Graduate Studies (Taught)
Exciting and professionally relevant new programmes for postgraduate Masters study are now available at the renowned School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen’s University Belfast. The school has a world class reputation in several areas of archaeology, environmental study, geography and palaeoecology. We have excellent study and teaching collections and fully equipped laboratories that support research and training across many specialized fields. Our facilities include a state of the art AMS dating laboratory, and labs for research on palaeoecology, pollen, plant macrofossils, beetles and mollusks, dendrochronology, tephra, stone weathering, human and animal bone and artefact study collections. We also have purpose-built laboratories for experimental geomorphology, including the simulation of natural and urban stone decay and access to central university facilities including SEM and ESEM linked with EPMA. Equipment includes digital recording survey instruments for landscape and buildings, a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) laboratory and much else. Students have ample research space, IT support and access to all our facilities. Our in-house Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork (CAF) is one of the few professional excavation units in the UK or Ireland based within a university environment, and offers stimulating professional-level training for postgraduates in field archaeology. The Centre for Data Digitising and Analysis is likewise a stand-alone unit that carries out research but also provides training in digital data storage, management and analysis, especially GIS.
Why Study at Belfast for your MSc?
Queen’s University Belfast has a long and distinguished reputation in archaeological, environmental and geographical research. From our origins to the present day, scholars have achieved significant research in prehistoric, classical and medieval archaeology, landscape archaeology, palaeoecology and environmental archaeology and chronology. Cultural and historical geography, weathering studies, national identities, globalization and geoforensics are strong and longstanding themes in research. World class research in radiocarbon calibration, tephra and dendrochronology continue to strengthen, and we have contributed to international research encompassing global themes in scientific, methodological and theoretical areas. We are renowned for our expertise and understanding of Irish archaeology in its broader European context. Scholars today are involved in a international studies that include work on environments in all continents, pioneering fieldwork in N.Africa, SE Asia, S.America, Australasia, the Mediterranean and Eurasia, as well as Britain, Ireland and Western Europe.Few teaching units of either Geography or Archaeology & Palaeoecology extend their interests as effectively or as widely as at Queen’s University Belfast. Students may study full time and complete their Masters in one year, or may study part-time over two years, or may take individual modules or semesters as part of Continuing Professional Development for Certificate and Diploma qualifications.
If you join our team for your postgraduate studies you can be assured of a stimulating and supportive environment, as well as access to first-class facilities. The learning opportunities are flexible and tailored, offering professional training in key skills to develop your future research and career profile.
At Queen’s we offer:
- A world class centre of research excellence in archaeology, geography and palaeoecology
- Unique Masters in Dating & Chronology (takes advantage of our World-class Radiocarbon facility) and Heritage Science (concentrating on digital documentation)
- Additional Masters/Diploma in Professional Archaeology and Archaeology and Environment
- Inspirational teaching and supervision, assuring you of excellent research results
- A flexible programme of pathways and modules and a supportive learning environment ensures students realize their academic ambitions
- Access to first-class laboratories and equipment to support your research and training
- Access to state-of-the-art scientific dating facilities spacious new library with excellent IT facilities
- Comprehensive study collections of faunal, anthropological, environmental and artefactual materials
- Opportunities to engage with research projects in Ireland and overseas
- Opportunities to work in professional placements and internships and develop key skills and knowledge in particular fields and expertise
- Opportunities to undertake overseas study, for example at the British School at Rome and in the Himalayas
- GIS computer suite and digital survey equipment and resources
- Excellent graduate research space
- A lively programme of post-graduate seminars and lectures by visiting researchers
Additional reasons for coming to Belfast:
- Competitive cost of living
- Excellent social and cultural activities in City and University
- Excellent communications via Belfast City and Belfast International Airports to Britain, Europe and the USA
