Archeology Schools and Programs in Canada

Archeology Studies in Canada

Archaeology in Canada is studied at university, usually inside a department of anthropology or of classics rather than as a separate faculty. Following the North American tradition, it is treated as one of the branches of anthropology, next to biological and social and cultural anthropology, while the archaeology of Greece, Rome and the Near East is taught in classics departments. A student therefore chooses between two routes: a degree named Archaeology, which only some universities offer, or a degree in Anthropology or Classical Studies with a concentration in archaeology.

SpainExchange lists 3 universities in Canada with archaeology programmes: the University of Calgary in Alberta, the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver and Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. Teaching at all three is in English.

How the degree is organised

According to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC), bachelor's degrees in Canada normally require three or four years of full-time study, depending on the province or territory. Students combine a main subject (a major) with optional minors, and an honours degree adds further credits and often a thesis. A master's degree typically requires one to three years, and a doctorate a minimum of three years of study and research, including a dissertation.

The three universities show the different models:

• The University of Calgary has a Department of Anthropology and Archaeology and offers a BA, a BA Honours, a BSc and a BSc Honours in Archaeology, with a co-operative education option, and a minor. The department describes itself as one of only a handful of universities offering a degree in archaeology. At graduate level it offers a thesis-based Master of Arts and a PhD in Archaeology
• At UBC archaeology is not a degree programme in itself. Students follow it as a concentration within the four-year Bachelor of Arts, with a specialisation in Anthropology or in Classical, Near Eastern, and Religious Studies
• Mount Allison University teaches archaeology within Classical Studies, available as a BA major (60 credits), a BA honours (72 credits) or a minor (24 credits)

What students learn

Courses cover the methods, theory and practice of archaeological research, the study of artefacts and human remains, and the archaeology of particular regions. UBC's courses deal with British Columbia, subarctic Canada, Mesoamerica, eastern Asia, east Africa and Europe; Calgary's staff work in North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Oceania, Africa and Arabia.

Fieldwork is a regular part of the degree. The University of Calgary states that students have opportunities to spend time in the field locally and internationally. Mount Allison's Classics department runs a summer field school in Italy, where students join a research team on a working excavation and learn to excavate, collect and record artefacts; in July 2026 it launched a new research project at the Vallo Sanctuary in the ancient Greek city of Herakleia. UBC has archaeological projects in Mesoamerica, Europe and the Middle East, and its Museum of Anthropology is a research facility on campus.

Admission and language

Each university sets its own admission requirements, and international applicants must provide proof of their English or French language skills, as EduCanada, the Government of Canada's study portal, explains. The university assesses the applicant's previous studies against Canadian credentials. Calgary's graduate programmes are thesis-based: the student carries out independent research guided by a supervisor who shares their research interests.

Study permit and costs

Most foreign nationals need a study permit, which requires enrolment at a designated learning institution (DLI). The application fee is CAN$150 (Government of Canada, checked October 2026).

Tuition fees vary by region, programme and university. On average, international undergraduate students pay about CAN$41,746 per year and international graduate students about CAN$24,028 per year (Statistics Canada figures published by EduCanada, 2026). EduCanada advises budgeting a minimum of CAN$23,000 per year for living costs.

Careers

The University of Calgary names two main directions: graduate school, leading to university teaching and research, and work for an archaeological consulting firm. Mount Allison lists heritage researcher or interpreter, museum curator, archivist, cultural resource manager and archaeologist among the career paths of its Classical Studies graduates.

The national body of the discipline is the Canadian Archaeological Association (CAA), founded in 1968, whose membership includes professional, avocational and student archaeologists. UBC notes that full-time international students who graduate from a bachelor's degree may obtain a post-graduation work permit for up to three years if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take a degree called Archaeology in Canada?

Yes, but only at some universities. The University of Calgary offers a BA and a BSc in Archaeology; at other universities, such as UBC and Mount Allison, archaeology is studied within Anthropology or Classical Studies.

How long does an archaeology degree take in Canada?

A bachelor's degree normally takes three or four years of full-time study, depending on the province. A master's degree adds one to three years and a doctorate at least three more.

Is fieldwork part of the degree?

Usually, yes. The University of Calgary offers field schools in Canada and abroad, and Mount Allison runs a summer field school on an excavation in Italy.

How much does it cost to study in Canada as an international student?

International undergraduate students pay about CAN$41,746 per year in tuition on average, and EduCanada recommends a minimum of CAN$23,000 per year for living costs (2026).