Learn how to uncover the secrets of past lives through the study of human and animal skeletons. With this specialist master’s in bioarchaeology, you’ll gain expertise in human anatomy, with unlimited access to our large skeletal collection. You’ll also develop skills in faunal analysis; we have one of the largest reference collections of mammals, birds and fish in the UK.
We're ranked 6th in the UK for archaeology (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023).
Your specialist bioarcheology learning will cover:
Beyond your specialist modules you can personalise this MSc bioarchaeology degree to your areas of interest through a range of optional modules.
This archaeological science master's is a very practical degree, but you don’t need prior knowledge of biology or anatomy. You’ll spend a lot of time in our dedicated archaeology laboratories and you’ll have access to specialist isotope labs and a scanning, imaging and micro-CT suite.
You’ll work closely with experts in our Centre for Learning Anatomical Sciences and benefit from opportunities to apply your learning in real-world settings.
There's an opportunity to apply your learning on a 4-week placement, where you’ll gain valuable real-world experience of the archaeology sector and heritage industry. Previous placements have included Historic England, Wessex Archaeology and The Nautical Archaeology Society.
We bring expertise together from across the University, including Medicine, Humanities, the National Oceanography Centre, Engineering and Winchester School of Art, to enable you to gain both scientific skills and cultural understanding.
This bioarchaeology master's offers a balance between vocational and research skills. During your dissertation you’ll be able to embed with one of our research groups to do original research on a topic that you choose. There is the possibility that this work will be published.
Southampton is close to the World Heritage sites of Stonehenge and Avebury and we have research projects engaged with both sites, as well as a range of other archaeological projects across the Globe.
Your studies will run for a full year, from September to the following September.
If you’d like to take longer to complete this master’s you can study part-time over 2 to 5 years.
If you decide that you’d like to change to a different archaeology specialism within the first 2 weeks of term you’ll be able to change your degree.
Throughout your studies we’ll encourage you to engage with the wider research community through attending and presenting at seminars, workshops or conferences. In the summer you’ll focus on your personal research project, which you’ll complete with guidance from a personal supervisor.
What you'll study
This degree gives you ultimate flexibility; you can choose modules from the full range of available archaeology modules. You can also:
Each module requires at least 150 hours of study time. As a full-time student you’re likely to be on campus up to 4 days a week.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
You'll need a 2:2 degree in an arts, humanities, social sciences or science subject.
Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.
For further details of our admission process, read our step by step guide to postgraduate taught applications .
The deadline to apply for this course is Wednesday 1 September 2027, midday UK time.
We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.
The deadline to apply for this course is Wednesday 18 August 2027, midday UK time.
We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.