The University of Sheffield
Prospective Postgraduates

MSc Archaeological Materials

Margaret James, postgraduate student of the Department of Archeology

Key facts

  • Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
  • 1 year full-time

Fees and funding

You may be eligible to apply for AHRC and University of Sheffield studentships. If you're considering applying for funding, we recommend you contact us as soon as possible.

Financial information for postgraduate taught courses

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 honours degree in a humanities, science or engineering subject. Some practical experience of archaeology or a science is an advantage.

English language requirements: overall IELTS grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

Entry requirements for international students

Any questions?

If you'd like to know more about any aspect of our courses, contact us:

E: archaeology@sheffield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)114 222 2900

Apply now

About the course

This course will train you in the principles and application of analytical techniques. You'll learn how to use ethnography and experiment to provide insights into the relationship between technological process, material culture and human action.

Core modules

  • Analysis of Inorganic Materials
  • Archaeology and Ethnography of Production and Consumption
  • Introduction to Material Culture Studies
  • Reconstructing Ancient Technologies: ceramics
  • Reconstructing Ancient Technologies: metals
  • Reconstructing Ancient Technologies: vitreous materials
  • Dissertation in Archaeological Materials

Optional modules

Choose one from a range of modules available across the Department of Arts and Humanities

Teaching

  • Seminars
  • Lectures
  • Practical classes
  • Projects

Assessment

  • Coursework assignments
  • Dissertation

Your future

This course is excellent preparation for a PhD and a research career.

Sheffield graduates hold archaeological posts in Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia. They use their expertise in universities, museums, archaeological consultancies, heritage parks and government. Jobs include Historic Buildings Projects Officer, Commercial Field Archaeologist and Postdoctoral Researcher.

World-leading expertise

Our track record is excellent – we've made the UK top ten for archaeology research in every national assessment since 1992. Our teaching benefits from this strength in research. As a masters student you learn from the best.

The foundations of great teaching

Our research is organised into four areas: bioarchaeology and human evolution, landscapes and environments, material culture and technologies, and Old World archaeology.

There are several specialised research centres here: Sheffield Centre for Aegean Archaeology; Sheffield Centre for Archaeobotany and Ancient Land-Use; Sheffield Centre for Historical Archaeology; Zooarchaeology Laboratory. Their projects, conferences and seminars all add to the quality of your course.

Specialist facilities

You'll have everything you need to explore your ideas. We have a complex of laboratories, imaging and GIS resources and storage facilities.

There are labs for research and teaching in environmental archaeology, human and animal skeletal analysis, landscape and aerial archaeology, and materials sciences.

Global fieldwork

We offer the opportunity for you to get involved in our research projects in the UK, mainland Europe, Asia and Africa.

Apply now

You can apply for postgraduate study using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It is a quick and easy process.

Postgraduate Online Application Form