Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology

During this one-year course you will learn through a varied and challenging mixture of lectures, seminars, hands-on practical classes and mock scenarios, that will involve you in a range of realistic forensic situations.

Workshops and guest lectures will also be a key feature of the course.

In Term 1 you will take a module in osteoprofiling, taught through lectures and practical laboratory sessions and research skills in forensic archaeology and anthropology which includes lectures and seminars. For your second module of Term 2 you will choose either palaeopathology, isotope and biomolecular archaeology, or forensic genetics.

We ensure that throughout the course you will have the opportunity to work alongside research active staff and that you will be given opportunities to reflect and critique methods and practice.

These skills will be essential during Term 3, when you will be required to undertake the dissertation that will be a major piece of independent research.

Assessment

Course assessment is rigorous and carried out through essays, exams and the evaluation of a portfolio of practical work. You will also be required to design, research and write a dissertation of up to 15,000 words.

Academic staff will provide you with written and verbal feedback on an ongoing basis and when you are working alongside research staff, you will be required to analyse and critique research methods and practice – skills that will be essential when you come to the design and completion of your dissertation.

Candidates are expected to have a minimum of a 2.1 degree or equivalent. You might have a UG degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, Forensic or Crime Scene Science. However, students from a wide variety of backgrounds are admitted, including students with undergraduate degrees in Natural and Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geography, as well Classics and History.

IELTS 7.0 or above with no component below 6.5; TOEFL IBT (Internet Based Test) 102 or above (with no component below 25).

Alternative qualifications

• Other UK qualifications

• EU qualifications 

• International qualifications

International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.

English language requirements

Country specific information

Full Time Fees

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

In a Department that spans both research activity and practical archaeological skills, you are well-placed to continue your studies or fulfil your career aspirations in professional employment.

We have developed the structure and contents of courses in such a way as to support your desire to pursue a PhD or undertake further academic work in whatever form.

For a rewarding and stimulating professional career, our teaching strategy develops your skills in teamwork, practical and intellectual problem-solving and analysis of evidence, which are highly sought after by employers.

We offer courses that prepare you for a career in professional archaeology, or in the increasingly significant conservation, heritage, or museums sectors.

You will also be well-placed for roles in tourism, environmental agencies as well as local and national government, teaching and law.

Archaeology at Durham brings together cutting-edge theory and dynamic practice to produce world-class archaeological research. By combining the latest academic thinking with some of the best laboratory and fieldwork resources around, we offer the opportunity to study this fascinating subject at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Department of Archaeology is home to one of the largest postgraduate communities in Europe who benefit from world class academic teaching and leading-edge facilities to be able to pursue their passion for studying the past, interpreting the present and understanding the future.

The wide-ranging courses are research-led and delivered by staff who are recognised experts in specialisms that span world, European and British archaeology from the last ice age to the post-medieval period.

Our taught courses provide the ideal grounding for further academic research at a higher level but also offer essential preparation for entering a professional career.

They include MA Museum and Artefact Studies, MA International Cultural Heritage Management, and MA Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects, all of which have strong vocational themes. The MSc Bioarchaeology and MA Archaeology offer ideal preparation for research careers and specialisation and our unique MSc Human Bioarchaeology and Palaeopathology and MSc Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology are ideal for postgraduates nurturing both academic and professional aspirations.

We welcome applications from researchers seeking MRes and PhD qualifications tailored to specific interests, and we offer strong developmental support.

With our expertise in a wide range of archaeological disciplines and significant research activity across the globe, our aim is to create a top-class learning environment that is vibrant and supportive and enables you to make a difference in your chosen field.

For more information see our department pages.

Facilities

The Department of Archaeology has a reputation for excellence and connections across the world.

We are home to state-of-the-art laboratories, specialist technology and some of the best library resources in the UK. We have project rooms with interactive technology, teaching laboratories, a computer suite, a photographic studio and scientific research laboratories in DNA, conservation, isotopes, environmental archaeology, luminescence dating, palaeopathology and bone chemistry, many of which are used as learning resources for out postgraduate community.

Taught courses and researchers alike benefit from our status as co-owners of a UNESCO World Heritage site and the extensive range of library, museum and artefact collection resources on offer at Durham.

The Department of Archaeology can be found in the Dawson Building, which is ideally situated at the heart of the Durham city campus, next to the Bill Bryson Library and the Palatine Centre.

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