Shine a light on an under-explored field of research
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
1 year full-time,
2 years part-time,
3 years part-time
September 2025 (semester dates)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
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Explore key topics such as technology, consumption practices, death and burial, plants and animals, and settlement, drawing on the research carried out in a globally renowned centre for mesolithic studies.
This course provides an important overview of the European Mesolithic, exploring the ways in which the period has been interpreted from the 19th century up to the present day. You'll have the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research on several Mesolithic excavation projects, including nearby Star Carr, site of the oldest house and oldest carpentry in Europe; Howick in Northumberland; and coastal shell middens in Europe.
The lack of research in this area means that there is a huge amount waiting to be discovered, and you could find yourself becoming a leading specialist in the field and getting involved with pioneering projects and research. You'll even have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of experimental archaeology in our Mesolithic camp. You'll also learn about cutting-edge techniques, such as ancient DNA and stable isotope analysis and climate-change reconstruction.
The skills that I learned while completing the Mesolithic Studies programme have helped me exponentially. From academic writing to time management, I was able to develop many skills that have been transferable to my current employment.Marina, MA Mesolithic Studies
York is the UK's archaeological capital and we use it extensively as our ‘living lab’ for both teaching and research.
Informality is one of our distinctive qualities - the atmosphere in our department is friendly, supportive and enthusiastic. We want you to develop your potential and thrive at York.
You will study 180 credits over the duration of your course:
Your core modules will cover topics such as:
You will choose three option modules from examples including:
You'll also have the opportunity to choose options from our full module catalogue:
Some option modules combinations may not be possible. The option available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
You'll complete a 15,000-word dissertation on your research.
You will receive support, advice and guidance from your dissertation supervisor throughout your project. The range of expertise of our staff means we can provide you with guidance on a wide range of topics. You will have one-to-one meetings with supervisors across Semester 2 and the Summer Semester.
Examples of previous dissertations include:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£5,600 | £12,950 |
| Part-time (3 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£3,733 | £8,633 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
We don't anticipate there being any additional fees associated with this course. All books and resources you need will be available in the library or online and it isn't mandatory that you buy your own copies. You may wish to set aside a small budget for photocopying, depending on how you like to work.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
We have a variety of funding options available within the department.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
The course was split into a number of seminars that focused on specific research questions. This part of the course not only built on my previous research but also enabled me to explore areas that are often neglected. I thoroughly enjoyed the closeness of my peer group, as well as the opportunity to devote a considerable amount of time to independent research as part of a dissertation.Harry, MA Mesolithic Studies
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll be taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and site visits.
You will be based on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You will be assessed by a variety of methods. Depending on which modules you opt to take, these could include:
Many course graduates go on to further specialist research at PhD level, many of which have been funded, and then pursue careers in academia. Others have gone into a range of careers, from teaching and digital archiving to commercial archaeology work and wilderness training. You'll also develop transferable skills that are applicable to a multitude of careers beyond archaeology and heritage.
I am currently a Teaching Fellow at the University of Leicester, and an Honorary Research Associate at the University of York. The MA in Mesolithic Studies helped to set many wheels in motion which are still pushing me forward with my career today; such as key skills, contacts and experiences which I have built on in the subsequent course of my PhD and postdoctoral employment.Ben, MA Mesolithic Studies
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in Archaeology, Anthropology, Biology or a relevant subject. |
| Other qualifications and experience | Mature students or those with less conventional qualifications but with relevant work experience will also be considered. If you are uncertain whether your qualifications or experience are appropriate, please contact the Course Director for more information. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
You will need to submit examples of written work with your application. Please see our guidance on submitting written work.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
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