Studying Archaeology at Postgraduate Level: Kinds of Courses

What are the different kinds of postgraduate course?

Most taught courses last for one year and lead to an MA or MSc qualification. In Scotland, the qualification is usually an MPhil or MLitt instead of the MA. At Cambridge or Oxford it will be an MPhil or MSt. A very few courses include work experience and last for two years. Research degrees will be either a one year’s Masters degree, usually an MPhil in England, or a three-year PhD or other Doctoral degree.

Some MA or MSc courses are very general and cover a wide range of archaeology. These are designed as “conversion” courses for people with degrees in other subject who wish to convert to archaeology, and can usually be recognised by their title as simply MA or MSc Archaeology. You should ask the department you are interested in whether your undergraduate degree is in a suitable subject.

A Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) is almost a Masters, but excludes the research dissertation. A Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) is half a Diploma. These may be awarded if the full year is not completed for whatever reason.