Archaeology (MPhil)

The MPhil in Archaeology provides an opportunity for students to build on their knowledge from undergraduate studies, while also offering an excellent foundation for those wishing to continue towards research at doctoral level.

The MPhil in Archaeology adds a student-led research project onto the MSt year. It is ideal if you are thinking of carrying on to doctoral research and wish to acquire higher levels of research skills and/or complete a medium-sized individual research project before embarking on doctoral study. Flexibility is built into the degree to allow you to create your own unique courses that reflect your chosen area of study.

In your first year, you take one of a range of core papers plus an option paper, with a third subject to be taken from either set of options in a combination specific to your interests during the academic year. Most students choose to follow one of a number of streams, although this is not a formal requirement, including the archaeology of Asia, and environmental, European, maritime or Palaeolithic archaeology.

If you are are seeking a broader course then you may, if you wish, select one subject from among those offered in a number of cognate disciplines. In the second year, you take a fourth taught subject from within archaeology and work on your thesis.

You will have a supervisor in your main area of interest, who will usually supervise your dissertation and may provide some other teaching, and will advise on option choices and monitor overall progress. Each member of the academic staff in archaeology offers at least one different subject in his or her areas of specialism over the year, but not all courses listed will be available every year.

Teaching is mainly through small-group tutorials or classes of one to five students, for which you will prepare short essays on a weekly basis. Tutorials are supplemented by a wide range of lecture courses and graduate seminars.

The options are examined by pre-set essays, while the core paper is assessed by a written three-hour examination at the end of the final term of the first year. In their second year students take one additional option, examined by pre-set essays, along with their thesis. The thesis subject is decided by the end of the first year, with any fieldwork taking place in the long vacation. Research and writing occupy most of the second year. There may be a viva voce examination for the whole course.

1. Academic ability

Proven and potential academic excellence

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in a relevant subject.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.7 or above, a first-class degree or the equivalent.

Professional experience in archaeology may be taken into account.

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

2. English language requirement

Higher level

3. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

• Three references (letters of recommendation)
• Official transcript(s) of previous university-level degrees
• CV/résumé
• Personal statement: 300 words
• Written work: Two essays of 2,500 words each

• Clarendon Scholarships. This unique scheme offers around 140 new, fully-funded scholarships each year to academically outstanding graduate students, as well as providing a lively and stimulating community of scholars.
• Hill Foundation Scholarships. The Hill Foundation Scholarships fund Russian students to study for full-time graduate courses in any subject at Oxford. The Hill Foundation is a charity which aims to create a community of Oxford scholars and alumni who will work to improve Russian life and culture.The scholarship will cover 100% of University and college fees and a grant for living costs (of at least £14,296). Awards are made for the full duration of your fee liability for the agreed course.