Celtic & Viking Archaeology

Programme structure

      The taught component of the Celtic and Viking programme of study consists of two core courses and three optional courses, running over the first two academic terms. For MLitt students, this is followed by a period of self-study leading towards the dissertation during the summer

      The first part of the course is a series of lectures defined as “core” to the discipline, under the theme of Approaches to Celtic and Viking Archaeology, and includes introductions and guided reading to aspects such as period-specific case-studies within Scotland and beyond. In these students discuss elements which derive from the suggested reading and have the chance to exchange ideas with the peer group and lecturer. In addition, you will be required to take Research Skills, which is designed to give students training and support in a wide variety of research methods tailored to your individual requirements, including library skills, humanities computing, writing and presenting papers, constructing an academic curriculum vitae, et cetera. Research Skills and Approaches to Celtic and Viking Archaeology are the two required core courses for the Autumn term.

      The second part of the course, in the Spring term, is made up of specific modules which have been selected by the student themselves from a wide-ranging list encompassing, amongst other aspects, the Picts, Early Medieval Art, the Vikings in Scotland and beyond into the North Atlantic. Other options can be selected from a broader subject range within Archaeology and in cognate areas such as the Centre for Scottish and Celtic Studies.

      The final element of the degree is made up of a longer piece of research work undertaken over the summer period, and up to about 12,000 words in length. This topic is chosen in discussion and under guidance with a designated supervisor drawn from the main teaching staff on this degree.  This allows maximum flexibility of student choice and enables a valuable contribution to be made by the individual student to scholarship in the field of study.

      Assessment is entirely on the basis of course work (essays, seminar presentations etc.). Progression to the MLitt dissertation will require performance at MLitt level across the coursework elements, and an assessed presentation will be made at an annual postgraduate symposium on the proposed dissertation topic.