Master of Science by Coursework in Archaeology

Differences from 2020/21 to 2024/25

  • 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 full-time.

          

  • 3. Candidates will completehave chosen 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 Wednesday of week 0 of Hilary Term. The portfolio will be marked pass/fail only.

    4. Candidates will select their chosensubject stream as part of their application. Candidates wishing to change this 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

  • 4. Candidates will presentsubmit themselvesthree take-home essays (each no more than 2,000 words) for a three-hour written examination on a coursemodule from List A fromof their chosen subject stream as outlined in clause 3, as set out in the Course Handbook, atby thenoon beginningon Tuesday of Week 0 of Hilary term.

     

  • 5. Candidates will complete the core module in Archaeological Principles: Data and Theory and will submit a portfolio of work as set out in the Course Handbook, by noon on Tuesday of week 1 of Hilary Term. 
  • 6. Candidates will submit two pre-set 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 on either: 
    • (i) a module offered and available from List B in any subject stream of the secondMSc byin TuesdayArchaeology, or 
    • (ii) a module offered and available from Schedule C of weekthe 2MSt ofin TrinityClassical termArchaeology, or  
    • (iii) a module offered and available for the MSc in Archaeological Science (unless that module is also to be offered under clause 7).

       

  • 7. Candidates will submit two pre-set essays (each of no more than 5,000 words) foron a second coursemodule from oneList B of thetheir followingchosen (takingsubject intostream account any requirements for combinations of coursesas 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-set 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 7 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 relatedsubmitted toby noon on the streamlast 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 titleTuesday of theAugust. 
  • 9. dissertationAll assessments must be submitted using the University approved online submission system. Technical information on the requirements for approvalonline bysubmissions theis Chair of Examiners by 12 noon on Friday of week 6 of Hilary term. The dissertation must be submitted by the last Wednesday of Augustprovided in the yearCourse in which the examination is takenHandbook.

          

    • 9. Candidates must upload their Archaeological Principles’ portfolio, four pre-set essays, and dissertation to the Assignments section of the course WebLearn site by the specified deadlines. Each individual piece of written work must be accompanied by a statement that it is the candidate’s own work except where otherwise indicated.

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