Explore this course:

    Book your place at our online open day on Wednesday 26 April to find out more about postgraduate taught study at the University of Sheffield

    MA PG Certificate PG Diploma
    2023 start September 

    Archaeology

    Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts and Humanities

    Create a bespoke degree that reflects your unique interests and ambitions through one of our two pathways: Cross-discipline or Classical Mediterranean.
    A group of archaeology students at a large excavation site.

    Course description

    The cross-discipline pathway provides a route into advanced study of archaeology for students with generalist interests. You’ll create a bespoke course within a clear structure that allows you to engage your specific interests in period, region or approach while building on a strong foundation of understanding archaeology as a discipline. You’ll choose between completing a research dissertation or developing employability through a work placement.

    The Classical Mediterranean pathway reflects one of our departmental core strengths, the archaeology of the Classical and Mediterranean world. You’ll study the Classical Mediterranean from a range of archaeological perspectives – socio-cultural, landscape, materials, bioarchaeological – within a directed structure of core modules and a research dissertation. The additional options of existing Ancient History modules and Latin will allow you to further customise your degree.

    This course is excellent preparation for a PhD. You’ll also develop the professional and transferable skills you need to progress to a career in this field.

    MA students

    You'll also go on a work placement and complete a report as part of your placement experience or choose your own research project and complete a dissertation.

    Modules

    A selection of modules are available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder.

    Core modules:

    Reinventing Archaeology

    This course will seek to understand how the structure of the modern practice of archaeology has come about and how changes in working methods and theoretical perspective may reconfigure the discipline. Reference will be made to the debates in method and theory and the relationships among certain specialisms. Students will develop, and to be able to express, their understanding of the discipline and the current and future position of their own ambitions.

    15 credits
    Research Design: Planning, Execution and Presentation

    This module provides students with the advanced understanding they need to design an effective research project that addresses a question relevant to current debate in archaeology, and in particular to plan a successful MA/MSc dissertation. It comprises six group seminar sessions and three seminars in which students from different courses are streamed to be taught and guided on subject-specific material by experts in the field. The module culminates in a research day during which students present their dissertation plans to their peers and staff assessors. Assessment is in two parts: a succinct Powerpoint presentation of the dissertation proposal and outline and a written dissertation outline and proposal.

    Students wishing to undertake a work placement will also find this module useful for planning their placement aims and objectives.

    

    15 credits
    Work Placement

    The placement scheme is designed to allow students to work alongside practitioners 'in the field', and to get consolidated hands on experience in a subject/technique of particular interest to them. Placements can be in any sphere of professional practice in archaeology or management of the historic environment. Students will be expected to spend a minimum of eight weeks on the placement. The assessment will have two elements: a short account of the placement, and a written project report resulting from an aspect of the work undertaken.

    60 credits
    Dissertation

    This module requires students to plan, execute and write up an original research project. This dissertation project is chosen with, and approved by, the designated supervisor, who may or may not be the programme director. Dissertation topics must be based on original research and on the students' own ideas: they must be worthwhile, affordable, manageable within time limits, be capable of supervision within the Department and related to the subject matter on the appropriate Masters.

    60 credits

    The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption. We are no longer offering unrestricted module choice. If your course included unrestricted modules, your department will provide a list of modules from their own and other subject areas that you can choose from.

    Open days

    An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses. You'll find out what makes us special.

    Online postgraduate open day - Wednesday 26 April 2023

    Duration

    • MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
    • Postgraduate Diploma: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
    • Postgraduate Certificate: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

    Teaching

    You'll be taught through a mix of lectures, tutorials, seminars and field trips.

    Assessment

    Your assessments will include essays, portfolio work, practical work, exams, a dissertation or a placement report.

    Department

    A masters degree is the perfect way to extend your love of archaeological studies and take it to the next level.

    The Department of Archaeology at the University of Sheffield is ranked top 50 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023), 8th in the UK for Archaeology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).

    You'll be taught by experts in their field who are at the forefront of their research. Our research-led teaching draws directly on the work of our inspirational academics who are experts in the specialist fields of bioarchaeology, medieval archaeology, cultural materials, funerary archaeology, Mediterranean archaeology and landscape archaeology.

    We take an interdisciplinary approach to teaching, bringing science, the humanities and other related areas to your studies. Our multidisciplinary teaching helps you develop a strong set of skills. Our graduates are articulate, analytical and creative. They are also adaptable, curious and culturally aware. We have alumni working all over the world in a diverse range of fields, including archiving, archaeology, teaching, museums, charities, publishing, and national and local government.

    Our staff and students play an important role in the life of the city through projects and partnerships with heritage groups, commercial archaeologists and heritage providers. You'll share your understanding with others, and by doing this you'll help local communities make sense of their origins, and get a sense of their place in the wider world.

    Student profiles

    Archaeology student

    MA Archaeology is an excellent course as it allows the flexibility to diversify which modules I can study in order to pursue multiple interests.  Learning comes in the form of lectures, seminars, field trips, workshops and independent study. All of these methods contribute to a dynamic range of teaching and understanding and provide the basis for meaningful research by students. Furthermore, the passion of both students and staff for archaeology is incredible – the warm, friendly and dedicated atmosphere of the department was a significant factor in why I decided to choose Sheffield.

    James Danter
    MA Archaeology

    Entry requirements

    Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in an arts, humanities or science subject.

    Your interest in and understanding of archaeology is more important than what you studied at undergraduate level: we may consider degrees in other subjects if you display an interest in archaeology in your application.

    We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

    Entry requirements for international students

    Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.

    Pathway programme for international students

    If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in Science and Engineering or Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

    If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.

    Apply

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

    Apply now

    Contact

    archaeology-masters@sheffield.ac.uk
    +44 114 222 2900

    Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

    Our student protection plan

    Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.

    AAPT209 Off On