Department of Archaeology

The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is one of the leading centres for research, theory and education in archaeology. The MPhil in Archaeological Research is a research degree for students who already have significant experience in archaeology at undergraduate level and who wish to pursue a focused research project under academic guidance.

Often a stepping stone toward PhD studies, this course allows students considerable freedom in designing an independent course of study under the direction of a supervisor. The MPhil in Archaeological Research provides training in archaeological research methods and associated transferable skills, and the opportunity to complete long essays and an extended dissertation under academic guidance. Applicants will normally have already assembled an appropriate data set and questions for their dissertation research project at the time of application. This dissertation and its topic are often considered as stepping stone for pursuing a PhD, but may also be taken as a standalone MPhil degree.

Interested students should contact potential supervisors before applying to confirm that they are interested in supervising the project study, and to discuss research ideas and feasibility.

The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is one of the leading centres for archaeological science, recognised for its cutting-edge interdisciplinary approach that combines rigorous scientific methodologies with archaeological theory. The Department is among the very few in Europe that can offer truly comprehensive training across the sciences, covering both biological and non-biological materials, and in archaeological theory. Many members of academic staff and research fellows specialise in different strands of archaeological science. The Department has state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and shares resources with other Departments and Faculties.

Archaeological science has experienced phenomenal growth in the last decades. Many of the most prominent archaeological research projects globally include input from the sciences, and there is a great need for researchers with interdisciplinary training, capable of engaging critically with archaeological questions while upholding the best standards of scientific practice.

The MPhil in Archaeological Science introduces students to the main theories and research approaches in archaeological science, particularly in the fields of archaeological materials science, environmental archaeology and biomolecular archaeology.

The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is one of the leading centres for research, theory and education in archaeology. Our MPhil in Archaeology is a broad course that combines lectures, seminars and research for a dissertation. This course incorporates teaching that gives students a critical appreciation of archaeology, the human past, and its place in the modern world, as well as training in research methods and skills, theory and analytical skills. It also enables a level of specialisation in a chosen specialist area. The MPhil in Archaeology provides training in archaeological research methods and associated transferable skills, and the opportunity to complete coursework and a research dissertation under academic guidance. This course may be taken as a standalone MPhil degree, or it can be used as a springboard for going on to pursue a PhD.

Not all module options are available every year. Potential applicants are invited to check the website of the Department of Archaeology which has up-to-date course listings.

The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is one of the leading centres for research, theory and education in archaeology. It offers an outstanding environment for research and supervision leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Archaeology. Doctoral students may work on a wide range of archaeological topics ranging in time from the Palaeolithic to the modern day, and anywhere in the world. We also specialise in archaeological theory, heritage studies, Assyriology, Egyptology and archaeological science.

Interested students should contact potential supervisors before applying to confirm that they are available to supervise the project, and to discuss research ideas and feasibility.

The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is one of the leading centres for the study of Mesopotamia. This taught MPhil recruits students who are prepared for postgraduate work and wish to undertake research in the field of ancient Mesopotamia, making use of the wealth of information derived from the cuneiform textual sources.

Students choose from a range of modules covering the Akkadian and Sumerian languages, and the cultures, history, and archaeology of Mesopotamia. The combination of Akkadian and Sumerian is at the discretion of the MPhil course coordinator. Students develop a research project for a dissertation on a topic agreed with a dissertation supervisor; the supervisor provides support and guidance throughout the process of developing and writing up the research project.

Not all module options are available every year. Potential applicants are invited to check the website of the Department of Archaeology which has up-to-date course listings.

The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is one of the leading centres for the study of Biological Anthropology, straddling both Anthropology and the biological sciences more broadly. The MPhil in Biological Anthropological Science provides students with the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a research project - designing, implementing and writing a substantial piece of research. This world-class Master's degree by research, in which the sole requirement is a thesis, is suitable for those who have a strong background in Biological Anthropology and closely related fields, possibly including research experience.

The topic of the thesis is decided between the student and the supervisor, and guidance is provided on elements of methodology and analysis, as well as with the written presentation. The output of the research project is usually either a substantial thesis or 2 scientific articles in publishable format.

Interested students should contact potential supervisors before applying to confirm that they are available to supervise the project, and to discuss research ideas and feasibility.

The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is one of the leading centres for the study of Biological Anthropology, straddling both Anthropology and the biological sciences more broadly. It offers an outstanding environment for research and supervision leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biological Anthropology. Doctoral students may work within the many subdisciplines of Biological Anthropology including palaeoanthropology and hominin evolution, human behavioural and cognitive evolution, comparative human biology and health, primatology, evolutionary medicine, evolutionary genetics and bioinformatics, osteology, prehistoric archaeology, and cultural evolution.

Interested students should contact potential supervisors before applying to confirm that they are available to supervise the project, and to discuss research ideas and feasibility.

The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is a leading centre for the study of the uses of the past in the present and the different ways heritage is used in today’s social and political contexts, with a dedicated Centre for Heritage Studies. To support their teaching programme in heritage academic staff also draw on the resources of several other Departments and Faculties in the University of Cambridge and reflect and promote the interdisciplinarity which is characteristic of the field.

The MPhil in Heritage Studies provides a world-class Master’s-level education in the interdisciplinary field of Heritage Studies. The MPhil programme emphasises critical thinking about heritage and approaches that seek to analyse and understand the many ways heritage is involved in key contemporary challenges facing society. Students will attain a critical appreciation of the development of heritage as a public enterprise, its theory, its values and its uses.

The programme is built around two distinctive themes: the use of the past in the present and the different ways heritage is used in today’s social and political contexts. The MPhil in Heritage Studies combines interactive teaching, seminars and research-based learning. A central part of the training is the Heritage Seminar every Thursday lunchtime during term time. In addition to dedicated modules on heritage, students may choose a module from the MPhil in Archaeology. This allows them to specialise in heritage issues affecting particular areas of the world or types of heritage.

The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is one of the leading centres for the study of Evolutionary Anthropology, straddling both Anthropology and the biological sciences more broadly. The MPhil in Human Evolutionary Studies provides a world-class Master’s-level education in the interdisciplinary field of human evolutionary studies, covering a range of subdisciplines including palaeoanthropology and hominin evolution, human and primate behaviour, comparative human biology, and evolutionary genetics. Students are exposed to the theories and controversies of studying humans from an evolutionary perspective; challenged to think critically about how our evolutionary past shapes our present; taught skills in data science that transform their engagement with research; trained on how to communicate scientific ideas effectively; and supervised in designing and implementing a research project that leads to an original scientific article or substantial dissertation.

The course is divided into taught and research components, and offers a unique opportunity to acquire a broad knowledge base in evolutionary anthropology, while carrying out an in-depth research project on a particular topic. The formal teaching involves lectures, seminars, and practicals on a wide range of topics and research skills. MPhil students also participate in research poster and presentation days, attend the BioAnth weekly seminars and other relevant seminars, workshops and activities.