Graduate School | Department of Archaeology | Master of Arts (MA) in Classical Archaeology

Last Updated: 19/10/2026

The Master's Program, aimed at training classical archaeologists, began education and instruction in the Department of Classical Archaeology in the 2000-2001 academic year. Our department, which aims to train archaeologists, began education and instruction in the Department of Classical Archaeology in the 1993-1994 academic year. Since 1998, it has continued instruction as the Department of Archaeology. The department comprises the Divisions of Prehistory, Protohistory and Asia Minor Archaeology, and Classical Archaeology. Since the year of its establishment, the department's faculty members have conducted excavations, surface surveys, and museum research at various locations across the country at different dates, in addition to educational activities, for both academic purposes and student internships. Our faculty members are conducting excavations at Yazılıkaya/Midas Kale, Dorylaion (Şarhöyük), and Pessinus (Ballıhisar) in Eskişehir, and at Side in Antalya. Furthermore, starting from 2025, a new surface survey project will be conducted around the Ancient City of Side. The Eskişehir Kanlıtaş Mound excavation (2013-2017), the Konya Çatalhöyük excavation (2020-2024), the Eskişehir Çavlum Bronze Age Necropolis (completed in 2003), and the Patara Theater and Hurmalık Bath excavations in Antalya (completed in 2009) were also conducted by our faculty members. In addition, in collaboration with other national and international universities and research centers, faculty members and students participate in significant excavations in Turkey, such as Arykanda, Aphrodisias, Çatalhöyük, Ephesus, Perge, Pessinus, Kelenderis, Kültepe, Limyra, Nysa, Olympos, Tarsus, Teos, Tieum, and Zeugma. Moreover, surface surveys have been conducted by faculty members in Eskişehir, Kütahya, and Afyon, as well as at Karahöyük (Midaion), Kanlıtaş Mound, the Yazılıkaya/Midas Valley in Eskişehir province, and the Seyitgazi districts of Eskişehir province. Research on numismatics, glass, and metal artifacts is being carried out at the Archaeology Museums of Antalya, Eskişehir, Isparta, Uşak, and Side. The program includes compulsory courses related to Prehistory, Protohistory and Asia Minor Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, and Museology. In addition, professional elective courses related to these fields and general elective courses based on student preference are offered.

Admission to graduate programmes is governed by the relevant legislation on graduate education, the Anadolu University Regulation on Graduate Education and Examinations, and the admission requirements announced by the relevant Graduate School. Depending on the programme, admission decisions may take into account the Academic Personnel and Graduate Education Entrance Examination (ALES) score, foreign language proficiency, undergraduate or graduate grade point average, written scientific assessment examination, interview, portfolio, and/or other programme-specific selection criteria.
Candidates who are offered admission must complete their registration within the deadlines announced by the relevant Graduate School and submit all required documentation. Admission through horizontal transfer is carried out in accordance with the Anadolu University Regulation on Graduate Education and Examinations and the procedures established by the relevant Graduate School. The application and admission procedures for international applicants are conducted in accordance with the admission requirements and supporting documentation approved by the Senate of Anadolu University.

Recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the relevant higher education legislation, the University's regulations governing education, examinations and assessment, and the institutional principles for exemption and credit transfer. Students may apply, within the specified deadlines, for exemption and credit transfer based on courses successfully completed at another higher education institution or on equivalent prior learning. Applications are evaluated by the relevant board or commission with due consideration of course content, credit/ECTS values, grades obtained, and their compatibility with the curriculum and learning outcomes of the relevant programme.

All students enrolled at Anadolu University are assigned a faculty academic advisor to provide guidance and support throughout their studies. Academic advisors offer counselling from the beginning of the student's academic programme until graduation, assisting students with academic, administrative, and other matters related to university life. In particular, advisors provide guidance during course registration and course selection processes, monitor students' academic progress, and support them in making informed decisions regarding their educational pathways.
For further information, please refer to the Academic Advising Directive of Anadolu University.

The programme is delivered in face-to-face / blended mode. Students are enrolled on the programme as (full-time / part-time) students. Teaching and learning activities are conducted in accordance with the programme curriculum, including the semester structure, scheduled class hours, practical components, and, where applicable, online learning environments.

A variety of assessment methods such as mid-term(s), assignment(s), exercise(s), project(s), practice(s), and a final exam are implemented in the programme. Assessment methods may include classical test(s), multiple-choice test(s), homework(s), performance evaluation(s), and product evaluation(s). In order to graduate from the programme, cumulative GPA must be minimum 2.00. A course grade is constituted by evaluating the above stated elements and given by using letters. Letter grades and their associated coefficients are as follows;
Basically, the evaluation of students in the Graduate Program in Archaeology are through a midterm and a final examination. However, in some courses, papers, quizzes and split exams are also used. Besides the students also required to prepare a graduate thesis.

Grade	Coefficient
AA	4,0
AB	3,7
BA	3,3
BB	3,0
BC	2,7
CB	2,3
CC	2,0
CD	1,7
DC	1,3
DD	1,0
FF	0,0

A student is required to successfully complete a minimum of 7 courses, not less than 52,5 ECTS credits, take the required seminar and the Field Specialization courses and write and defend a Master’s Thesis, have a minimum GPA of 2.50/4.00 and no letter grades lower than CC, YT and no YZ, DZ grades.

To be awarded a Master's Degree with Thesis, students must successfully complete at least seven courses, a seminar course, specialisation courses, and a master's thesis, corresponding to a minimum of 120 ECTS credits. To qualify for graduation, students must obtain a grade of Satisfactory (YT) or CC or above in all courses, achieve a minimum CGPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale, successfully defend their thesis before an examination committee, publish at least one article in a peer-reviewed journal or one paper in a peer-reviewed conference related to their field of study, and satisfy all other graduation requirements prescribed by the programme.
Minimum 52.5 ECTS credits and 7 courses, one Seminar course and thesis consultancy course, success in thesis with minimum 30 ECTS credits. Minimum YT and CC grades should be taken for all courses. Minimum 2.50 GPA out of general 4,00 is required.

Students who successfully fulfil all programme requirements are awarded a Master's Degree Diploma in Master of Arts (MA) in Classical Archaeology.. Graduates obtain a Level 7 (Master's Degree) qualification within the Turkish Qualifications Framework (TQF).

Graduates of the Classical Archaeology Programme,providing they meet the university conditions (such as getting necessary score from ALES, ÜDS exams; graduating with agood grade point average; demonstrate skills to undertake academic research etc.) can be employed as academicians at several archaeology departments across Turkey and abroad. Our graduates, after receiving an adequate score from KPSS exam, can be employed at various departments of Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministrysuch as Museums General Directorate, Council of Monuments, Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Board and especially many museums all across Turkey. Similarly, they could be employed at Municipalities, Governorates and other government units such as State Hydraulic Works etc. Large scale construction projects like BOTAŞ and Marmaray have been contract-employing large numbers of archaeologists for rescue excavations. Increasing numbers of private museums and research institutes in Turkey also employ archaeologists.Also, publishing houses and journals publishing in archaeology field employ archaeologists. If the archaeology graduates learn foreign languages well, after receiving education from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, they can be employed as professional licensed tourist guides. Also, several other branches of tourism sector prefer employing archaeologists.

Graduates of Master's Degree programmes with a thesis are eligible to apply for Doctoral (PhD) or Proficiency in Arts programmes in accordance with the relevant legislation governing graduate education.


PROF. DR. RAHŞAN TAMSÜ POLAT