The MA is a two-year program taught in English and built around an independent research project. At 120 ects, 60 of these are focused on the dissertation and conducted as independent study under supervision; the remaining 60 ects comprise taught courses, both mandatory and electives. Among the taught courses are those dealing explicitly with historical archaeology:
- Viking Archaeology (10 ects)
- Medieval Archaeology (10 ects)
- Postmedieval Archaeology (5 ects)
In addition, students will be able to attend a departmental-run fieldschool on a settlement in the north of Iceland (Hofstaðir) which was occupied for around a thousand years and through which students can choose to work as part of their final dissertation project.