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

Last Updated: 21/09/2026

Classical Archaeology MA program, aiming to train classical archaeologists, started education in 2000-2001 academic years in Classical Archaeology Department. In order to conduct academic studies or facilitate training to students, the staff, apart from their educational activities, have been conducting excavations, surveys and museum research. The department staff are still conducting excavations at Side in Antalya and Dorylaion (Şarhöyük). Also, excavations at Çavlum Bronze Age Necropolis in Eskişehir completed in 2003 and Hurmalık Bath and Theater buildings in Patara, Antalya completed in 2009 were conducted by the department staff. In addition to these, the staff and students took parts at important excavations in Turkey in collaboration with other foreign or Turkish universities and research institutes like Arykanda, Aphrodisias, Çatalhöyük, Ephesos, Perge, Pessinus, Kelenderis, Kültepe, Limyra, Olympos, Tarsus, Teos, Tieum and Zeugma etc. The staff also conducted reserch on Phrygian Rock Monuments in Eskişehir, Afyon and Kütahya provinces and at Karahöyük (Midaion) and Kanlıtaş Höyük and its environ. Also, in the Archaeological Museums of Antalya, Eskişehir, Isparta, Uşak and Side numismatic, glass and metal objects are studied by the department. The program contains required courses on Classical Archaeology. Elective courses are also given on this subject and students can also choose other elective courses from various programs across the university.

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. HÜSEYİN SABRİ ALANYALI