Bachelor's Programme Archaeological Studies
| Faculty | Faculty of Philosophy and History |
| Duration / ECTS-Credits | 6 semesters / 180 ECTS-Credits |
| Academic Degree |
Bachelor of Arts (BA) |
| Qualification Level |
Bachelor (First Cycle) ISCED-11: Level 6, EQF/NQF: Level 6 |
| ISCED-F | 0222 History and Archaeology |
| Mode of Study |
Full-Time |
| Study Code |
UC 033 591 |
| Curriculum | Information on the Curriculum (2015W)* |
| Language of Instruction | German |
| Admission Requirements |
Secondary school completion certificate or equivalent and Language Certificates |
| Supplemental Examination |
Supplemental examination in Latin is required before completion of the bachelor's degree programme if this subject was not completed satisfactorily with at least 10 credit hours at a higher-level secondary school. |
| Application |
* Information on the Curriculum (2015W)
The complete version of the curriculum reflects the currently valid version of the curriculum. It is for informational purposes only and is not legally binding. The legally binding version of the curriculum, including any amendments, may be found in the University of Innsbruck Bulletins.
In order to determine which version of the curriculum is applicable in your case, see the Catalogue of Studies,
available at: https://lfuonline.uibk.ac.at/public/lfuonline_meinestudien.studienblatt
Section: Current Curriculum version.
University of Innsbruck Bulletins » (Click to open all University of Innsbruck Bulletins)
- English version of the Curriculum (from October 1 2016)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin May 2 2016, Issue 24, No. 366 (modification of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 18 2015, Issue 70, No. 498
Studies Induction and Orientation Stage (STEOP)
Studies Induction and Orientation Stage (STEOP) starting winter term 2016 »
(1) Within the scope of the Studies Induction and Orientation Period, which takes place in the first semester, the following course examinations must be passed:
- VO Introduction to Prehistory and Early History and Medieval and Modern Achaeology (CM 1 lit. a/2 hrs. /2.5 ECTS-Credits),
- VO Introduction to Classical Archaeology and Archaeology of the Roman Provinces (CM 1 lit. b/2 hrs. /2.5 ECTS-Credits),
- VO Preservation of Ancient Monuments (CM 2 lit. d/1 h/2 ECTS-Credits),
- VO Theory and Practice of Field Archaeology (CM 4 lit. a/2 hrs. /2 ECTS-Credits).
(2) Successful passing of all exams of the Studies Induction and Orientation Period entitles to passing all further courses and examinations and to writing the Bachelor’s Thesis.
(3) Before successful completion of the Studies Induction and Orientation Period courses amounting to 21 ECTS-Credits may be passed. The registration requirements listed in the curriculum must be met.
Studies Induction and Orientation Stage (STEOP) until december 2015 »
(1) The Studies Induction and Orientation Stage (STEOP), with a duration of one semester (30 ECTS-Credits), provides an overview of the study programme and its structure in order to give students an objective basis to assess their decision to pursue their chosen subjects.
(2) During the Studies Induction and Orientation Stage, the following course examinations, which may be repeated twice, must be completed satisfactorily:
- Introduction to Prehistory and Early History and Medieval and Modern Archaeology
(2 h/2.5 ECTS-Credits) - Introduction to Classical Archaeology and Archaeology of the Roman Provinces
(2 h/ 2.5 ECTS-Credits)
(3) A positive result (passing grade) on the examinations specified in Paragraph 2 permits students to attend all courses and take all examinations following the Introduction and Orientation Phase for Students (STEOP) and to write a bachelor's thesis as described in the curriculum. The registration requirements specified by the curriculum must be met.
Recommended Course Sequence
The exemplary course sequence given below is recommended for full-time students beginning their study programme in the winter semester. The table shows one possible course sequence for the bachelor's programme and is not compulsory. Delays resulting from repeated examinations are not taken into account.
The standard duration of the study programme is 6 semesters or 180 ECTS-Credits, whereby according to the Universities Act of 2002, a workload of 1,500 (real) hours per academic year must be fulfilled, corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits (one ECTS-Credit is equivalent to a workload of 25 hours).
2,5 ECTS-AP: VO Introduction to Pre-History and Early History and Medieval and Modern Achaeology
2,5 ECTS-AP: VO Introduction to Classical Archaeology and Archaeology of the Roman Provinces
2,0 ECTS-AP: VO Preservation of Ancient Monuments
2,0 ECTS-AP: VO Theory and Practice of Field Archaeology
5,0 ECTS-AP: PS Introduction to Archaeological Sciences
10,0 ECTS-AP: CM Applied Archaeology II
10,0 ECTS-AP: Specialisation (Please refer to the course offerings in the course catalogue)
4,0 ECTS-AP: VO Materials
2,0 ECTS-AP: VO Conservation and Restoration
2,0 ECTS-AP: VU Restoration Tutorials
3,0 ECTS-AP: EU Excavation
7,0 ECTS-AP: EX Archaeological Excursions
10,0 ECTS-AP: Specialisation (Please refer to the course offerings in the course catalogue)
10,0 ECTS-AP to select: Specialisation (Please refer to the course offerings in the course catalogue)
10,0 ECTS-AP to select: Elective Modules or Specialisation (Please refer to the course offerings in the course catalogue)
10,0 ECTS-AP to select: Elective Modules
3,0 ECTS-AP: EX Archaeological Excursions
5,0 ECTS-AP: EU Research in Field Archaeology
10,0 ECTS-AP: Elective Modules or Specialisation (Please refer to the course offerings in the course catalogue)
10,0 ECTS-AP: Elective Modules
10,0 ECTS-AP to select: Elective Modules or Specialisation (Please refer to the course offerings in the course catalogue)
10,0 ECTS-AP to select: Elective Modules
10,0 ECTS-AP: Elective Module
20,0 ECTS-AP: Documentation and Presentation of Archaeological Research including the Bachelor’s Thesis (CM 7)
10,0 ECTS-AP: Elective Modules
Compulsory and elective modules covering 180 ECTS-Credits must be passed:
|
70 ECTS-Credits 60 ECTS-Credits 30 ECTS-Credits 20 ECTS-Credits |
Students of the Bachelor’s Programme in Archaeology must decide on a specialisation corresponding to 30 ECTS-Credits (EM 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12). They can also – and we explicitly recommend this – select a second specialisation corresponding to a further 30 ECTS-Credits (EM 1-17) within the scope of the compulsory hours to be completed. 30 ECTS-Credits must be selected from the thematic elective modules (EM 18-23) and 20 ECTS-Credits from elective modules 24 – 26.
Qualification Profile and Skills
Archaeology deals with the material legacy of man. Information is gained from the different tracks left by past events and actions. These include primarily archaeological sources in the form of soil findings and findings, the checking and scientific analysis of which with regards to their emergence, conservation and change, are the basis for an objective reconstruction of past realities. While one focuses exclusively on material legacy for epochs without written language, the complementary analysis of objects, pictures and texts can be resorted to for epochs with denser traditions to gain illuminating insights.
The Department of Archaeologies at the University of Innsbruck covers - and this is unique in Austria – all epochs of human history for a wide area in research as well as in teaching and covers thus the period from the first appearance of man approx. 4 million years ago to the present time. Subareas are the archaeology of hunters and gatherers (Palaeolithic and Mesolithic / Old and Middle Stone Age), the ancient prehistory (Neolithic Age / Early Stone Age), the metal ages (Bronze and Iron Age), the classical archaeology of the Minoan and Mycenaean culture of Greece to the material heritage of the Greek and Romans and their neighbouring cultures to late Antiquity as well as the time of early Christianity, provincial Roman archaeology, prehistory and the archaeologies of the Middle Ages and modern times. The geographical focus lies on the Alpine area with the Roman provinces of Noricum and Rhaetia as well as Italy.
Expected Learning Outcomes
In addition to a theoretical education, the university training of the students includes in particular applied methods for practical application in terms of a research-based education. Therefore an important focus lies on practical field research, i.e. prospection and archaeological excavations home and abroad as well as the preservation, restoration, scientific processing and subsequent presentation in museums of the findings obtained. The preparation, organisation, direction and execution of archaeological excavations and research projects, the independent processing of archaeological finding complexes, the writing of scientific manuscripts as well as public relations are taught.
Graduates are thus able to work out, evaluate and apply scientific developments as well as to interdisciplinary use their acquired skills. They have scientifically sound problem solving skills based on theory and methods.
Future Prospects: Occupational Profiles and Career Opportunities
terms of research-based teaching, the study programme serves in particular the practical training in the primary occupational fields and prepares for working at universities, other research institutions (academies), antiquities and monuments offices, museums and excavation businesses. Since the study programme promotes the understanding of social, economic, history and cultural-political processes, also professional work in the fields of tourism, art trade, archive and documentation, cultural management, journalism and publishing can be considered in addition to the actual scientific archaeological work.
- Science and research (universities, academies, research projects)
- Museology, collection and exhibition sector
- Preservation of monuments and cultural property protection
- Private archaeological service providers (excavation companies …)
- Tourism, cultural journeys, cultural education
- Art trade (galleries, auctioneers)
- Archive and documentation sector
- Public services (culture, education, diplomacy)
- Cultural management and public relations
- Journalism, press and media (print and audio-visual media)
- Publishing and book trade, journalism
- Politics, political consulting, law and economy, insurance companies
Postgraduate and further Studies at the University of Innsbruck
Extension Programme
Within the scope of the Study Programme, an Extension Programme corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits may be passed. Admission to the Extension Programme requires the admission to or the having passed of one of the selected Study Programmes. Detailed information: https://www.uibk.ac.at/studium/angebot/es-informatik/
Information about examination regulations, assessment and grading
Examination regulations
The examination regulation is an integral part of the curriculum, detailed information can be found under the paragraph examination regulations.
Description of the applied grading system (including the grade distribution table) »
The grade distribution table is a statistical representation of the distribution of all successfully completed examinations in a given programme of study or subject (based on all registered students for the programme or subject). The grade distribution table is updated in regular intervals.
| Austrian grading scheme |
Definition |
%-age |
||
| 1 | EXCELLENT: Outstanding performance |
42.6 |  |
= 100% |
|
2 |
GOOD: Generally good, but with some errors |
31.3 | ||
| 3 | SATISFACTORY: Generally sound work with a number of substantial errors |
17.6 | ||
| 4 | SUFFICIENT: Performance meets the minimum cirteria |
8.5 |
||
| 5 | INSUFFICIENT: Substantial improvement necessary; requirement of further work |
December 2021
Overall classification of the qualification
Not applicable
Explanation: An overall classification (mit Auszeichnung bestanden/pass with distinction, bestanden/pass, nicht bestanden/fail) – is awarded only for examinations that conclude a programme of study and consist of more than one subject (an examination of this type is not specified in the curriculum of this programme of study).
Information about the Programme (in German only)
Forms (in German only)
- Evidence of the Bachelor's Thesis according to the curriculum
- Examination Records
- Recognition of exams AND Supplementary Sheet
- Cover Sheet for the Bachelor's Thesis
- Declaration of Academic Honesty
- Application for Admission to the third and fourth repetition of a course examination
Contact and Information
Examination Office
Standort Innrain 52d 
Associate Dean of Studies
Mag. Dr. Martin Auer
Dean of Studies
Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Brigitte Truschnegg