About the Program

Program Overview

The University of Cyprus offers a distinctive postgraduate program, the Master in Digital Heritage and Landscape Archaeology, which stands out in the Eastern Mediterranean region. This program focuses on the practical application of spatial technologies and GeoInformatics within the broader field of Digital Humanities. Bridging the gap between New Technologies and the Humanities exposes students to the latest spatial technological advancements, providing hands-on training with various tools and software. Emphasizing a critical perspective, the program encourages dialogue across different disciplines, addressing archaeological and historical questions.

Programme Objectives

The Digital Heritage and Landscape Archaeology program aims to:

1. Foster collaboration between technological and humanities disciplines.
2. Cultivate a dynamic learning environment for theoretical and practical training.
3. Establish synergies between research, museums, academia, and public/private agencies.
4. Provide an international educational setting for productive interaction among students and researchers.
5. Develop a new generation of Archaeologists and Historians adept in geospatial technologies.

Key Learning Outcomes

This graduate program enables students to:

1. Understand the relationship between environment, climate, and past anthropogenic activities, focusing on settlement patterns and resource exploitation.
2. Gain state-of-the-art skills applicable in both field campaigns and laboratory analysis of surface survey and excavation results.
3. Comprehend the operation of spatial analysis tools addressing habitation patterns and intra/inter-spatial distribution of finds.
4. Acquire knowledge in creating maps (distribution of finds, geophysical measurements, geological/topographic maps, environmental maps) and understanding spatial statistical algorithms.
5. Familiarize themselves with research questions and critically evaluate statistical and spatial statistical results.
6. Receive practical hands-on training in software (GIS, network analysis, statistical analysis, mapping) and instrumentation/hardware (geophysical instruments, drones, cameras, GPS), enhancing competitiveness in academia, cultural resources management, practical archaeology, and other career paths.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a University degree awarded by an accredited institution in the country where it operates or a degree evaluated as equivalent to a University degree by the Cyprus Council for the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications (KY.S.A.T.S). Individuals who will be awarded a University degree or Graduation certificate fulfilling the necessary criteria by the end of the week that precedes registration week are also eligible to apply.

Applications should include the following:

• The names and addresses of at least two (2) referees (University Professors) familiar with the candidate and his/her academic performance. Some departments require three reference letters, so before submitting your application, please read the Postgraduate Prospectus and any relevant departmental prospectus to ascertain the required number of reference letters. The Department may request additional confidential information from the referees. You may also consult the department website.
• Copies of university degrees or a statement of expected graduation in the month preceding enrolment in the postgraduate programme.
• Transcripts as appropriate.
• Curriculum vitae
• A short statement (maximum two pages) of the student’s research goals and interests.
• A preliminary research proposal for a PhD place (if this is stated in the department's regulations).

Criteria for assessment of applicants

The criteria for assessment of postgraduate candidates are the following:

• Academic background in the appropriate discipline and grades in other related degrees.
• Letters of recommendation.
• Personal interview at the discretion of each department.
• Written examination at the discretion of each department.
• Submission of a preliminary research proposal for a student placed in a PhD programme (if this is stated in the departments’ regulations)
• Other criteria are set by each department.

Required Levels of English language proficiency for studies in postgraduate programs

Following the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA), for admission to programs of study taught in the English language at postgraduate levels at universities, candidate students should provide a certificate of their knowledge of English.

For programs of study at the postgraduate level candidate students are required to have certification for “Very Good Knowledge” of English at level B2-C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). At this level, the users can understand a wide range of demanding, long and complex texts, and recognize implied meanings. The users can express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. They can use the language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes. They can produce clear, well-structured, detailed texts on complex topics, demonstrating controlled use of organizational patterns, connecting elements, and coherence mechanisms.

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) corresponds to the following specific reference frameworks for international examinations, according to the official pages of the organizations offering these examinations. Indicatively, a score of 5.5 – 6.5 corresponds to knowledge of level B2 (Lower), while a score of 8.5-9 is level C2 (Proficiency).

Specific Admission Requirements

The number of places available is announced by the Graduate School with the eligibility criteria for candidates, as well as other required documents that must be attached to the application such as:

1. Bachelor’s degree from a recognised University.
2. Previous University education in a suitable subject (academic background) and grades of relevant degrees.
3. Letters of recommendation.
4. Personal interview and/or written examination (if provided by the Department’s internal rules).

The Department may also set additional criteria and quality indicators such as:

(a) number of students’ publications in scientific journals,

(b) students’ participation in seminars, symposia, research programmes,

(c) presentations by students at conferences,

(d) knowledge of foreign languages, and

(e) professional experience, etc.

Prospective students for the Digital Heritage and Landscape Archaeology must have completed an undergraduate degree in Archaeology, History, Anthropology, or other related fields of research (e.g. History of Art, Architecture, Geography, Geology, Topography, Environmental Sciences, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering).

Graduates of the University of Cyprus and Universities of Greece must have an undergraduate diploma with a cumulative grade of 6.5 or higher. The equivalent is required for graduates from other Universities.

Graduation Requirements

Successful completion of the requirements of the Programme:

The programme can be completed in a minimum of 3 semesters and is credited with 90 ECTS.

During the first two semesters, 5 compulsories and 1 elective course will be taught, three per semester. Each course is credited with 10 ECTS, so the maximum number of ECTS per semester is 30.

During the third semester, 1 elective course will be taught. In order to complete the remaining 20 ECTS, students have to conduct a Master's thesis (20 ECTS) during the third semester.

During the summer semester, students will have the option to follow a “practical training in field archaeology” (ARC 615: 10 ECTS), which will be an elective.

The 250 hours of 10 ΕCTS* per course are allocated as follows:

• 39 hours for class attendance,
• 26 hours for course preparatory reading,
• 120 hours for study,
• 65 hours for essay writing/project implementation.

* 1 ECTS = 25 working hours

Writing and defending the master’s thesis is credited with 20 ECTS, as follows:

• 10 ΕCTS for the research phase,
• 9 ΕCTS for the writing phase,
• 1 ΕCTS for the thesis defense, in front of a three-membered committee.

Assessment & Grading

The grading system is numerical, from 0 to 10 with increments of ½. The minimum passing grade is 5. The final grade of a graduate student is calculated as the grade point average of all courses passed by the student.

In a postgraduate programme of study, courses can be graded as Success/Failure. These courses do not count towards the student’s GPA, and may not exceed 25% of the programme’s ECTS, with the exception of the dissertation units. All courses are presented in the Postgraduate Studies Prospectus.

The diploma dissertation, thesis, research and writing stages are graded with Success / Failure. The final grade of the dissertation is registered in the last semester of its elaboration. Master-level dissertations are calculated qualitatively as Excellent, Very Good, Good, and Failure.