Landscape Archaeology and Digital Heritage MSc

The September 2023 intake of this course is now closed to international applicants. Home applicants can still apply. January 2024 remains open for international and home applicants.

Overview

3D methods of digitally documenting objects, sites, and landscapes offer significant potential to archaeology and heritage management. Digital data can be a way of archiving heritage (the need for this has been graphically illustrated by the loss of world heritage sites to conflict) and it is becoming the gold standard for commercial recording of sites and landscapes.

Digital data can be used for a variety of purposes:

to monitor change for conservation and management
to investigate and analyse features
for reconstruction purposes
to visualise and present the past
providing new ways of engaging with the public
providing access to remote sites or inaccessible collections that are otherwise difficult to reach.

This new Masters programme will give you direct hands-on experience of current technologies used for acquisition of data and the manipulation, presentation, and analysis of data captured at all scales.

You'll benefit from direct access to a wide variety of case studies and will have the potential opportunity to participate in a variety of international research projects. We work in the heart of Yorkshire, around the globe and under the sea – these landscapes underpin the MSc.

Entry requirements

A first degree in Archaeology (or another relevant or related discipline) 2:2 or above
Other relevant qualifications will be considered
For North American students a GPA of at least 2.5 on a scale of 4.0 is required, or an equivalent

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have IELTS at 6.0 or the equivalent, with no less than 5.5 in each sub test.

If you do not meet the IELTS requirement, you can take a University of Bradford pre-sessional English course. See the Language Centre for more details. For further information on English Language requirements please see the dedicated international entry requirements page.

What you will study

The curriculum comprises a core of compulsory modules to provide appropriate background in the theory and application of scientific methods in landscape archaeology and digital heritage.

The emphasis of the programme is on the learning of fundamental scientific principles across several disciplines and applying these to archaeological and heritage area. The programme draws heavily on areas of expertise in the School of Archaeology and Forensic Sciences.

The programme comprises core modules throughout. In the first semester Remote Sensing and Archaeological Prospection & Visualisation provide scientific background to the programme and introduce a wide range of techniques that relate to digital capture of landscapes and heritage. This ranges from object documentation through to landscape analysis and interpretation.

Two modules are taught across the two teaching semesters. The module Digital Worlds will provide the theoretical link that spirals through the programme – linking modules and creating the framework for the use of digitising technology in these fields at a variety of different scales.

The other linking module in Professional Development provides more broad ranging skill-sets; it starts by guiding you to identify your own learning needs and the resources to address them and goes on to prepare you for your research project, including planning of research, research design, time management, research ethics, and health and safety.

In the second semester two additional modules are covered Landscape and Heritage and Site Evaluation and GIS. Site Evaluation and GIS is a focussed module that prepares you to analyse spatial data for a variety of purposes. In this module you will learn to provide solutions to real problems that evidence wide ranging employability skills.

The final element of the programme is a substantial dissertation.

It is expected that students who successfully complete the entire programme will be fully prepared to undertake research at MPhil or PhD level.

All module information is for 2022 entry, and is subject to change.

First year

Learning and assessment

Teaching and learning is delivered through a mix of lectures, seminars and field trips.

Assessment varies by module, ranging from essays and presentations to blogs and reflective diaries.

Official programme specification

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2023

MSc

UK: £9,230
International: £23,028

PGDip

UK: £7,398
International: £22,180

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

See our fees and financial support section.

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 and Forensic Sciences scholarships

Find out about our Archaeological and Forensic Sciences Endowed Scholarship, worth £10,000.

A £6,000 scholarship for this course is also available to international students.

University of Bradford honoured with Queen’s Anniversary Prize for outstanding archaeology

We have been awarded a 2021 Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for our world-leading work in developing archaeological technology and techniques and its influence on practice, policy and society.

The prestigious accolade, which honours world-class excellence and achievement, is the highest form of national recognition that UK higher education institutions can achieve. The University has been honoured for its leadership and innovation in pioneering the techniques, technology and practices of archaeology both in the UK and worldwide.

logo for the queens anniversary prize 2021

Career support

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.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Career prospects

The programme of study offers skills that are not only in high demand within the museum sector, commercial archaeology and heritage management, but also key skills in new areas of archaeological science research.

These skills are transferable, having wide-ranging applications in other fields including film and media, construction and mineral/resource exploitation and prospecting for which Bradford is renowned.

The programme also meets the needs of the growing demand for hands-on archaeological specialists, where there is currently a dearth of archaeologists in light of large infrastructure projects, such as HS2.

Study support

A comprehensive support network is here for you to ensure you reach your academic potential and go on to further success in the future.

You’ll benefit from a range of support services, including:

personal academic tutor
student support / administration team
Academic Skills Advice service
Career and Employability Services
award-winning Disability Service
well stocked libraries and excellent IT facilities

Research

Among the distinctive features of this programme are hands-on experience in the School’s laboratories and a delivery that is steeped in innovative research.

The programme incorporates a substantial individual research dissertation.

Professor Vincent Gaffney

50th Anniversary Chair in Landscape Archaeology

Dr Andrew Wilson

Chair in Forensic & Archaeological Sciences

Professor Christopher Gaffney

Senior Lecturer

Dr Adrian Evans

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.

Landscape Archaeology and Digital Heritage