Graduate School | Department of Archaeology | Master of Arts (MA) in Archaeology | Master of Arts (MA) in Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology

Last Updated: 21/09/2026

The Department of Archaeology, Anadolu University, has been providing archaeological education for a period exceeding three decades. The excavations at Şarhöyük (Dorylaion) in the city centre of Eskişehir, which constituted a significant rationale for the establishment of the Department of Archaeology at Anadolu University and have been ongoing since 1989, are being conducted by our department within the same unit. Various material groups (ceramic, stone artifacts, clay artifacts, bone artifacts, architectural pieces, raw materials, etc.) have been studied from important excavation and survey projects of the period such as Çavlum, Kanlıtaş Höyük, Çatalhöyük and published. In order to train archaeologists and scientists specialised in the archaeology of ancient cultures of Anatolia starting from the Neolithic period following Chalcolitihic, and Bronze Ages as well as in Mesopotamia such as Sumer, Assyria, Babylon and Hittite, Phrygian, Phrygian, Urartu Bronze and Iraon Age cultures in Anatolia and Syria, Levant. For this reason, it is inevitable to provide a different specialisation education on Protohistory and Pre-Asiatic Archaeology, as examples are known all over the world. The Department of Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology, which plays host to two of the world's most significant excavations in the field of archaeology, is equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure, including a range of laboratories and excavation houses. These facilities are dedicated to the training of archaeologists who are specialised and competent in their field, as evidenced by their projects and publications. The master's programme is designed to equip students with the requisite qualifications for archaeological research. The programme instils competencies in the effective utilisation of national and international resources, adherence to the developments in Anatolian and Mesopotamian, Levant archaeology, and the pursuit of continuous self-improvement. The programme's graduates are well-positioned to engage in academic studies at the doctoral level.

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.
Graduated from one of the undergraduate programmes of Archaeology, Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology or Classical Archaeology.

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.
In the event that students who have enrolled in another higher education institution in Türkiye or abroad where they have previously studied submit an application within the first week, their credit and grade transfer requests are to be evaluated by the relevant teaching unit's board of directors. The decision is made on a case-by-case basis and is applicable for the duration of the student's entire education.

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;
In this programme, a variety of assessment methods are employed, including mid-term exams, homework, exercises, projects, practice, and final exams. The evaluation methods employed may include classical exams, multiple-choice exams, homework, performance evaluations and product evaluations. Achieving a weighted grade point average of at least 2.00 is a prerequisite for graduating from the programme. The grade of a course is determined by the evaluation of the aforementioned elements and is expressed as a letter grade. The grades and their respective coefficients are enumerated below. In the Archaeology Master's Programme, the evaluation process is predominantly informed by two exams: the midterm and the final. In certain courses, supplementary assessment components such as homework, quizzes and partial exams may also be employed. Additionally, students are required to prepare a master's 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.
The student must have successfully completed at least 7 courses, a seminar course, a specialisation course and a thesis study with a total of not less than 60 ECTS credits, must have a grade of at least CC or above from all courses taken and must have a general grade point average of at least 2.50 out of 4.00.

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.
The student must have successfully completed at least 7 courses, a seminar course, a specialisation course and a thesis study with a total of not less than 60 ECTS credits, must have a grade of at least CC or above from all courses taken and must have a grade point average of at least 2.50 out of 4.00.

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

The Master's programme in Protohistory and Near eastern Archaeology is designed to produce expert archaeologists who are equipped to contribute to excavation and research projects on both a national and international level. The programme also prepares its graduates for roles as scientists within academic institutions. Graduates of the Master's programme in Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology will have the option to continue their doctoral studies in the same or related disciplines. Furthermore, as expert archaeologists, they have the opportunity to be employed by KUDEB in relation with municipilaties, private companies providing archaeological monitoring documenting services and in the museums of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums as well as Private museums

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.
Students can apply to doctorate programmes or proficiency in art programmes in relation.


PROF. DR. RİFAT ESER KORTANOĞLU
PROF. DR. ALİ UMUT TÜRKCAN
ECTS Institutional Coordinator
PROF. DR. ALİ UMUT TÜRKCAN