Study Death and Memory MA

Course Highlights

How and why have the dead been treated and commemorated so differently from prehistory through to the present day? This MA in Death and Memory is a chronologically broad course that explores the complex history of death and memory, from the treatment of the body in the earliest hunter-gatherer societies to thinking about how people dealt with the dead in twentieth-century conflict. At the heart of the course, therefore, are the complex interactions between the living and the deceased seen in cemeteries, memorials and funerary cultures.

The course is an exciting, cross-period, postgraduate degree with global application. It will allow you to examine and gain advanced expertise in the study of death, burial and commemoration in the human past, shedding light on the debates and concerns of our present day.

The course draws on our research expertise in archaeology and history but is unusually cross-disciplinary. You will explore debates that connect to research themes shared across the humanities and social sciences, including studies of ritual, the body, material culture, memory and mortality. Consequently, this degree will interest those with first degrees in archaeology or history, as well as those with backgrounds in other disciplines.

Course Modules

Learning Structure

Teaching

• The principal methods of delivery will be a mixture of lectures, seminars and individual tutorials.

Assessment

• You will be assessed through coursework, written portfolios and finally a dissertation in your fourth term.

Entry Requirements

• 4-year Bachelor's degree in History, Archaeology, Classics, Anthropology, Geography or other Arts, Humanities and Social Science subject with CGPA 2.75 or 60% of marks (or above) from recognised institution.

  CGPA 2.50 is acceptable of the following universities:

  1. North South University (NSU)
  2. BRAC University
  3. Independent University Bangladesh (IUB)
  4. American International University Bangladesh (AIUB)
  5. Asian University for Women (AUW)
  6. Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)
• A 2:2 or above honours degree in History, Archaeology, Classics, Anthropology, Geography or other Arts, Humanities and Social Science discipline.

English Language Requirements

Documentary Evidence List

• Academic Transcripts
• Degree Certificate
• English Test (IELTS/ TOEFL/ PTE/ Duolingo - UKVI accepted)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• 2 Recommendation Letters (LORs)
• Updated CV/ Resume
• Research Proposal (for Research/ PhD)
• Work Experience Certificates (if study gap)
• Passport Copy

Study Gaps

For applicants with an academic or professional gap of up to 5 years, admission is generally considered acceptable. If the gap exceeds this period, applications may still be successful but will typically be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

To strengthen your profile, it is important to:

• Provide a clear explanation of how you spent the gap period (e.g., employment, further learning, personal responsibilities).
• Emphasize the skills and experiences you developed during this time that are relevant to the program.
• Demonstrate that your academic qualifications continue to meet the course entry requirements.