• Phase 1 (reserved for international applicants): In this phase, up to 7 places are offered exclusively to international students. The aim is to give these applicants sufficient time to prepare their administrative documentation and/or scholarships, should they be admitted to the Master’s programme, prior to arriving in Cádiz (visa, scholarships from their home country, etc.).
• Phase 2 (open to all applicants): In this phase, the remaining places available for admission to this Master’s programme are offered. It is open to all applicants who meet the requirements for admission to a university Master’s programme set out on the DUA website.
• Phase 3 (places from the waiting list): In this phase, the places that have not been filled during the previous phases are offered.

• CV – A curriculum vitae detailing information especially related to the Master’s theme: academic background, courses, professional experience, publications, diving qualifications (where applicable), and any other aspects considered relevant for assessment. (Supporting documents evidencing the merits listed in the CV must be attached.)
• Motivation letter, explaining academic and professional interests and reasons for applying to this Master’s programme.
• Copy of the university degree certificate (or proof that the degree is being issued). Please note that only applications from candidates who have completed their studies may be accepted, including the defence of the Final Degree Project/Dissertation.
• Copy of the academic transcript, showing modules/courses taken, grades obtained, and the overall average grade for the university degree.
• Document stating the preferred practical module to be chosen.

Each phase has its own pre-admitted list and a specific enrolment period. We therefore recommend checking the information published on the Andalusian Single University District website carefully in order to know these deadlines.

 

Each phase has an enrolment date published on the DUA website. Enrolment is managed through the UCA website: Master’s Enrolment. Admitted students may complete their enrolment on the dates indicated there.

 

The approximate cost of the Master’s programme (enrolment in modules 1, 2 and 3) is €820.8.

The price per credit at Andalusian public universities is €13.68.

 

• Single payment when enrolling.
• Two instalments: the first at enrolment and the second during December.
• Four instalments: the first at enrolment and the last approximately in January.
• Eight instalments: the first at enrolment and the last approximately in May.

Please check the up-to-date information on the official website of the Postgraduate Coordination Office: https://oficinadeposgrado.uca.es/masteres-oficiales-precios-publicos/

Information for newly admitted students: Access requirements / Admission criteria

As set out in Article 16 of Royal Decree 822/2021, as amended by Royal Decree 861/2010, admission to official Master’s studies requires holding an official Spanish university degree or another degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area that, in the awarding country, gives access to Master’s studies. Graduates from education systems outside the European Higher Education Area may also be admitted without the need for official recognition (homologation) of their degrees, subject to the University verifying that they demonstrate a level of training equivalent to the corresponding official Spanish university degrees and that they allow access to postgraduate studies in the awarding country. Admission via this route does not imply, in any case, the official recognition (homologation) of the prior qualification held by the applicant, nor its recognition for any purpose other than undertaking Master’s studies.

 

In accordance with Article 75 of the Andalusian Universities Act (Consolidated Text approved by Legislative Decree 1/2013 of 8 January), for the sole purpose of admission to university centres, all Andalusian public universities are constituted as a single district, and its management is entrusted to a specific committee within the Andalusian Council of Universities. The composition of this committee was established by Decree 478/1994 of 27 December and continues to operate following the publication of the above-mentioned consolidated text.

 

The Andalusian Single University District system can be consulted at the following link: Innovation and Science (Regional Government of Andalusia)

 

For access and admission requirements, please see: Access Requirements.

 

No special entrance examinations are planned for the Official Master’s Degree in Nautical and Underwater Archaeology.

Other fees and charges.

Please check the up-to-date information on the official website of the Postgraduate Coordination Office: https://oficinadeposgrado.uca.es/precios-publicos-2/ 

Information for newly admitted students: Access requirements / Admission criteria

As set out in Article 16 of Royal Decree 822/2021, as amended by Royal Decree 861/2010, admission to official Master’s studies requires holding an official Spanish university degree or another degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area that, in the awarding country, gives access to Master’s studies. Graduates from education systems outside the European Higher Education Area may also be admitted without the need for official recognition (homologation) of their degrees, subject to the University verifying that they demonstrate a level of training equivalent to the corresponding official Spanish university degrees and that they allow access to postgraduate studies in the awarding country. Admission via this route does not imply, in any case, the official recognition (homologation) of the prior qualification held by the applicant, nor its recognition for any purpose other than undertaking Master’s studies.

In accordance with Article 75 of the Andalusian Universities Act (Consolidated Text approved by Legislative Decree 1/2013 of 8 January), for the sole purpose of admission to university centres, all Andalusian public universities are constituted as a single district, and its management is entrusted to a specific committee within the Andalusian Council of Universities. The composition of this committee was established by Decree 478/1994 of 27 December and continues to operate following the publication of the above-mentioned consolidated text.

The Andalusian Single University District system can be consulted at the following link: Innovation and Science (Regional Government of Andalusia)

For access and admission requirements, please see: Access Requirements.

No special entrance examinations are planned for the Official Master’s Degree in Nautical and Underwater Archaeology.

Other fees and charges.

Please check the up-to-date information on the official website of the Postgraduate Coordination Office: https://oficinadeposgrado.uca.es/masteres-oficiales-precios-publicos/

Information for newly admitted students: Access requirements / Admission criteria

As set out in Article 16 of Royal Decree 822/2021, as amended by Royal Decree 861/2010, admission to official Master’s studies requires holding an official Spanish university degree or another degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area that, in the awarding country, gives access to Master’s studies. Graduates from education systems outside the European Higher Education Area may also be admitted without the need for official recognition (homologation) of their degrees, subject to the University verifying that they demonstrate a level of training equivalent to the corresponding official Spanish university degrees and that they allow access to postgraduate studies in the awarding country. Admission via this route does not imply, in any case, the official recognition (homologation) of the prior qualification held by the applicant, nor its recognition for any purpose other than undertaking Master’s studies.

In accordance with Article 75 of the Andalusian Universities Act (Consolidated Text approved by Legislative Decree 1/2013 of 8 January), for the sole purpose of admission to university centres, all Andalusian public universities are constituted as a single district, and its management is entrusted to a specific committee within the Andalusian Council of Universities. The composition of this committee was established by Decree 478/1994 of 27 December and continues to operate following the publication of the above-mentioned consolidated text.

The Andalusian Single University District system can be consulted at the following link: Innovation and Science (Regional Government of Andalusia)

For access and admission requirements, please see: Access Requirements.

No special entrance examinations are planned for the Official Master’s Degree in Nautical and Underwater Archaeology.

This Master’s programme aims to train specialists in a field with a historical and heritage focus that is highly multidisciplinary. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that, prior to enrolment, students have basic skills and knowledge related to the activity in which they wish to specialise.

Given that the ultimate goal is historical research and heritage conservation through archaeological sciences, the most suitable profiles are those with prior training in archaeology or history.

In addition, since nautical and underwater archaeology is multidisciplinary, specialists from other applied sciences need to acquire the basic competences and knowledge required to apply them within their own disciplines. Thus, profiles in geography, geomorphology, marine sciences, nautical studies, computer science, and naval engineering are of moderate relevance; likewise, physics and chemistry for those who decide to specialise in conservation and restoration of waterlogged archaeological materials. Knowledge of museology and museography will be especially useful for those wishing to specialise in the management and dissemination of underwater cultural heritage.

 

Entry profiles are as follows:
– High priority profile: Bachelor’s degree (or previous-degree equivalents) in the field of Humanities (graduates in Archaeology, History, Humanities, Anthropology, Fine Arts, Documentation/Information Science, Art History, Cultural Management, or related fields).
– Medium priority profile: Degrees in Geological, Chemical, Environmental, Marine, Naval and Oceanic sciences, computer science, or related fields.

 

For those who wish to follow the curriculum pathway set out in Specific Subjects 2 and 3 of the optional module, and therefore specialise in archaeological excavation, it will be essential to already hold a basic qualification that enables underwater diving.

 

For those who decide to follow the curriculum pathway through Specific Module 1, and therefore specialise in documentary sources, prior knowledge of palaeography and diplomatics will be useful, though not compulsory.

 

Clearly, the optimal profile is one in which, in addition to some of the above knowledge and training in history and archaeology, the student also has some practical experience—understood as having directed or participated in archaeological work (preferably underwater) or documentary-based historical studies.

In addition to the general access requirements set out in Article 16 of Royal Decree 822/2021, applicants must also meet, where applicable, any specific requirements established for each Master’s programme to which they apply. In this regard, the admission criteria and requirements for the Official Master’s Degree in Nautical and Underwater Archaeology follow the general regulatory agreement adopted by the Andalusian academic authorities applicable to all official Master’s programmes offered in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia. These are implemented through the access mechanisms of the Andalusian Single University District and are objective and weighted, available on the Master’s Admission Assessment website (Master’s Catalogue), based on the following elements:

• Academic record (25%).
• Relevance of the applicant’s academic background (25%).
• Previous professional experience (10%).
• Applicant’s motivation (20%).
• Availability/commitment to the programme (20%).

In each of these areas, training, practical or professional experience related to underwater or maritime cultural heritage will be given preferential consideration. Holding a qualification that allows underwater diving, as well as diving experience, will be positively valued. Related profiles such as restorers or conservators of cultural heritage, and professionals in the cultural management or tourism sector, will also be considered. However, as this is a Master’s programme in Archaeology, applicants are advised to have prior training in areas related to History and Archaeology in order to make the most of the teaching offer.

The Master’s programme provides support and guidance mechanisms for students once enrolled.

Some of these proposals and their background are set out below.

 

Support and guidance for Master’s students once enrolled—aimed at facilitating and improving academic performance—follow a common procedure across all UCA Faculties. This procedure seeks to provide a personalised response to students’ guidance needs throughout their study period.

 

Like welcome activities for newly admitted students, tutoring and academic support activities have a long tradition at the University of Cádiz. The earliest precedents date back to academic year 2000/2001, when the first UCA tutoring plan was launched and received a national award within the National Plan for the Evaluation and Quality of Universities. Academic support activities have also become widespread, notably “zero courses” and levelling activities aimed at completing the training of students with gaps from secondary education. Students are informed about all these activities at the beginning of the academic year in specially scheduled meetings.

 

These activities have, among others, the following general objectives:

• To support and guide students in their overall educational development.
• To foster the integration of newly admitted students into the Faculty and the University.
• To prevent feelings of isolation among students coming from other national or international universities.
• To identify specific difficulties that may arise during the studies and analyse possible solutions.
• To encourage and channel students towards the use of academic tutorials.
• To advise students in decision-making regarding the academic training options offered by the University, particularly in choosing their curricular pathway.
• To encourage student participation in the institution.
• To develop students’ capacity for reflection, dialogue, autonomy, and critical thinking in the academic context.

The Official Master’s Degree in Nautical and Underwater Archaeology establishes specific reception and support mechanisms for each participant. During the first days of the programme, a personal interview with each student will be scheduled, organised by the coordinators of the specific teaching modules and conducted, in each case, by the coordinators of the subjects taught in the module. Each student will be interviewed within the chosen specialisation module.

 

The purpose of these interviews is to gain detailed knowledge of each student’s professional interests, training needs and personal projection opportunities. Key aims include defining each student’s specific interests, defining the topic on which they will develop their applied or research project, and identifying the most suitable placement setting (where applicable), bringing these elements together to seek the best possible synergies to support comprehensive learning. Following the interview analysis, and upon proposal of the specific module coordinator, the programme coordination will appoint a tutor who will provide personalised follow-up of the student’s academic work throughout the Master’s programme.

 

# Employability support and career guidance service: In collaboration with the UCA Vice-Rectorate for Knowledge Transfer and Technological Innovation, the programme will provide a “Career Guidance Programme” and a set of “First Employment Guidance Activities”. These are managed through a common procedure for all UCA Faculties. The “Career Guidance Programme” comprises actions aimed at helping students define and internalise their professional goals. “First Employment Guidance Activities” is a regulated annual project aimed at guiding final-year students in accessing their first job. More information: https://www.uca.es/vrteit/.

 

# Psychological and Educational Support Service (SAP): Its aim is to address students’ personal and academic needs by advising them on issues that may improve the quality of their stay and learning. More information: https://www.uca.es/sap/.

 

# Disability Support Service: Its aim is to ensure equitable treatment and effective equal opportunities for any member of the university community with a disability, and to help make these principles a reality both within the University and in society more broadly. More information: https://atencionalumnado.uca.es/personas-con-discapacidad/

 

# Advisory and support services provided by central bodies (vice-rectorates, general directorates, etc.). The most specific are those of the Vice-Rectorate for Students, particularly the Student Support Area, whose aim is to organise and coordinate management processes related to students and graduates. Its functions include: management of scholarships and study grants; processing of university degrees; dissemination and promotion of UCA degree programmes and services; general information about the University of Cádiz through personalised support; etc. See: https://www.uca.es/vralumnos/.

 

# Equality Unit: Its aim is to eliminate difficulties and barriers that prevent equal participation and the personal, academic and professional development of all members of the university community, ensuring that inclusion, plurality, diversity, equal opportunities and equity become a reality both within and outside the University. See: https://www.uca.es/igualdad/.

 

Minimum number of enrolled students to run the Master’s programme or specialisation: 5

Royal Decree 822/2021 of 29 October, establishing the organisation of official university education (as amended by Royal Decree 861/2010 of 2 July), states in Article 6 that, in order to make student mobility effective both within Spain and internationally, universities shall draw up and publish their regulations on the system of credit recognition and transfer, in accordance with the general criteria established therein.

 

To comply with this provision, the University of Cádiz approved Regulation UCA/CG12/2010 of 28 June, which governs credit recognition and transfer in official education regulated by Royal Decree 822/2021 of 29 October [Governing Council Agreement of 28 June 2010 (BOUCA no. 109)], and later amended it [Governing Council Agreement of 22 June 2011 (BOUCA no. 122)] to align it with the new wording of Article 6 of Royal Decree 822/2021 introduced by Royal Decree 861/2010. Finally, the Regulation has been amended more recently by Regulations UCA/CG01/2014 of 25 February (BOUCA no. 170 of 1 April) and UCA/CG06/2014 of 17 June 2014 (BOUCA no. 173 of 27 June).

 

The consolidated text, incorporating the successive amendments, can be consulted at the following link: Regulations (pdf)

Updates to these regulations will be available at the following link 

Credit transfer consists of including, in the student’s official academic records related to the ongoing studies, all credits obtained in official studies previously taken at the same or another university that did not lead to the award of an official degree and that cannot be recognised within the programme to which the student is admitted.

Modules, subject areas or courses transferred to the academic record of the new degree programmes will not be taken into account for the calculation of the academic record’s weighted average.

In cases of simultaneous enrolment in multiple programmes, credits obtained in those programmes will not be transferred unless they are recognised, or the student waives such simultaneous enrolment by withdrawing from those studies.

 

Credit recognition is the acceptance by a university of credits which, having been obtained in official education at the same or another university, are counted in a different programme for the purposes of obtaining an official degree.

Likewise, in this Master’s programme, credits taken in other university studies leading to the award of other degrees referred to in Article 34.1 of Organic Law 6/2001 of 21 December on Universities may be recognised. Credits may be recognised for previously completed subjects based on the match between the competences and knowledge associated with the passed subjects and those set out in the curriculum of other university degrees—official or non-official—provided that, in the judgement of the Degree Quality Assurance Committee, they offer training equivalent to that of this Master’s programme.

Similarly, accredited professional and work experience may also be recognised as credits that count towards the award of an official degree, provided that such experience is related to the competences inherent to the degree.

The number of credits recognised on the basis of professional/work experience and non-official university education may not exceed, as a whole, 15% of the total credits of the curriculum. Recognition of these credits will not include a grade and therefore will not be taken into account for the calculation of the weighted average.

Professional experience consisting of directing at least 3 underwater archaeological excavation campaigns, each with a minimum duration of 15 days, may be recognised; or other merits that, in the judgement of the Degree Quality Assurance Committee, may be considered equivalent. These merits must be justified by submitting the authorisation issued by the competent authority and the excavation report. Under this heading, up to a maximum of 15% of the programme credits may be recognised, at the discretion of the QAC, within the contents of Module 2.

The Degree Quality Assurance Committee will be responsible for verifying the transfer and recognition of credits, taking into account the specific nature of the merits presented by applicants.

In all cases, credits corresponding to the Master’s Thesis may not be recognised.