PhD (School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences)

Program Overview

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PhD (School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences)

Overview

The School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences uniquely integrates Archaeological Sciences, Biological Anthropology, Cultural Archaeology, and Forensic and Medical Sciences to further the study of people, their society, and their environments in the present and the past. Our approach is profoundly multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, bridging the sciences and the humanities.

Archaeological and Forensic Sciences at Bradford has a long-established reputation as one of the key centres for archaeological research in the UK. Bringing together staff from both Humanities and Science backgrounds within a single centre, we have created a powerful and distinctive research identity which blends cultural archaeology with cutting-edge science.

This vision is promoted through the school's specialist groups, including the Biological Anthropology Research Centre, the Stable Isotope Centre, and Visualising Heritage - the University centre where archaeologists and forensic scientists use the latest technologies to capture, image, analyse, and disseminate human activity from the past and the present. 100% of Impact in Archaeology is rated as Internationally Excellent or World Leading (REF 2021).

Bradford’s field and lab-based projects have a global reach, currently including work in Mediterranean Europe, Western Asia, the North Atlantic, and South America.

Our research is funded by a wide range of sources, including UK Research Councils, HERA, the European Commission, government agencies like English Heritage and Historic Scotland, major charities such as the Leverhulme Trust and the Gates Foundation, the US National Science Foundation, and a host of others.

Entry Requirements

Faculty research is very important, and recruitment of high-quality postgraduate research students is a key part of the Faculty of Life Sciences strategic plan.

Applicants should have a Master's degree in a relevant subject; alternatively, we will consider students who have a relevant Bachelor's degree with at least upper second class honours (2:1) or equivalent. Exceptional candidates without such qualifications, but with extensive research experience, may also be considered.

Selection of PGR students will be subject to successful interview (either in person or by Skype or conference call) by the supervisory team and one independent member of academic staff with significant PGR supervisory experience.

English language requirements:

• If English is not your first language, we ask for a minimum standard entry requirement of 6.0 IELTS (with sub-tests not lower than 5.5).
• The certificate must have been gained within two years of the proposed start date.

Your Learning Journey

As part of a PhD programme, you will attend general training events; you will also discuss with your supervisors what extra training you might need to complete your project (such as literature search techniques, statistical analysis, or specific instrumental analysis techniques), which will be reviewed annually. You might also need to complete training or assessment criteria associated with your funding body.

Research within the School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences is organised around three themes:

• Social and biological identities
• Archaeological and heritage sciences
• Landscape and settlement archaeology

Individual topics vary considerably within these broad themes.

Examples of recent or current subject areas are listed below to give an idea of the range of themes that have been studied within the School:

• Geochemical analysis of Doggerland sediments
• Disarticulated human remains analysis
• Faunal assemblages in funerary rites in prehistoric Scotland
• Stable isotope analysis to reconstruct children’s early life history
• Defining the geomagnetic field in the first millennium AD
• Integrating remote sensing and geophysical survey techniques
• Differential decomposition in burial micro-environments
• Raman spectroscopy to investigate gout in archaeological samples
• Use of UV light to locate human remains
• The return of cultural artefacts or human remains to indigenous communities

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fee

Please see the tuition fees website for the relevant tuition and writing-up fees:

• Home students
• International students

Additional Course Costs

While there are no compulsory additional costs associated with this course, there may be general additional costs that you might incur as a student. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Funding Your Studies

It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.

Further information about the variety of options that can help fund your studies and maximise the money available to you is available on our funding your studies section.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you live in England, you may be able to apply for a special Government-funded Master's Loan to help pay your tuition fees and living costs. You don't have to pay the loan back until you're earning a certain amount of money.

Scholarships

Every year, we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU, and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances, or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Archaeology, Heritage, and Forensics Studentship

The School of Archaeology and Forensic Sciences invites high-quality proposals from applicants for a PhD studentship tenable for three years from either 1 October 2022 or 1 February 2023.

Career Prospects

Many of our graduates find employment as post-doctoral research and development scientists, analytical scientists in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries, research managers, academics, clinical researchers in the NHS and other managed care organisations, in the UK, the EU, and overseas.

Career Opportunities

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability, and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services, including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work, and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Support for Your Studies

At Bradford, we’re committed to supporting your success, well-being, and future ambitions.

We’re here to provide everything you need to make the most of your time with us, ensuring you not only excel in your studies but also step confidently into the world of graduate employment.

In addition to the support you receive from your academic tutors, our Student Support Services are here for you throughout your journey - before, during, and after your studies.

Research

Postdoctoral Researchers follow a career staff development plan, including the “Realising Your Research Potential” cohort training programme. This programme has been developed for early career researchers and academics who have the interest and potential to engage in research activity.

Training is aimed to help kick-start their research career by development of the skills needed as well as connecting PDRs to a network of colleagues from across the University, including access to the University-wide events currently organised in our annual seminar programme: Costing your Research Grant, Research Ethics Approval Process, European funding - visit by UKRO Representative, Winning Grant Funding, Research Professional Workshop, Knowledge Transfer Partnership Information Session, and Yorkshire Innovation Fund Information Session.