Master of Science by Coursework in Archaeology

1. The Course shall be under the supervision of the Graduate Studies Committee of the School of Archaeology.

2. Each candidate will be required to follow a course of instruction in Archaeology for three terms.

3. Candidates will complete a course in Archaeological Principles: Data and Theory and will submit a portfolio consisting of the work candidates carry out for and during their classes, including a research proposal of no more than 300 words based on their initial ideas for their dissertation. The portfolio will be submitted by noon on WednesdayTuesday of week 01 of Hilary Term. The portfolio will be marked pass/fail only.

4. Candidates will select their chosen stream as part of their application. Candidates wishing to change stream will be required to apply to the Graduate Studies Committee by no later than Friday of week 2 of Michaelmas term. Changes beyond this date will not normally be permitted. Not all streams will be offered every year, and changes to stream are subject to availability.

5. Candidates will present themselves for a three-hour written examination on a course from List A from their chosen stream as set out in the Course Handbook at the beginning of Hilary term.

6. Candidates will submit two pre-setextended essays (each of no more than 5,000 words) for a course from List B in the same stream as the written examination in clause 5, as set out in the Course Handbook. One essay will be submitted by noon on Tuesday of week 0 of Trinity term and the second by Tuesday of week 24 of Trinity term.

7. Candidates will submit two pre-setextended essays (each of no more than 5,000 words) for a second course from one of the following (taking into account any requirements for combinations of courses set out in the Course Handbook): i) a course offered and available from List B in any stream, or ii) an option offered and available from Schedule B in the MSt in Classical Archaeology taught in Hilary Term, or iii) a subject offered and available in the MSc in Archaeological Science, unless the module under clause 6 is a subject offered in the MSc in Archaeological Science. One essay will be submitted by noon on Tuesday of week 0 of Trinity term and the second by Tuesday of week 24 of Trinity term. 

Candidates will propose the pre-setextended essay topics under clauses 6 and 7 in consultation with the relevant course tutor and their supervisor (if they are different). The four essay titles must be submitted for approval by the Chair of Examiners by noon on Friday of week 78 of Hilary term.

8. Candidates will complete a dissertation of no more than 15,000 words (excluding bibliography and appendices, but including notes) on a topic agreed with their supervisor. The topic of the dissertation must be related to the stream candidates are following but clearly distinct from the topics covered by pre-set essays submitted by the candidate under clauses 6 and 7. The proposed title of the dissertation must be submitted for approval by the Chair of Examiners by 12 noon on Friday of week 6 of Hilary term. The dissertation must be submitted by the last Wednesday of August in the year in which the examination is taken.

9. Candidates must upload their Archaeological Principles’ portfolio, four pre-setextended essays, and dissertation to the AssignmentsUniversity sectionapproved ofonline theassessment course WebLearn siteplatform by the specified deadlines. EachTechnical individualinformation pieceon ofthe writtenrequirements workfor mustonline be accompanied by a statement that itsubmissions is provided in the candidate’sCourse own work except where otherwise indicatedHandbook.

10. Candidates must present themselves for an oral examination if required by the examiners.

11. In the case of failure of the Archaeological Principles’ portfolio, candidates will have the opportunity to resubmit a revised portfolio within three weeks of publication of the fail, on a date to be specified by the Chair of Examiners. Candidates who fail the written examination, any of the pre-setextended essays, or the dissertation will be permitted to re-sit the examination, or resubmit the pre-setextended essay(s) and/or dissertation, on one further occasion only, not later than one year after the first attempt.