Research Degrees in Archaeology

1. General regulationsGovernance

TheseThe regulations shall apply to all students registered for the D.Phil.DPhil in Archaeology, the D.Phil.DPhil in Archaeological Science, and the D.Phil.DPhil in Classical Archaeology shall be under the supervision of the Graduate Studies Committee of the School of Archaeology.

2. TransferAttendance from Probationer Research Student status to D.Phil. status

This transfer shall normally take place not later than the fourth term after admission as a research student. The student will be required to show that the research already accomplished shows promise of the ability to produce a satisfactory D.Phil. thesis on the intended topic. For this purpose, the candidate must make an oral presentation of their work, and submit to the Archaeology Graduate Studies Committee two copies in typescript of a substantial piece of written work (of between 10,000 and 12,000 words) relevant to the proposed thesis, together with a research proposal. These should normally be submitted to the Graduate Studies Assistant at the School of Archaeology, by the Monday of the fifth week in the term in which the application is made. On receiving the application the Archaeology Graduate Studies Committee shall appoint two assessors, of whom neither shall normally be the student's supervisor. The assessors shall read the scripts and interview the candidate before submitting to the committee a reasoned written report supporting their recommendation. A student whose first application is unsuccessful may be given one further opportunity to apply for transfer, following the procedures laid down, and may apply for an extension of time for one term if necessary for the purpose of making the application.

3. Confirmation of D.Phil. statusrequirements

The statusDPhil of student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophyprogrammes shall be confirmedoffered byon a full-time basis. Full-time students are required to meet the committeeresidence underrequirements set out in §6 of the provisions ofGeneral Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

3. Transfer to DPhil, §MLitt 4,or cl.MSc 1.by Research status

Candidates shouldwill normally applybe forexpected confirmationto achieve Transfer of statusStatus by week five ofin their seventhfourth term after admission. asApplications should be submitted to the Archaeology Graduate Studies Committee by no later than 12 noon on Monday of Week 2 of their fourth term and will comprise the following:

• (a) a completed Transfer of Status application form;

In addition, two typewritten copies of:

• (b) a substantial piece of written work of between 10,000 and 12,000 words relevant to the proposed thesis;

• (c) a precise thesis title and research studentproposal;

• (d) an outline of the proposed chapter structure.

To Candidatessuccessfully achieve Transfer of Status, students must also make ana satisfactorily oral presentation of their work.

The Graduate Studies Committee will appoint two assessors who will read the work, interview the student and submit a recommendation to the Committee in a written report. The Committee will decide whether to approve Transfer of Status.

A student whose first application for Transfer of Status is not approved (including where the outcome is a recommendation to transfer to the MLitt or the MSc by Research) is permitted to make one further application and will be granted an extension of one term to Probationer Research Student status if necessary. If after a second attempt, the Graduate Studies Committee can neither approve transfer to the DPhil or to the MLitt or the MSc by Research, the student will be removed from the Register of Graduate Students.

4. Confirmation of DPhil status

Students who were initially admitted to the status of a Probationer Research Student must normally achieve Confirmation of Status by the end of their seventh term.

Applications should be submitted to the Archaeology Graduate Studies Committee by no later than 12 noon on Monday of Week 2 of their seventh term and will comprise the following:

• (a) a completed Confirmation of Status application form;

In addition, two typewritten copies of:

• (b) a research outline, of approximately 1,000 words, and a timetable for completion of the thesis;

• (c) a table of contents indicating how much work has been done onof each section of the thesis has been completed to date, and;

• (d) a draft chapter or chapters of the thesis of no more than 10,000 words.

To successfully achieve Confirmation of Status, students must also make a satisfactorily oral presentation of their work.

The committeeGraduate Studies Committee will appoint two assessors who will considerread the applicationswork, interview the student and submit a recommendation to the Committee in a written report. The Committee will normallydecide interviewwhether candidatesto approve Confirmation of Status. 

A student whose first application for Confirmation of Status is unsuccessfulnot mayapproved beis givenpermitted to make one further opportunity to apply, following the procedures laid downapplication, normally within one term of the original application, and maywill apply forgranted an extension of time for one term if thisnecessary. isIf necessary forafter the purposesecond ofattempt makingthe Committee can neither approve the application nor approve transfer to the MLitt or the MSc by Research, the student will be removed from the Register of Graduate Students.

45. Length of D.Phil. thesesTheses

ThesesThe submittedthesis for the Degrees of D.Phil. in Archaeology, Archaeological Science and Classical Archaeology shouldmust not normally exceed 80,000 words for the DPhil, excluding50,000 bibliographywords for the MLitt, or 40,000 words for the MSc by Research, the limit to include abstract, all notes and descriptiveappendices, cataloguebut not the bibliography. Any thesis exceeding this limit is liable to be rejected.

Article-based thesis route for the DPhil in Archaeological Science and the DPhil in Archaeology only

A thesis for the DPhil in Archaeological Science or similarthe factualDPhil matterin Archaeology may be accepted for examination if it consists of a minimum of three papers of publishable quality, framed by an introduction, a literature survey, and a conclusion. Such a body of work shall be deemed acceptable provided it represents a coherent and focused body of work.

Candidates intending to submit an articles-based thesis should indicate this when applying for Transfer of Status. Candidates should normally submit a formal case, supported by their supervisor, to the Graduate Studies Committee between applying for Transfer and Confirmation of Status. If a candidate subsequently wishes to revert to a standard thesis format, they should apply with support of their supervisor, to the Graduate Studies Committee.

The thesis may include co-authored papers where the greater part of the work should be directly attributable to the candidate, and their supervisor and co-author(s) so certify. Statements outlining the student’s contribution to each paper should be submitted with the applications for Transfer and Confirmation of Status.

The standard word limit regulations apply for the article-based thesis route.

Further guidance can be found in the DPhil student handbook.