PhD in Archaeology

The Department of Archaeology offers an outstanding environment for research and supervision leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Archaeology on a wide range of archaeological topics ranging in time from the Palaeolithic to the modern day, and in space from the Americas to the UK and Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, Africa and Australia. We also specialise in archaeological theory, museum and heritage studies, Assyriology, Egyptology and archaeological science.

PhD students are required to submit a dissertation of up to 80,000 words. This work will represent a significant and novel contribution to the fields of Archaeology, Assyriology, Egyptology or Heritage Studies. The Department of Archaeology provides research training for PhD students through regular research skills seminars. All PhD students are assigned a supervisor and an advisor and may have additional co-supervisors and/or advisors who make up their ‘supervisory team’. You will have frequent meetings with your supervisor and other team members, either together or individually.  PhD students receive a progress review at the end of their second and fourth terms. These assessments take the form of a progress report and interview with their supervisor and other teaching staff at the end of the second term and a 10,000-word pilot study and research outline at the end of the fourth term.

Continuing

MPhil students at Cambridge wishing to continue to the PhD in Archaeology are required to achieve a mark of at least 68 overall in Archaeology or a related subject with no less than 68 in their dissertation. It is necessary to obtain the support of an appropriate supervisor and to name them in the application. In some circumstances additional academic conditions may be set to ensure appropriate skills, such as language competence, are in place prior to admittance on the PhD programme.