Human Bioarchaeology and Palaeopathology

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class (2:1) degree or equivalent; GPA of 3.3 or above.

Months of entry

September

Course content

This lecture, seminar and laboratory-based MSc equips you with the theoretical and practical skills and knowledge to study and interpret data collected from human remains. The emphasis is on osteoprofiling, as well as health and disease using a multidisciplinary approach, linking biological evidence with cultural data (the biocultural approach). This is a very hands-on, practical course, and students will gain experience with human skeletal remains from a variety of time periods.

This course is unique in the world and it takes a holistic view of the body and society and will prepare you for undertaking significant research projects in this subject or working in contract/commercial archaeology, and many other fields. It is aimed at graduates mainly in archaeology and anthropology with or without past experience or knowledge in this field, and for those who aspire to continue on to PhD or work in contract archaeology. However, past students have come from a variety of subject backgrounds, and destination data illustrates a wide range of employers take these students.

Term 1

• Osteoprofiling
• Research and Study Skills in Archaeological Science

Term 2

• Palaeopathology: Theory and Method

Choice of:

• Themes in Palaeopathology

OR

• Isotope and Biomolecular Archaeology

OR

• Research Topic in Archaeology

Term 3

Dissertation.

Information for international students

Scholarships available for 2022 entry will be determined in September 2021. Over 60 scholarships are available, each year. Some scholarships are awarded to more than one person. For further information see the course listing.

Fees and funding

https://www.dur.ac.uk/study/pg/finance/

All self-financing overseas students are required to pay a £1000 tuition fee deposit if an offer from the Department of Archaeology is accepted. The tuition fee deposit is paid before the University issues a Confirmation of Acceptance to Study (CAS) number, which is required in order to apply for a visa. A £500 deposit is also payable by Home/EU applicants if an offer of a place from the Department of Archaeology is accepted.