Master of Science by Coursework in Archaeology

Differences from 2021/22 to 2022/23

1. The Courseprogramme 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. Four modules will be followed and the programme will be examined by a portfolio of work, three take-home essays, four extended essays and a dissertation.

3. Candidates will complete a core 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. Further information can be found in the virtual learning environment. The portfolio will be submitted by noon on Tuesday of week 1 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 presentsubmit themselvesthree take-home essays (each no more than 2,000 words) for a three-hour written examination on acore course from List A fromin their chosen stream as outlined in clause 4, as set out in the Course Handbook. atThe theessays beginningwill be submitted by noon on Tuesday of Week 0 of Hilary term.

6. Candidates will submit two extended essays (each of no more than 5,000 words) for a core course from List B in the same stream as the writtentake-home examinationessays in clause 5, as set out in the Course Handbook. OneThe essaytwo essays will be submitted by noon on Tuesday of week 0 of Trinity term and the second by Tuesday of week 4 of Trinity term.

7. Candidates will submit two extended essays (each of no more than 5,000 words) for a second option 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. OneThe essaytwo essays will be submitted by noon on Tuesday of week 0 of Trinity term and the second by Tuesday of week 4 of Trinity term. 

8. Candidates will propose the extended essay topics under clauses 6 and 7 in consultation with the relevant course tutor and their supervisor (if they are different). The four proposed essay titles must be submitted for approval by the Chair of Examiners by noon on FridayTuesday of week 8 of Hilary term.

89. 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 FridayTuesday of week 68 of Hilary term. The dissertation must be submitted by the last Wednesday of August in the year in which the examination is taken.

910. Candidates must upload their Archaeological Principles’ portfolio, four extended essays, and dissertation to the University approved online assessment platform by the specified deadlines. Technical information on the requirements for online submissions is provided in the Course Handbook.

1011. Candidates must present themselves for an oral examination if required by the examiners.

1112. 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 take-home essays, extended essays, or the dissertation will be permitted to re-sit the examination, or resubmit the take-home essay(s), and/or extended essay(s) and/or dissertation, on one further occasion only, not later than one year after the first attempt.