Archaeology

Bachelor's degree in full-time form. The language of instruction is Czech.

The programme can be studied as a single subject or in combination with another programme.

What will you learn?

The studies in the field of archaeology enable to acquire the crucial knowledge and skills which are necessary to work as an archaeologist. The study is designed so that the students can master the basics of methodology and theory of the discipline, and get an insight into the prehistoric, early historic and medieval development inclusive of material culture, where the focus is laid on Central Europe. The high level of study is secured by a wide spectrum of specialised archaeological courses and courses with wide interdisciplinary overlap. The professional training is provided by an extensive offer of technical and practical courses.

“Discover your past, open up your future.”

The Department of Archaeology and Museology offers for archaeological studies an extraordinary background in the form of three field bases in which the practical training of students in field research is carried out, the best-equipped workplace for geophysical methods in the Czech Republic, a 3D laboratory, a ceramic laboratory, etc. Thanks to this background, the students can apply their theoretical and methodological knowledge in practice during their studies already. The Department maintains numerous international contacts, within which the students can participate in foreign excavations of an oppidum, in an internship abroad within the Erasmus+ project, or attend regular lectures by foreign lecturers.

One of the objectives is to enable the graduates make a qualified choice of their further specialisation, either by the selected employment or through some of the Master’s programmes.

Practical training

A compulsory part of specialised studies is the practical training. The student is obliged to complete practical trainings in field research: one (minor), two (maior) and three (completus) in the extent of three weeks each. Practical trainings in archaeological excavation within the Bachelor’s studies are carried out at archaeological excavations conducted by the Department of Archaeology and Museology in Těšetice-Kyjovice, Pohansko u Břeclavi, Rokštejn - research base in Panská Lhota or selectively on Bibracte foreign expedition. Within the optional courses, it is possible to practice on field research or other workplaces of external archaeological institutions, the basics of the structural historical survey, the basics of surface and geophysical prospection and s. o.

Further information

Visit the website of the Department of Archaeology and Museology and find out what events we hold outside of class, what activities you can get involved in, and much more.

Career opportunities

The graduates are prepared in terms of theory, methodology and practice to work as archaeologists in institutions for monument care, memory institutions and public administration. Practical knowledge of geodesy, information technologies and the basics of conservation of historical artefacts can be used by the graduates in many other professions outside archaeology. The graduates in general find employment in all positions demanding the acquisition, analysis and administration of data. The major part of graduates are supposed to continue their studies in a Master’s degree programme, in which they will deepen their knowledge of archaeology and related disciplines.

Admission requirements

This programme is taught in Czech.

The criteria for admission for studies are the results of the written Field of Study Examination. Applicants may also be admitted based on other criteria, see Admission without the Entrance Examination. The Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University disregards the results of SCIO National Comparative Examinations.


You can file your e-applications for studies from 1 November to 28 February.
Applicants applying for the major study plan and minor study plan in a combined study must comply with the conditions for admission into both plans.

Learning Potential Test (TSP)

For admission for studies in this degree programme, you do not need to take the TSP.

Field of Study Examination

This examination is intended to check the applicants’ knowledge of the given field of study. It is done in the form of a motivation letter and an oral interview.

Basic description of the Field of Study Examination:

  1. The written part: please upload a motivation letter and an annotation of studied scholarly or popular scientific literature.Both have to be written in Czech or Slovak.
    Please upload the motivation letter and the annotation in the PDF format into your e-application in the section Příloha 2 no later than 8 April. Select the correct type of attachment, i.e. "Archeologie: Motivační dopis" and "Archeologie: Anotace četby".
    • In the motivation letter (on 1 A4 page of text) the applicant will state their reasons for choosing the degree programme and describe their encounters with the field of archaeology, such as visits to sites, exhibitions, a description of their participation in archaeological field research, and encounters with the popularization of archaeological topics.
    • The literature annotation (on a minimum 1 A4 page of text, maximum 3 book titles) should present scholarly or popular scientific literature concerning archaeology or related topics which the applicant has read.

  2. The oral interview consists of two questions on prehistoric and historical development in the country at the level of the secondary school curriculum and a supplementary question on the literature annotation or motivation letter. Candidates who pass the written part of the entrance exam, i.e. score 30 points or more out of a maximum of 50 points for the written part, will be invited to the oral interview.

Admission without the entrance examination

You may be exempt from the entrance examination based on at least one of the following criteria:
  1. the submission of officially certified confirmations of your participation in a competition in the field of history or archaeology (Students’ Professional Activities) from the regional round onward, History Olympiad from the regional round onward;
  2. submission of confirmation of your participation in archaeological research (at least two weeks) issued by an authorized organization.

Please upload the officially certified documents directly to your e-application in the section Application for the Exemption from the Entrance Examination no later than 28 February.

Criteria for evaluation

  • Total number of points in the written part: 50
  • Limit for successfully passing the written part: 30
The oral interview: Candidates who pass the written part of the entrance exam, i.e. score 30 points or more out of a maximum of 50 points for the written part, will be invited to the oral interview.
  • Total number of points for the oral interview: 50
  • Total number of points for the Field of Study Examination (the written and the oral part): 100
  • Limit for successfully passing the Field of Study Examination (the sum of points for the written and the oral part): 65 points

Recommended literature

The choice of specialist or popular literature for the annotation is up to the candidates and their interest.

Recommended literature for the interview - the choice of titles and quantity is up to the candidates:

  • Archeologie pravěkých Čech 1-8. Praha
  • Vladimír Podborský a kol., 1993: Pravěké dějiny Moravy. Brno.
  • Petr Neruda, 2016: Čas neandertálců. Brno.
  • Konrad Spindler, 1998: Muž z ledovce. Praha.
  • Jiří Militký, Jan Kysela, Marika Tisucká a kol., 2018: Keltové - Čechy v 8. až 1. století před Kristem. Praha.
  • Jarmila Bednaříková, 2007: Stěhování národů. Praha.
  • Josef Unger 2008: Archeologie středověku, Odraz života lidí v archeologických pramenech.
  • Jan Klápště, 2005: Proměna českých zemí ve středověku. Praha.
Links for online literature:
Archeologie pravěkých Čech
Keltové, Čechy v 8. až 1. století před Kristem: Stará kulturní tradice – starší doba železná
Archeologie středověku: Odraz života lidí v archeologických pramenech


Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

Study options

Single-subject studies

Students have a pre-defined list of required courses, which are supplemented with selective and elective courses. The student pays full attention to the single field of study chosen.

Combined studies

In this type of studies, the students focus on the main degree programme (120 credits) supplemented with another, minor, programme (60 credits). The student enrols in the degree programme in which he/she majors. Both the programmes are stated in the university diploma. You will find possible combinations on the websites of individual degree programmes.​ An exception is programmes preparing students for teaching professions, where both fields of study are equal and the thesis may be written in any of them.

Combinations with programmes from Faculty of Arts

Combinations with programmes from Faculty of Economics and Administration

Combinations with programmes from Faculty of Informatics

Combinations with programmes from Faculty of Social Studies

Archaeology as a minor degree programme

Combinations with programmes from Faculty of Arts
Combinations with programmes from Faculty of Science
Combinations with programmes from Faculty of Economics and Administration
Combinations with programmes from Faculty of Informatics
Combinations with programmes from Faculty of Social Studies

Courses – curriculum examples

An example of your study plan:

Single-subject studies

Combined studies

Follow-up studies

A graduate from Bachelor’s studies in the field of archaeology can (after having met the admission requirements) continue the Master’s studies in any programme of his/her choice. At the Faculty of Arts of the Masaryk University it is possible to continue directly in Master’s studies in the field of archaeology.

Study information

Provided by Faculty of Arts
Type of studies Bachelor's
Mode full-time Yes
combined No
distance No
Study options single-subject studies Yes
single-subject studies with specialization No
major/minor studies Yes
Standard length of studies 3 years
Language of instruction Czech

Do you have any questions?
Send us an e-mail to

Mgr. Renáta Přichystalová, Ph.D.

Consultant

E‑mail:

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