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MA Antiquity: Archaeology pathway

Start date
September
Duration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

Annual tuition fee for 2024 entry:
UK: £10,530 full-time
International: £24,120 full-time
More detail.

Uncover your passion for archaeology and discover more about the physical remains of the ancient world with our Antiquity MA: Archaeology pathway.

This is the degree for you if you enjoyed studying the ancient world as an undergraduate and would now like to study its archaeology in greater depth and at a higher level, or if you want to develop and expand your existing expertise in archaeology.

Working with experts currently engaged in excavations from all regions and periods of antiquity, you will receive training in the theory and practice of archaeology and in the application of scientific and environmental methods.

You will also have the opportunity to work with our own collection of Greek and Roman artefacts housed in the Archaeology Museum. The Archaeology pathway provides an excellent foundation for further archaeological research in any period of antiquity such as: Minoan and Mycenaean palace societies, archaic and classical Greece, the Hellenistic age, Republican and Imperial Rome, Late Antiquity or Byzantium.

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

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

I have enjoyed most the social aspects of the course which have included discussions with fellow students of all ages, field trips and guest lectures. Birmingham is an impressive modern University with excellent facilities that support academic achievement, whilst taking student welfare and support seriously.

Richard

Why study this course?

  • Established expertise - the University of Birmingham has a distinguished tradition of Classical scholarship going back more than a hundred years.
  • Flexibility - with such a range of expertise available, you will be supported to explore your specific interests, particularly through the dissertation.
  • Exceptional learning resources - you will have access to a range of learning resources including environmental and material culture teaching collections, the Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology Museum, and the Danford Collection of African art and artefacts.
  • Research strengths -The Classics department is ranked 8th in the country in the Research Excellence Framework exercise 2021 based on research rated 4*, according to Times Higher Education.
  • Be a part of an exciting department - you will join a lively postgraduate community with many opportunities to enhance your learning from events, research seminars and conferences.

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

This programme allows you to specialise, but also encourages you to branch out into related disciplines and to consider interdisciplinary approaches. 

You will study one core module and five optional modules (2 of which should relate to Archaeology), followed by a dissertation.

Core Module

Research and Scholarship in Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology

This module ensures that students across the range of sub-disciplines in Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology acquire the necessary generic and specific skills needed for further research. These will include advanced bibliographic skills, familiarity with theoretical and critical approaches and schools of thought, technical skills such as techniques of epigraphy or numismatics where appropriate. Delivery will take place in seminar formats, with sub-disciplines offering different break-out sessions as needed.

Assessment: Two written assignments and a 10-minute presentation

Optional Modules

You will also choose five optional modules, at least two of which should relate to Archaeology. Modules currently available which would be classified as Archaeology typically include:

  • Archaeological Theory, Method and Interpretation
  • Archaeological World Heritage
  • Byzantine Archaeology and Material Culture
  • Funerary Archaeology
  • Geographical Information Science and Spatial Analysis
  • Towns, tombs, and temples: the archaeology of ancient Egypt

Additional options may also be available in Classics and Ancient History, such as Numismatics for Research and in Museums. For more information, see our MA Antiquity postgraduate modules.

You may also choose an optional module from outside of the department. Students wishing to take modules from outside the department should first gain the approval of the programme convenor. 

Modules are typically assessed by written assignment, although the Research and Scholarship module also requires a presentation. 

Dissertation

In addition to your taught modules, you will conduct a piece of independent research with the support of a supervisor, culminating in a 12,000-word dissertation.


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: £10,530 full-time; £5,265 part-time
  • International: £24,120 full-time

The above fees quoted are for one year only; for those studying over two or more years, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

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.


Are you an international applicant?

All international applicants to this course will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £2,000 on receipt of an offer, to secure their place.

Find out more about the deposit >>.

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


How to Apply for a Postgraduate Degree - Taught programmes

Application deadlines

The deadline for International students (requiring a VISA) to apply is 7 May 2024. The deadline for UK students is 30 August 2024.

Making your application

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

We normally require a 2:1 degree, or equivalent, in a discipline relevant to the selected pathway, such as Classics, Archaeology or History.

International/EU students

Academic requirements: 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, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 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


You will be taught, supervised and supported by staff in the department who have a wide range of expertise in the history, culture, archaeology and languages of the ancient world.

Course delivery

The course is delivered through a range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures and seminars. You will also receive one-to-one supervision to support you in the development of your dissertation. 

Depending on the modules you take, you can typically expect six to nine hours of classroom time per week, two or three per module. Each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.

Teaching year

We have three teaching terms per year, the autumn, spring and summer terms. Term dates can be found on our website.

As a full-time student, you will typically take three modules in each of the first two terms, followed by your dissertation. If you are a part-time student, you will typically take three modules across each year, followed by your dissertation.

Each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.

Support with academic writing

As a postgraduate student in the College of Arts and Law, you have access to the Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) which aims to help your transition from undergraduate to taught Masters level, or back into academia after time away. The service offers guidance on writing assignments and dissertations for your MA/MSc programme with individual support from an academic writing advisor via tutorials, email and the provision of online materials.

International students can access support for English Language development and skills through the Birmingham International Academy (BIA).

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.

Over the past five years, 91% of MA Antiquity postgraduates were in work and/or further study six months after graduation.