Master of Science in Operational Research

at University of Southampton - Avenue Campus United Kingdom

Explore the evolution, biology and behaviour of humankind through the study of our Stone Age ancestors. With this specialist master’s in palaeoanthropology you’ll gain expertise in the analysis of stone tools and hominin skulls to understand our evolutionary journey. You’ll work closely with experts in our Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins (CAHO) and benefit from opportunities to apply your learning in real-world settings.

We’re ranked Top 30 in the world for archaeology (QS World University Rankings, 2019).

Your specialist palaeoanthropology learning will cover:

• handling and interpreting stone tools
• the role of evolutionary models, experimental testing, primatological data and ethnographies in the study of human origins
• developing methods to interrogate meaning from collections of stone tools
• using SPSS statistical analysis software

Palaeolithic symbolism and language, migration and responses to environmental change
Beyond your specialist modules you can personalise this palaeonthropology MSc to your areas of interest.

We bring expertise together from across the University, including Medicine, Humanities, the National Oceanography Centre, Engineering and Winchester School of Art, to help you gain both scientific skills and cultural understanding through a range of optional modules.

This is a very practical degree, but you don’t need prior knowledge of biology or anthropology. You’ll be based in our dedicated John Wymer Laboratory, with its own specialist library and large collection of stone tools and hominin skulls. Staff, PhD students and MSc students work in the same space, creating a lively learning environment. As a student on this course you automatically become a member of the CAHO research group.

You’ll have the opportunity to apply your skills 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.

This  Palaeoanthropology course 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 of 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.

If you’d prefer a less specialised archaeology master’s degree, or you’d like to focus on a different specialism, you can choose from our 3 other Archaeology MSc pathways. When you join us you’ll have 2 weeks in which you can change pathway if you wish.

Explore another culture on this BA Ancient History and Archaeology with Year Abroad degree. Learn about the ancient world and understand the foundations of how we live today. You'll develop specialist knowledge in your chosen areas of study and learn in an engaging and supportive research environment. Research and archiving skills will prepare you for further study, or for a wide choice of careers, including heritage management and archaeological research.

Study ancient history and archaeology with year abroad to learn key topics in both subjects and experience another country.

You'll have the choice of a wide range of historical topics, from Ancient Egypt to the rise of Islam in the Middle East. You can also learn what happened during the conquests of Alexander the Great and at the end of the Roman Empire.

The complementary subject of archaeology is the study of the human past through its material remains. These include buildings, monuments, artefacts, biological remains, written sources and landscape.

On BA Ancient History and Archaeology Placement you can:

• Spend your third year at a partner university in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea or Australia
• Learn from experts in the ancient world (including history, archaeology, ancient and modern languages and literatures, philosophy and film)
• Use cutting-edge technology to discover and map new sites, or develop archival research skills
• Do at least 3 weeks of field work as part of an active research project, including excavating archaeological sites or collecting archaeological material from ploughed fields
• Challenge yourself by learning Latin and Ancient Greek

Develop a deeper understanding of the theory and practice of English Language Teaching (ELT) with this master’s degree.

You can apply for this course if you have experience in teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and want to gain skills for leadership roles in ELT.

If you don’t have experience as an EFL teacher and want to begin your career as one, you can apply for our MA English Language Teaching TESOL Studies course.

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) give people all over the world the ability to communicate fluently in English. This MA degree will give you the tools you need to teach English effectively. Throughout the programme you'll study topics such as:

• How to analyse language for ELT
• Current issues in language teaching methodology
• Critical appraisal of language teaching

This master’s degree in English Language Teaching is offered by our Centre for Applied Language Research.

Staff contributing to the programme are involved in:

• direct teaching of EFL and other languages
• research and development work in applied linguistics and language learning
• sociolinguistics and cultural studies

This blend of theoretical expertise and ongoing practical experience is one of the distinguishing features of our programme.

On completion of the course, you’ll be ready for a rewarding career as a language teacher, language teaching educator, or applied linguistics researcher.

Study film from a variety of perspectives: as popular art, big business and as a cultural record on our film degree with year abroad . Immerse yourself in the subject, from the earliest projected images to the present day. Learn how to view Hollywood blockbusters, European and world cinema with a critical eye. A year abroad will enhance your understanding of visual arts and let you experience a new culture.

You'll study familiar classics alongside contemporary cinema, and genres including:

• film noir
• horror
• science fiction
• documentary
• animation

You'll deepen your understanding and enjoyment of film and develop your critical thinking as part of a lively community.

You'll spend your third year studying at one of our partner universities abroad. Your options include: South Korea, Sweden, Ireland or the Czech Republic – countries with their own distinctive film cultures. You can take lectures in English but may also improve your languages. We'll help you plan your year abroad to suit your interests.

As part of this course you can:

• explore British, European and world cinema
• discover early film through archive visits
• use our extensive library resources, including over 5,800 films from around the world
• take modules from other courses, such as English, history and music
• volunteer at a cinema to develop new skills, such as team leading, projection and digital design
• submit your own film to our annual student film festival

Study our Film and English degree at Southampton and discover how we tell stories across both art forms. On this course, you'll analyse writing from early poetry to the present day novel. You'll learn how to view Hollywood blockbusters, European and world cinema with a critical eye. You can look at literature and films in new contexts, including performance, music, science, philosophy and more.

In Film, you'll study familiar classics alongside contemporary cinema, and genres including:

• film noir
• horror
• science fiction
• documentary
• animation

You'll deepen your understanding and enjoyment of films and develop your critical thinking as part of a lively community.

Our English modules look at written English from across the world, in many social and cultural contexts. You're encouraged to study literature from different eras and creative writing.

You can examine both classical and popular novel adaptations in our specialised module. From Jane Austen to Harry Potter, you'll explore the close links between film and literature.

 As part of this film and English course you can:

• explore British, European and world cinema
• take modules in scriptwriting and narrative non-fiction
• join writing workshops at Nuffield Southampton Theatres
• explore experimental writing at Entropics
• use a unique collection of rare books at Chawton House Library
• submit your own film to a yearly film festival

We offer a 4-week summer school at Dongguk University in Seoul. This includes film and cultural orientation courses.

Learn about the ancient world and find ways to understand the foundations of how we live today. On BA Ancient History and Archaeology, you'll develop specialist knowledge in your chosen areas of study and learn in an engaging and supportive research environment. Your research and archiving skills will prepare you for further study, or for a variety of career options. These include heritage management and archaeological research.

Studying archaeology and ancient history will give you an insight into both subjects and you'll be able to explore the topics that interest you through optional modules.

You'll have the choice of a wide range of historical topics, from Ancient Egypt to the rise of Islam in the Middle East. You can also learn what happened during the conquests of Alexander the Great and at the end of the Roman Empire.

The complementary subject of archaeology is the study of the human past through its material remains. These include buildings, monuments, artefacts, biological remains, written sources and landscape. On this ancient history and archaeology degree you can:

• Learn from experts in the ancient world (including history, archaeology, ancient and modern languages and literatures, philosophy and film)
• Use cutting-edge technology to discover and map new sites, or develop research skills
• Do at least 3 weeks of field work, including excavating archaeological sites or collecting archaeological material from ploughed fields
• Challenge yourself by learning Latin and Ancient Greek

Discover how human civilisations evolved, and why people and societies have changed over time. Through the latest techniques and technologies, you'll investigate how our ancestors lived, from the earliest human origins, to Neolithic Britain, and Ancient Egypt. On BSc Archaeology with Year Abroad you could look into climate change at the end of the last ice age or what the chemical composition of human bones can tell us about diet during the medieval period.

You'll focus on scientific methods and techniques with options including:

• Studying human and animal bones
• Physics and chemistry of archaeological material
• Laboratory techniques for dating
• Maritime archaeology

You'll learn through research-led projects, practical field experience and field trips. You'll do a minimum of 3 weeks' fieldwork as part of an active research project. This could include:

• Excavating archaeological sites
• Recording a standing building
• Geophysical surveys
• Collecting archaeological material from ploughed fields

We have a purpose-built archaeology building, equipped with the latest science-based laboratories for Southampton BSc archaeology year abroad students to use. You'll gain hands-on experience with archaeological artefacts and materials, and receive the practical training needed for a career in archaeology.

You'll study archaeology with a year abroad at one of our partner institutions such as the University of Malta or the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona. This will give you the chance to discover the theories and findings in exotic locations and boost your career opportunities.

We’re also offering up to 10 bursaries of £1000 each to incoming students (subject to criteria). These are from the Terry Mason Bursary and the University of Southampton Archaeology Bursary Fund.

On this joint BA Philosophy and Music degree you’ll study some of the biggest questions in philosophy and develop skills in musical performance, composition and analysis. You’ll have the freedom to work on your own interests through optional modules covering varied topics. These include existentialism, studio techniques and nineteenth century Italian opera. You'll also get to spend a placement year abroad.

In your degree you can:

• Develop an understanding of philosophical questions such as ethics, reason and responsibility
• Study a range of music from European music in the Renaissance and Baroque periods through the music of the twentieth century and global hip hop
• Understand the principles of Western tonal music, including harmony and counterpoint

You can also improve your musical skills and performance through:

• Individual tuition on instruments or voice
• Workshops with professional performers
• Submitting original compositions
• Developing and running music workshops
• Managing the administration of public music events

At Southampton you’ll learn in small groups in a relaxed and friendly environment. Visiting performers and academic staff research feeds into the course content. You can take modules from other disciplines, too. These include anthropology, psychology, studying a language, or choosing from a range of cross-disciplinary modules.

Learn about the ancient world and find ways to understand the foundations of how we live today. You'll develop specialist knowledge in your chosen areas of study and learn in an engaging and supportive research environment. You can also choose to spend time at a university abroad.

On this UK ancient history degree you'll study the ancient world in depth and we will help you to develop your career interests and discover ancient history degree jobs.

Ancient history is an interdisciplinary field, so you can study topics that you’re already passionate about, or choose to try something new.

Our wide range of topics cover ancient Egypt to the rise of Islam in the Middle East. You can also explore what happened during the conquests of Alexander the Great, and at the end of the Roman Empire.

Why study ancient history with us:

• Learn ancient history from experts on the ancient world (including history, archaeology, ancient and modern languages and literatures, philosophy and film)
• Gain experience of archaeological fieldwork and take part in study tours
• Develop your research and dissertation skills
• Challenge yourself by learning Latin and Ancient Greek
• Spend time at a university abroad in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea or Australia

Learn 2 major international languages and study abroad for a year to get complete proficiency with our French and Portuguese degree. You’ll complement your language learning with modules covering the history, society, culture and linguistics for French and Portuguese-speaking countries.

You’ll start at a level that matches your ability in spoken and written French and Portuguese, which will help you to progress quickly. You’ll also have excellent resources to support you. The Centre for Language Study at Southampton has everything you need.

You can study Portuguese in accelerated mode, letting you reach graduate level competence over 4 years.

A special module in year 2 will make sure you’re ready for working and studying abroad in year 3. You can spend the year in countries such as:

• France
• Germany
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Belgium
• Canada
• Guadeloupe
• Martinique
• La Réunion

We have partner universities in the Erasmus exchange programme across France, Germany and Switzerland.

You’ll also have the opportunity to prepare a final year dissertation with guidance from a supervisor.