible. The option available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.

Dissertation

You'll complete an 8,000-word dissertation on your research.

You will receive support, advice and guidance from your dissertation supervisor throughout your project. The range of expertise of our staff means we can provide you with guidance on a wide range of topics. You will have one-to-one meetings with supervisors across the Summer Semester.

Examples of previous dissertation topics include:

End of visualisation? Virtual and augmented reality headset technologies in archaeology and heritage
Chatbot experience for Çatalhöyük
A Study of the Wilberforce Memorial School for the Blind using Soundscapes
Community memories and virtual reality: the 3D reconstruction of St Mary Bishophill Senior
Digital engagement with paintings in the National Palace Museum
Visualising the Great Kyz Kala: an exploration of digital 3D recording at a complex archaeological site

The York approach

Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

Demonstrate an applied, systematic, in-depth understanding of essential disciplinary knowledge of digital heritage, and awareness of its breadth and its relevant academic, professional and socio-economic contexts
Engage critically with current debates and advanced scholarship in local and international research and practice within digital heritage in order to evaluate the field of practice
Inform decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations by assessing and applying advanced, professional-level digital heritage theories and methodologies to diverse problems or forms of data
Confidently synthesise research findings and key scholarly debates, and communicate (through a variety of forms and media) to peers, public or professional audiences in such a way that demonstrates an ability to consider and adapt to their respective needs
Demonstrate originality in rigorous and imaginative independent inquiry, using advanced research skills, and a clear contribution to the work of a team
Engage in critically self-aware and ethically-informed decision-making in order to develop impactful projects in the field of digital heritage which respond to the needs of various affected audiences
Demonstrate professional-level competence with a variety of technologies used to publish, archive, analyse, visualise and interpret archaeological and heritage information
Apply leading edge theoretical and methodological developments in digital heritage to the constraints of a workplace in the heritage sector or in relation to specific local communities and real-world stakeholders

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees for 2025/26

Study mode	UK (home)	International and EU
Full-time (1 year)	£11,200	£25,900
Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation.	£5,600	£12,950
Part-time (3 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation.	£3,733	£8,633

Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.

For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.

UK (home) fees may increase in subsequent years (up to a maximum of 2%).
International fees may increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

Fees information

UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.

Postgraduate taught fees and expenses

Additional costs

We don't anticipate there being any additional fees associated with this course. All books and resources you need will be available in the library or online and it isn't mandatory that you buy your own copies. You may wish to set aside a small budget for photocopying, depending on how you like to work.

Field trips are funded by the Department.

Funding information

Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.

Funding opportunities

Chevening Scholarships

We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.

We have a variety of funding options available within the department.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching and assessment

You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.

Teaching format

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, workshops, practicals and seminars.

Facilities

There are two dedicated computer labs with a range of imaging software, including 3D Studio Max, AgiSoft Photoscan, Blender, Davinci Resolve, Unity, ArcGIS, and AutoCAD.

The Department has equipment available for student use including total stations, handheld and differential GPS, drones, 360 camera, Leica 360RTI laser scanner, Go-Pro cameras, magnetometers, ground penetrating radar, resistivity meters, video-ready DSLR cameras, microphones, an RTI dome and other photography kit.

Teaching location

You will be based on Campus West.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.

Assessment and feedback

You will be assessed by a variety of methods. Depending on which modules you opt to take, these could include:

Essays
Oral presentations
Report writing
Dissertation
Alternative assessment methods such as film-making, blogging or posters

Postgraduate students working in the Library.

A man looking at an archaeological find while working on a laptop.

The Digital Heritage course allowed me to make connections with real innovators and forward thinkers in the industry, as well as gain essential IT skills that speak to employers.
Flo, MSc Digital Heritage
Project Administrator at L-P Archaeology

Careers and skills

This course offers practical, careers-focused training for many essential roles in heritage-related organisations and other sectors. The digital knowledge you'll develop will leave you well prepared for a wide range of technology-focused careers in archaeology, the heritage sector and beyond.

Career opportunities

Archive and records manager
Heritage manager for the National Trust
Civil Service Fast Stream
Computing and IT services
Marketing executive
Digital data manager

Transferable skills

High levels of digital literacy, including digital archiving and imaging
Data collection and management
Critical thinking through and with digital technologies
High level of written and oral skills
Project management
Time management

Entry requirements

	Typical offer
Undergraduate degree	2:2 or equivalent.
Other qualifications and experience	Mature students or those with less conventional qualifications but with relevant professional experience and enthusiasm for this field will be considered. To find out if your professional experience or qualifications are appropriate, please contact the Course Director.
Other international qualifications	Equivalent qualifications from your country

Additional requirements

You will need to submit examples of written work with your application. Please see our guidance on submitting written work.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

	Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic and Indicator)	6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR	B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT	7, minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo	120, minimum 105 in all other components
LanguageCert SELT	B2 with 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic	70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
Kaplan Test of English Language	459-494, with 426-458 in all other components
Skills for English	B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic	61, minimum 55 in each component
TOEFL	87, minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III	Merit in all requirements

For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.