The entry requirements below count for applications for February 2025.

Holders of one of the following degrees may be admitted to the programme:

• A bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, obtained at a university in the Netherlands.
• An academic bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, obtained at a university abroad, with comparable level as the bachelor’s programme of the Faculty of Archaeology of Leiden University.
• Academic bachelor’s degree obtained at a university in a related field: for instance Anthropology; Geography; Biology; Heritage/Museum Studies; History; Landscape/Ecology; Art History; Architecture provided the student has at least 60 credits belonging to the discipline of archaeology.
• Bachelor degree in archaeology of a Dutch university of applied sciences (HBO), or equivalent, with:
  • An academic archaeological minor obtained at Leiden University or equivalent, or:
  • An average of 7.0 in the BA2 and 3 and passed the course Archaeological Research Design, ór
  • Graduation project graded with at least an 8.0 and passed the course Archaeological Research Design.

The entry requirements below count for applications for September 2025.

Holders of one of the following degrees may be admitted to the programme:

• A bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, obtained at a university in the Netherlands.
• An bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, obtained at a university abroad, with comparable level as the bachelor’s programme of the Faculty of Archaeology of Leiden University.
• Academic bachelor’s degree obtained at a university in a related field: for instance Anthropology; Geography; Biology; Heritage/Museum Studies; History; Landscape/Ecology; Art History; Architecture provided the student has at least 60 credits belonging to the discipline of archaeology.

There is no direct admission to the Research Master's programme in Archaeology. All applicants are required to follow Part 2 of the Application procedure.

In addition to the general admission requirements described above, additional admission requirements apply to the RMA:

For the intake of February 2025

• Average grade over de BA2 and BA3 of at least 7.5 (Dutch grading system).
• Bachelor’s thesis graded with at least an 8.0.
  
  Or:
• You have finished the first semester of the MA in Archaeology with at least a 7.5 average.
  
  And:
• Passed the selection interview in which the research proposal and the motivation of the student is assessed.

For the intake of September 2025

• An average grade over the BA2 and BA3 of at least 7.5 and bachelor’s thesis graded with at least an 8.0. The thesis grade can be compensated with a higher average grade, but should at least be a 7.0.
  
  Or:
• Completion of the first semester of the MA Archaeology (i.e. 25 EC minimum) with at least an 8.0 average.
  
  And:
• Passed the selection interview in which the research proposal and the motivation of the student is assessed.

Please note: We advise all students, including Leiden University and Leiden University Archaeology students to apply for both the MA and RMA, to guarantee you a place in the MA in case you are rejected for the RMA.

It is not possible to be admitted to the RMA/RMSc Archaeology through a pre-master or bridging programme beforehand. Apply for the MA/MSc programme instead.

The following requirements apply*: 

• IELTS Academic modules only, on paper or on computer: 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 for each separate component score.
  • We do not accept IELTS Academic online.
  • We do not accept IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator, or IELTS One Skill Retake
• TOEFL internet based: 90 overall, with at least 20 for each separate component.
  • We are not able to accept The TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situation only:
    You are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
  • We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™  or institutional tests such as ITP.

• Cambridge English Exam C2 Proficiency, or C1 Advanced (180), with a minimum score of 169 for each separate component.

Note that English test results may not be more than two years old and must be obtained in one single test.

*You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you have completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta; or if you have obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™; or if you have completed a Dutch VWO diploma or an English-taught bachelor at a Dutch research university or (for September intake) a diploma of an English-taught higher professional education (hbo) programme completed at a Dutch university of applied sciences.

For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to English language proficiency.