Program Overview

Introduction to the Archaeology MRes Program

The Archaeology MRes program at the University of Liverpool is designed to provide students with a personalized and focused introduction to postgraduate research. This program enables students to develop into independent researchers and produce an original research project, supported by an expert in archaeology.

Program Overview

The program provides intensive preparation for doctoral research and future careers. Students will be guided through the research process, equipping them with transferable skills, including critical thinking, project management, written and verbal communication, and problem-solving. Training in research methodologies will be tailored to archaeology and the student's specific research proposal.

What You Will Learn

• Methodological approaches appropriate to specific research topics
• How to design a robust research proposal
• How to identify relevant evidence and sources
• How to plan and conduct a major piece of original, independent research
• How to collect, interpret, and analyze data and present findings
• Project management and problem-solving skills
• Ethical issues in research
• Ability to engage with current historiographical and theoretical debates
• How to prepare a bibliography

Course Structure

Semester One

Students take 60 credits of required modules in semester one. Please note, work towards the dissertation runs across the length of the program.

• RESEARCH SKILLS FOR ACE M-LEVEL STUDENTS (ALGY601): 30 credits
• RESEARCH PROJECT DEVELOPMENT BY DIRECTED STUDY (HLAC503): 30 credits
• HLC RESEARCH MASTERS DISSERTATION (HLAC501): 120 credits (runs across the program)

Semester Two

The Dissertation will be taken over semester two and the summer vacation period.

• HLC RESEARCH MASTERS DISSERTATION (HLAC501): 120 credits

Teaching and Assessment

The program involves a combination of seminars, one-to-one tutorials, skills development sessions, and independent study. The course structure enables a student-centered approach with focused supervision and support. Students will be assessed through written work assigned by tutors, including opportunities to co-design assessments tailored to their intended research. Assessments might include written essays, presentations, and skills development exercises, such as bibliographies and scientific reports. The main piece of assessed work will be the dissertation.

Careers and Employability

The program will immerse students in research and practical analytical techniques and develop a wide range of transferable skills. Graduates will be ready for further study at the postgraduate level, including MPhil or PhD research, and be prepared for a range of specialized careers. The MRes also meets the training requirements of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

Fees and Funding

• UK fees: Full-time place, per year - Ł5,238; Part-time place, per year - Ł2,619
• International fees: Full-time place, per year - Ł25,350; Part-time place, per year - Ł12,650
• The University may administer inflationary rises to international fees in subsequent academic years as students progress through the course.

Entry Requirements

• Postgraduate entry requirements: A 2:2 honors degree from a UK university or an equivalent academic qualification from a similar non-UK institution. This degree can be in any relevant subject discipline.
• International qualifications: Select your country or region to view specific entry requirements.
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0, or equivalent.

Additional Information

The program is part of the School of Histories, Languages, and Cultures, with teaching taking place across campus, including in specialist facilities. Students will have access to archaeological collections and facilities for archaeological drawing. The team of MRes supervisors is actively engaged in research, ranging from early prehistory to late antiquity, with specialisms including Palaeolithic archaeology and Egyptian archaeological culture.