# Human Bioarchaeology and OsteologyMSc

**Source**: https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/2026/human-bioarchaeology-and-osteology-msc
**Parent**: https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/2026

2026-27 entry

# Human Bioarchaeology and Osteology MSc

School of Biosciences,
Faculty of Science\

Satisfy your curiosity and understand people and populations of the past through the study of human skeletal remains. Learn the scientific techniques you’ll need to collect, analyse and present anthropological data as you contribute to the ever-evolving field of bioarchaeology.

- Start date
  \
  September 2026
- Duration
  \
  1 year
- Attendance
  \
  Full-time

- [Course fee](#feesfunding)

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### Explore this course:

[Apply now for 2026 entry](#apply) or [book a place on our online open day](https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/visit/open-day "Postgraduate online open days") on 29 April 2026 to see where a Sheffield masters could take you.

## Course description

This course is designed to provide you with advanced research training in the scientific analysis of human skeletal remains within the context of archaeology, palaeoanthropology and forensic anthropology. It’s a great next step if you’re keen to build on your human anatomy and osteology knowledge from your undergraduate degree and prepare for an exciting career in the ever-evolving field of human bioarchaeology.

Practical work is a big part of the course. We’ll train you in a range of scientific analytical techniques and methods that are essential to answering key questions in bioarchaeology. You’ll cover radiography, histological and microscopic approaches, chemical and isotopic techniques, ancient DNA analysis, lipid analysis and proteomics.

Alongside this, you’ll develop a range of specialist skills that are needed in functional anatomy. We’ll teach you how to identify bones, how they function, how they vary based on sex and age, and how disease and injury can impact the human skeleton. You’ll also be trained to perform osteological analysis of human bones and learn how to analyse quantitative and qualitative anthropological data.\
 \
During your learning, you’ll have access to our extensive collection of archaeological specimens so you can hone your ability to identify, analyse and interpret human skeletal remains. You’ll get hands-on in [our anatomy laboratory](https://sheffield.ac.uk/health/anatomy "Anatomy at Sheffield") too, where you’ll have access to real human von Hagen plastinates and our full-size interactive digital Anatomage tables, allowing you to explore the human body layer by layer.

You’ll even have the chance to apply your new knowledge and skills during optional field trips and archaeological visits off-campus.

Your practical work will be complemented by lectures covering the development and theory behind bioarchaeology and osteology. Science communication training will form part of your learning, as you discover how to produce cutting-edge visuals and audio to communicate your research.

The biggest part of your course is your independent research project (dissertation). Here, you’ll spend three months researching an area of human bioarchaeology and osteology, ready for your future career. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the active archaeological research that’s being carried out in the school, whilst putting into practice the research methods you’ve mastered during your course.

Examples of past research titles include:

- How accurate is skeletal sex assessment? Using ancient DNA data to test the accuracy of methods used in archaeology and forensic anthropology
- To what extent can osteological evidence reveal tobacco use and its impact on respiratory health in the past
- Are physical three-dimensional models as effective as real human bones when teaching skeletal anatomy?
- How does urbanisation impact childhood health? A comparison of metabolic disease and growth delay between the medieval and industrial periods
- Does breastfeeding have life-long respiratory health implications? Using isotopic data to compare breastfeeding practices and the presence of lesions indicative of upper and lower respiratory infection.

The staff who teach this course bridge the gap between sciences and humanities, giving you the opportunity to learn about these two integrated approaches to this fascinating subject.

If you have a passion for human bioarchaeology, whether your background stems from arts, humanities, or science, we’ll help you to deepen your specialist knowledge, ready for an exciting career.

### Gain extra experience

We’re home to the [Julia Garnham Centre](https://sheffield.ac.uk/garnham-centre/home "The Julia Garnham Centre"), an NHS badged genomics facility, partnered with the Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust.

As a postgraduate student in the School of Biosciences, you'll have the opportunity to volunteer in the centre alongside your studies. You can work with NHS scientists and academics, learn how to diagnose genetic disorders such as cancer or rare inherited disease and get involved with NHS genomic research projects.

### Do you have a question? Talk to us

Book a 15-minute online meeting with our Course Director to find out more about this course and get your questions answered.\
\
[Book an appointment with Dr Kevin Kuykendall](https://calendly.com/k-l-kuykendall-sheffield/15min)

## Modules

We're revising the curriculum of the course for this year of entry and are in the process of confirming the modules. The information here gives you an idea of the areas we expect the course to cover. There may be changes before you begin your studies. As you progress through your course, we’ll confirm additional details of the core and optional modules available to you.

Modules

You'll study:

### 

Dissertation (Journal Paper Style)
:   This module requires students to plan, execute and write up an original research project. This dissertation project is chosen with, and approved by, the designated supervisor, who may or may not be the programme director. Dissertation topics must be based on original research and on the students' own ideas: they must be worthwhile, affordable, manageable within time limits, be capable of supervision within the Department and related to the subject matter on the appropriate Masters. Students who choose this particular type of dissertation will place particular emphasis on synthetic writing and an ability to familiarise themselves with journal publication submission and style. With the exception of the word count the students will follow the editorial guidelines of the Journal of Archaeological Science.

    **60 credits**

Advanced Scientific Skills
:   This module builds on existing, and further develops, generic scientific skills to equip postgraduate taught students with strong competences in presenting and reporting their research work using written and oral formats, in analysing data and the scientific literature, and in acquiring and extending their critical analysis skills. Teaching will be delivered using a blended approach with a combination of lectures, workshops, tutorials and seminars together with independent study and on-line teaching.\
    \
    Taught throughout the academic year, the module will be articulated around three units addressing: \
    \
    Unit 1) Scientific presentation skills. In this unit, students will explore how to develop their academic (writing and oral) presentation skills. Some of the topics taught may include how to formulate a research question and hypothesis, how to find information, and how to structure a scientific essay or report. Students will learn how to communicate effectively their research to a scientific, as well as lay, audience. Emphasis will be placed on short oral communications and poster preparation and presentation.  The learning objectives will be acquired through lectures, workshops, tutorials and independent study.\
    \
    Unit 2) Critical analysis skills. This unit prepares students to develop their ability to analyse and appraise the scientific value of the published and unpublished literature. Workshops and lectures will introduce students to the process of critical appraisal of scientific work. \
    \
    Unit 3) Statistics and data analysis skills. In this unit, students will learn methods to gather and analyse large datasets. In particular, workshops and lectures will teach students the basics of R coding and statistics for application in biosciences. The unit may also deliver other forms of data analysis relevant to the programme of study. Teaching within this unit will be delivered mainly through on-line material, lectures and workshops. Independent study will be essential to complete the acquisition of skills.

    **15 credits**

Applied Biological and Forensic Anthropology
:   This module provides a scientific and theoretical background to the study of human skeletal remains with a focus on the study of taphonomic processes that affect the human body after death and the assessment of demographic, metric and non-metric skeletal variables. Lectures will cover the biological basis for human skeletal variation, including sexual dimorphism, growth and development, senescence (aging) and variation within and between human populations. They will also cover how these data are interpreted and used by biological and forensic anthropologists in their study of past and contemporary human populations. Students will learn and apply lab based skills to record preservation, age-at-death, skeletal sex, body size variables including stature, population affinity and skeletal variations of genetic and environmental origin. They will apply the skills throughout the module to write a professional skeletal report.\
    \
    This module aims to provide students with the practical skills to record human skeletal variation, interpret this evidence to reconstruct demography and variation in past and contemporary populations and present the findings of novel lab-based analysis in a professional report. These skills are used by biological and forensic anthropologists working in  historical, legal and clinical settings.

    **15 credits**

Advanced Functional Anatomy
:   This module familiarises students with the human musculoskeletal system, providing knowledge of the head, neck and appendicular skeleton and its muscles and nerves, as well as insights into functional, developmental and comparative aspects of human morphology. Students will have the privilege of studying real human tissues and will apply their knowledge by evaluating the relationships amongst anatomical structures by using anatomical models and advanced digital software, including histological imaging, X-rays, CTs, MRIs, and 3D reconstructions.

    **15 credits**

Human Skeletal Anatomy
:   In this module the students are introduced to the human skeleton, both adult and immature, and comparative primate skeletons. They are provided with in depth information on how to recognise individual bones, how to side elements by being familiar with all pertinent landmarks. They will be introduced to the size and shape variation present in the skeleton of Homo sapiens, including variations due to sex, ethnic affinity, and temporal changes.

    **15 credits**

Science Communication Skills
:   Science communication is a fast-paced and rapidly changing field, requiring flexibility and adaptability. This module will introduce the latest technical, editing and media techniques needed to produce cutting-edge visuals and audio, and the fundamental storytelling and project-management skills to be able to deploy these techniques across the digital media platforms of today, and in the future.

    **15 credits**

Applied Bioarchaeological Science
:   This course acquaints the student with a number of scientific analytical techniques and methods which are pertinent to the interpretation of key questions in bioarchaeology. These include histology and microscopic, chemical and isotopic techniques, ancient DNA analysis, lipid analysis and proteomics. It provides a theoretical introduction as well as some practical experience in sample preparation methodologies, data collection and analysis. The potential and limitations of methods are discussed through specific case studies.

    **15 credits**

Advanced Forensic Anthropology: pathology and trauma
:   This module explores the macroscopic and microscopic impact of disease and injury on the human skeleton. It will examine the potential and limitations of studying disease in dry bones using concepts and case studies from bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology and medicine. Lectures will cover the aetiologies (causes), manifestations and interpretation of skeletal lesions caused by: infection by disease-causing pathogens; exposure to environmental risks; different historical and cultural lifestyles; and experience of trauma and violence. Students will learn and apply advanced analytical skills required to identify and investigate skeletal pathology and trauma on human remains in an osteological lab setting. They will apply the skills throughout the module to write a professional palaeopathological report.\
    \
    This module aims to provide students with the practical skills to identify disease and trauma in the human skeleton, interpret this evidence to reconstruct aspects of the health, lifestyle, mortality and behaviour of past and contemporary populations and present the findings of novel lab-based analysis in a professional report. These skills are used by palaeopathologists and forensic anthropologists working in  historical, legal and clinical settings.

    **15 credits**

Topics in Human Evolution
:   This module will involve class discussion, debate, and review of both historical and current research in the study of human evolution, including new hominid fossil descriptions, debates over interpretation and explanatory models of primate and hominid palaeobiology, theoretical and philosophical topics in evolution, and practical and technological advances in early hominid fossil and archaeological interpretation.

    **15 credits**

The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we will inform students and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

## Open days

Interested in postgraduate taught study?

- [Take part in our online open day](https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/visit/open-day "Postgraduate online open days") on **Wednesday 29 April**
- [Join us on a discovery afternoon](https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/visit/masters-study-discovery-afternoon "Masters study discovery afternoon") on **Tuesday 12 May**
- [Register your interest](https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/register-your-interest "Register your interest in postgraduate study at the University of Sheffield") in studying at Sheffield.

At the upcoming discovery afternoons you can book on to a **biological and life sciences session** to discover our broad range of courses across the discipline.

## Duration

1 year full-time

## Teaching

You’ll be taught through lectures, practical laboratory classes and seminars.

Your research project (dissertation) will allow you to work alongside an academic member of staff, conducting independent, novel research.

## Assessment

Your assessment includes, but isn’t limited to, essays, practical laboratory work, exams, project reports and a dissertation.

## Your career

With practical experience conducting analysis of skeletal remains, coupled with the theoretical training you’ll receive on this course, you’ll be well equipped to pursue a range of careers in academia, commercial archaeology, heritage management and museums.

Our previous graduates are now working in roles including:

- Forensic Analytical Services laboratory officer, Derbyshire Constabulary (Police)
- research archaeologist, George Washington Foundation (USA)
- field archaeologist, Hellenic Ministry of Culture
- mortuary support officer, Medico Legal Centre
- autopsy coordinator, Stony Brook Medicine
- biological defence analyst, NATO

If you’re thinking about continuing your research training, you’ll be well-equipped to pursue a PhD in a range of areas. These could be as diverse as health and disease in past populations, hominin evolution, human skeletal growth, variation and adaptation, and the development of new methods for studying human bone and teeth.

## School

### School of Biosciences

The School of Biosciences brings together more than 100 years of teaching and research expertise across the breadth of biology. It’s home to over 120 academics who are actively involved in research at the cutting edge of their field, sharing their knowledge with nearly 2,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Our expertise spans the breadth and depth of bioscience, including molecular and cell biology, genetics, development, human physiology and pharmacology through to evolution, ecology, biodiversity conservation, and sustainability. This makes us one of the broadest and largest groupings of the discipline and allows us to train the next generation of biologists in the latest research techniques and discoveries.

The school is based at the heart of the University campus, across the interlinked Firth Court, Alfred Denny, Florey, Perak and Addison buildings, which house lecture theatres, teaching labs and research facilities.

## Student profiles

[I've learnt so much by getting hands-on access to Sheffield's extensive human skeletal collection

 Aoife McCaughey

Now: Museum Assistant,
\
 Studying Human Osteology](https://sheffield.ac.uk/biosciences/postgraduate/student-profiles/aoife-mccaughey)

## Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in a relevant subject.

### **Subject requirements**

We accept degrees in the following subject areas:

- Archaeology
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biomedical Science
- Forensic Science
- Genetics
- Geography
- Geology
- Human Sciences
- Medicine
- Zoology

We assess each application on the basis of the applicant’s preparation and achievement as a whole. We may accept applicants whose qualifications don’t meet the published entry criteria but have other experience relevant to the course.

If required degree subjects and modules are listed, these are indicative only. Sometimes we may accept subjects or modules that aren’t listed, and sometimes we may not accept subjects or modules that are listed, depending on the content studied.

We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

[Entry requirements for international students](https://sheffield.ac.uk/international/applying/postgraduate-taught "Postgraduate taught")

### English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent

[Other English language qualifications we accept](https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/english-language "English language requirements for postgraduates")

### Other requirements

We will **not** ask you to provide references or referee details as part of the application.

### Pathway programme for international students

If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in [Science and Engineering](https://usic.sheffield.ac.uk/programmes/pre-masters/science-and-engineering ) or [Business, Social Sciences and Humanities](https://usic.sheffield.ac.uk/programmes/pre-masters/business-social-sciences-and-humanities ) at the [University of Sheffield International College](https://usic.sheffield.ac.uk/). This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please [contact the school](#contactus).

## Fees and funding

### Fees

### Funding

[Funding for postgraduate taught courses](https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/funding "Funding for postgraduate taught courses")

## Save on your course fees

### £3,000 scholarships for international students

Overseas fee-paying students joining in September 2026 will [automatically receive a £3,000 tuition fee discount](https://sheffield.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/scholarships/postgraduate/international-postgraduate-scholarship "International Postgraduate Scholarship 2026") (subject to eligibility) - no separate application form required.

### Save up to £2,500 on your course fees

Are you a Sheffield graduate? You could [save up to £2,500](https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/alumni-discount "Alumni Discount") on your postgraduate taught course fees, [subject to eligibility](https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/alumni-discount#terms-and-conditions "Alumni Discount").

## Apply

You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.

[Apply now](https://sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/apply/applying "How to apply")

## More information

[School of Biosciences](https://sheffield.ac.uk/biosciences/postgraduate)

## Contact

Start a conversation with us – you can get in touch by email, telephone or online chat.

[Contacts for prospective students](https://sheffield.ac.uk/contact/study "Contact us: course, application and study enquiries ")

Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

[Our student protection plan](https://sheffield.ac.uk/study/policies/student-protection-plan "Student protection plan")

Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read [information from the UK government](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/providing-services-to-any-country-in-the-eu-iceland-liechtenstein-norway-or-switzerland-after-eu-exit#recognition-of-professional-qualifications) and the [EU Regulated Professions Database](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/professional-qualifications/regulated-professions/index_en.htm).

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