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MRes Egyptology

Start date
September
Duration
Full-time: 1 year
Course Type
Postgraduate, Combined research and taught
Fees

Annual tuition fee 2024 entry:
UK: £6,780 full-time; £3,390 part-time
International: £21,840 full-time
More detail.

Deepen and develop your expertise in Egyptology by completing your own independent research project within one of the top departments for Classics research within the UK, while undertaking essential training to support your project.

You can complete your research project in any aspect of Egyptology, as agreed by your supervisor. The taught component will allow you to develop your research skills and enhance your knowledge of the language, culture and religion of Ancient Egypt.

The Classics department is ranked 8th amongst Classics department in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021 based on research rated 4*, according to Times Higher Education. 

Applications to this programme are not currently being accepted. Please see How to apply for further details.

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

What is an MRes?

An MRes is a programme that will help you develop the skills for both doctoral study and a future career. You will complete a major individual research project, supervised by a specialist in the field of study, and a taught component that develops research and analytical skills. If you are interested in applying, we strongly encourage you to contact the admissions tutor or a member of staff with interests in your field to discuss your application in general and your proposed research topic in particular.

At Birmingham, Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research students also have the opportunity to learn graduate academic languages free of charge, to support your studies.

The best things about my course is the close and meticulous support I am receiving from my supervisors, as well as the sense of connection with the local research community. Life is exciting as a researcher at the University of Birmingham with lots of events, conferences and presentations by renowned scholars

Ioannis

Why study this course?

  • Opportunities for hands-on experience: Postgraduate students have the chance to study Egyptian artefacts kept in the Eton Myers Collection of ancient Egyptian art held at the University of Birmingham’s Selly Oak Learning Resource Centre.
  • Research excellence: The Classics Department is ranked 8th  in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021 based on research rated 4*, according to Times Higher Education. 
  • Research resources: We have an outstanding research collection in the University Library, with strong holdings in periodicals and other scholarly publications, including those in relevant European languages, and subscriptions to all major online databases and e-resources.
  • Excellent employability prospects: Employers that our graduates have gone on to work for include - AOC Archaeology Group; Blakesley Hall Museum; British Museum; City and Borough Councils; Egypt Exploration Society; English Heritage; Freie Universität Berlin; Komazawa University; KPMG; Mahidol University; National Trust; Pitt Rivers Museum; Sotheby’s; University of Birmingham; University of Vienna.

The postgraduate experience

The College of Arts and Law offers excellent support to its postgraduates, from libraries and research spaces, to careers support and funding opportunities. Learn more about your postgraduate experience.

Modules

The programme combines three taught modules with a 20,000-word supervised research thesis on a topic of your choice.

We recommend that you discuss your proposed research project with a potential supervisor before making your application.

Compulsory modules for full-time MRes Egyptology students

Research and Scholarship in Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology

Optional modules for full-time MRes Egyptology students

Students choose 40 credits of optional modules, which may include ancient language modules at an appropriate level, either two 20-credit options, one from each semester or two 20-credit options in Semester 2  

Examples of optional modules:

Towns, tombs, and temples: the archaeology of ancient Egypt
Byzantine Archaeology and Material Culture
Aspects of Byzantine History I
Aspects of Byzantine History II
Herodotus and Ancient Worlds
Gender in Byzantium II
Geographical Information Science and Spatial Analysis
Field Survey
Archaeology of Greece
Creating Europe: Complex Societies 1000 BC - AD 1000
The economies of the Late Roman, Byzantine and Frankish East
Archaeological Theory, Method and Interpretation
Material Culture
Funerary Archaeology
Empire and Identity

Ancient Language options:
Egyptian Language 1
Egyptian Language 2

Compulsory Modules for part-time MRes Egyptology students

Research & Scholarship in Classics, Ancient History, and Archaeology

Optional Modules for part-time MRes Egyptology students

Part-time students choose 40 credits of optional modules over the course of 2 years, 20 in year 1 and 20 in year 2. This may include ancient language modules at an appropriate level. Normally this will be Egyptian Language module(s).

Year 1

Students may choose ONE 20-credit option from either Semester

Year 2

Students may choose ONE 20-credit options from either Semester 

Examples of Optional Modules:

Byzantine Archaeology and Material Culture
Aspects of Byzantine History II
Herodotus and Ancient Worlds
Gender in Byzantium II
Geographical Information Science and Spatial Analysis
Field Survey
Archaeology of Greece
Creating Europe: Complex Societies 1000 BC - AD 1000
The economies of the Late Roman, Byzantine and Frankish East
Archaeological Theory, Method and Interpretation
Material Culture
Funerary Archaeology
Empire and Identity
Towns, tombs, and temples: the archaeology of ancient Egypt

Ancient Language options:
Egyptian Language
Egyptian Language

For more information, see our Classics and Ancient History module descriptions.


Please note that the optional module information listed on the website for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024 entry are as follows:

  • UK: £6,780 full-time; £3,390 part-time
  • International: £21,840 full-time

Fee status

Eligibility for UK or international fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students

Paying your fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.

Scholarships and studentships

Scholarships to cover fees and/or maintenance costs may be available. To discover whether you are eligible for any award across the University, and to start your funding application, please visit the University's Postgraduate Funding Database.

International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

How To Apply

Applications to this programme are not currently being accepted. For further advice, please contact calpg-comms@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

There are a range of programmes that also offer the opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies in the Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology

Application deadlines

The deadline for International students (including EU) to apply is 7 May 2024. The deadline for UK students is 30 August 2024.

Six easy steps to apply for a postgraduate research course in the College of Arts and Law

Before you make your application

Please refer to our six step process on applying for PhD, MA by Research and MRes opportunities for Arts subject areas, which includes detailed advice on research proposals and how to write them.

Making your application

Our Standard Requirements

Our requirements for postgraduate research are dependent on the type of programme you are applying for:

  • For MRes and MA by Research programmes, entry to our programmes usually requires a good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree, or an equivalent qualification if you were educated outside the UK, usually in a relevant area.
  • Applicants for a PhD will also need to hold a Masters qualification at Merit level or above (or its international equivalent), usually in a relevant area.

Any academic and professional qualifications or relevant professional experience you may have are normally taken into account, and in some cases, form an integral part of the entrance requirements.

If you are applying for distance learning research programmes, you will also be required to demonstrate that you have the time, commitment, facilities and experience to study by distance learning.

If your qualifications are non-standard or different from the entry requirements stated here, please contact the admissions tutor.

International students

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries - use our handy guide below to see what qualifications we accept from your country.

English language requirements: standard language requirements apply for this course - IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band. If you are made an offer of a place to study and you do not meet the language requirement, you have the option to enrol on our English for Academic Purposes Presessional Course - if you successfully complete the course, you will be able to fulfil the language requirement without retaking a language qualification.

IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band is equivalent to:

  • TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 21 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 59 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component

Learn more about international entry requirements

International Requirements


Egyptological research at Birmingham includes all periods of Egyptian history from the Predynastic Period to the end of the Greco-Roman Period and all phases of Egyptian language. Please contact a staff member working in your area of interest in the first instance. 

As an MRes Egyptology student, you will attend a wide range of seminars, lectures, and training classes as part of the taught components of your course. You will conduct your thesis research independently, guided by a supervisory team (usually a lead supervisor and co-supervisor) selected for their expertise and experience relevant to your research project, with supervisory meetings taking place on a regular basis. 

The course benefits from offering the chance to study Egyptian artefacts kept in the Eton Myers Collection of ancient Egyptian art held at the University of Birmingham’s Selly Oak Learning Resource Centre. You will join the wider, dynamic community of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology staff and students at the University with opportunities to attend seminar series, public lectures, social events, and potentially participate in departmental field projects.

You will also become part of, and contribute to, the lively international community of the College of Arts and Law Graduate School, which offers dedicated research resources and a supportive working environment. Our team of academic and operational staff are on hand to offer support and advice to all postgraduate students within the College.

Your degree will provide excellent preparation for your future career, but this can also be enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University and the College of Arts and Law.

The University's Careers Network provides expert guidance and activities especially for postgraduates, which will help you achieve your career goals. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated  careers and employability team who offer tailored advice and a programme of College-specific careers events.

You will be encouraged to make the most of your postgraduate experience and will have the opportunity to:

  • Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique, whether you are looking for a career inside or outside of academia
  • Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations
  • Attend an annual programme of careers fairs, skills workshops and conferences, including bespoke events for postgraduates in the College of Arts and Law
  • Take part in a range of activities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and enhance your CV

What’s more, you will be able to access our full range of careers support for up to 2 years after graduation.

Postgraduate employability: Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology

Birmingham's Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology graduates develop a broad range of transferable skills including: familiarity with research methods; the ability to manage large quantities of information from diverse sources; the ability to organise information in a logical and coherent manner; the expertise to write clearly and concisely and to tight deadlines; critical and analytical ability; the capacity for argument, debate and speculation; and the ability to base conclusions on statistical research.

Many of our postgraduates enter roles for which their programme has especially prepared them, such as museum, heritage and archaeological posts. Elsewhere, a range of professions are undertaken by our graduates, including fundraising, publishing, teaching and accountancy.