Archaeology MPhil, PhD

Newcastle University

Through our Archaeology MPhil/PhD you will conduct original and advanced research into a specialist area of archaeology. This is a perfect programme to advance your academic career in archaeology; you will also develop employability skills including project management, report writing, problem-solving, independent working, and research.

Our Archaeology MPhil and PhD programmes are research degrees, conducted as supervised independent study, assessed through a single written document that is supported with a viva voce examination.

Both degrees involve the production of new knowledge through original research and advanced scholarship, exploring a field of academic study in detail. This involves detailed understanding of the methods, techniques and approaches needed to produce such knowledge, and the wider context of the subject of study.

Our PhD students produce a thesis which includes material worthy of academic publication. A PhD qualification is usually necessary for an academic career involving post-doctoral research and/or lecturing.

These programmes are based in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology and cover a wide range of specialisms.

Research supervision is available in the following periods and regions:

Later Prehistory

Mesolithic/Neolithic transition in north-west Europe
Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of Britain and north-west Europe
Copper and Bronze Age in Italy and the Mediterranean
Iron Age/Roman transition

Classical Archaeology

Roman Britain
Roman Europe and Mediterranean
Roman urbanism
Greek and Byzantine archaeology
The Roman/medieval transition

Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeology

Early medieval Britain and Europe
Byzantine archaeology
Medieval and post-medieval landscapes
Church archaeology, historic buildings
Post-medieval archaeology, colonialism, slavery
Historical North America
Foodways and human-animal relationships

Thematic research is also strong at Newcastle and research supervision is available in the following areas of enquiry:

Bodies and Identity

Personhood and identity
The archaeology of the body and mortuary archaeology
Art and identity
Food and identity

Landscapes

Landscape archaeology
Ritual landscapes
Historic landscape characterisation

Material Culture

Ancient technology and economy
Ancient metallurgy
Artefact analysis and material culture studies.