It has taken 7 million years of struggle to make us ‘human.’ How did we get here and why? In our Human Evolution MSc you'll investigate the biological and behavioural changes that made us the species we call 'Homo sapiens'.
Introduction
Our MSc offers the unique opportunity to benefit from two institutions specialisms’ as your programme will be delivered by University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University in collaboration.
Liverpool John Moores University will help you gain expertise in the human fossil record, ancient DNA / proteomics and Neanderthal archaeology / spatial analysis. You will benefit from dedicated laboratory facilities for osteological analyses and practical field training in the excavation and recording of human skeletal remains. Liverpool John Moores University’s collaboration with The Poulton Trust will provide you with access to archaeological sites with burials and large skeletal collections for practical training.
University of Liverpool will provide you with expertise in the early archaeological records of Africa and Eurasia, archaeological and evolutionary theory, as well as ecological, environmental, and climate change modelling. We have dedicated facilities and support staff for undertaking materials analysis linked to experimental archaeology and 3D modelling. The Professor Elizabeth Slater Laboratories for Archaeological Science provide analytical tools including scanning electron microscopy [SEM-EDX], a visualisation suite for 3D modelling of artefacts, and microscopes for use-wear analysis of stone tools.
Through the research-led teaching on our MSc you will be fully involved in the human evolution research community, and will learn about the latest theoretical orientations, methods, and discoveries.
Please note this programme is subject to final approval.
Who is this course for?
This MSc is for graduates who have an undergraduate degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, Biology, or other related discipline and want to further investigate the biological and behavioural changes that made us Homo sapiens. Past practical experience will also be considered in lieu of achieving the required undergraduate degree (or grade) on a case-by-case basis.
What you'll learn
Advanced practical and theoretical experience in the methods and practice of human evolution research
Hands-on training in archaeological fieldwork, including excavation of human remains
Knowledge of the human fossil record, ancient DNA, proteomics, Neanderthal archaeology and spatial analysis
Insight into the early archaeological records of Africa and Eurasia, archaeological and evolutionary theory, as well as ecological, environmental, and climate change modelling
To engage independently and critically with a significant body of data on the foundations of human evolutionary studies
To communicate orally and in written work, and to evaluate critically the work and research of others
Transferable skills in analysis, computing, and the scientific method which enhance employment prospects
Knowledge of a wide range of perspectives, cultures, and practices, and benefits of variation and diversity within the human species
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Semester one
You will take 60 credits of required modules in semester one.
Compulsory modules
EARLY TECHNOLOGIES (ALGY763)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
We live in a time of unprecedented technological change. As a species we are reliant on technological solutions to many of the world’s problems, including those created by technology such as climate change. This module provides the deep time context for understanding how we came to be so dependent on the things we make. We will examine the archaeological evidence for early technologies based on stone, bone and wood. And we will consider the social processes in learning to be a toolmaker.
You will learn to make some simple stone tools and to analyse the tools in terms of the planning and knowledge of the materials involved. Basic descriptive statistics forms part of your practical skills learning. You will use these skills in the main assessment which is a written comparison of the tools you and your classmates have created. We conclude with a consideration of the broad sweep of general purpose technologies that are the foundations of our world.
PALAEOANTHROPOLOGY (ALGY751)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
The module will cover the key issues and topics in palaeoanthropology, ranging from the origins of the earliest hominins to modern humans, the biomechanics of bipedalism, and our distinct growth pattern and life-history.
ADVANCED OSTEOLOGY AND SKELETAL PATHOLOGY (ALGY753)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
In this module students will learn to identify and describe the human skeleton, become familiar with animal bones and learn how to differentiate between the two.
Practical and ethical considerations of the curation of human skeletal collections will be considered. Issues in working with commingled remains and identifying skeletal pathologies will also be considered
ANCIENT DNA AND PROTEOMICS (ALGY752)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
Ancient DNA is an extremely powerful tool for understanding the population history of our species. Recent methodological advances have led to a rapid expansion of the field and to its establishment as a vital component to other bioarchaeological methods for analysing ancient human remains. In this module, students will acquire critical knowledge about the main ancient DNA findings which have emerged in the last decade. Emphasis will be given to the acquisition of computational skills for the analysis of genetic data which are in high demand in both academic and industrial settings, therefore increasing the students’ future job prospects.
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
Semester two
You will take 45 credits of required modules and 15 credits of optional modules in semester two.
Compulsory modules
ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD SKILLS (ALGY754)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
This module is compulsory for LJMU Bioarchaeology and LJMU/UoL Human Evolution MSc students. For the Bioarchaeology and Human Evoloution students, the module is well integrated with the other modules on the programme.
RESEARCH METHODS (ALGY755)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
The aim of this module is to provide extensive training in generic research knowledge and statistical techniques for the Natural Sciences. It will provide the student with a broad appreciation of research methods and methodology including an understanding of the uses and limitations of different research methods. It will teach the students how to design and execute a research project keeping in mind feasibility, ethics, data protection, and project logistics and funding. In addition, attention will be given to dissemination to both academic and non-academic audiences: from writing academic manuscripts to creating blogs and speaking to the media. Univariate and multivariate statistics will be taught by lectures and online exercises, and students will be introduced to statistical software packages such as SPSS and R.
HUMAN VARIATION AND ADAPTATION: BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES (ALGY750)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
Humans are perhaps the most behaviourally variable species on the planet; we are also, like all other species, a product of evolution by natural selection. This module will link human variation and adaptation by recourse to the fundamental tenets of evolutionary theory, and will examine how the major processes of evolution (mutation, selection, migration, and drift) are reflected in both the biological and cultural characteristics of our species. Lectures will establish key theoretical principles, and seminars will guide students through individual case studies on aspects of hominin and human biological and cultural adaptation. In doing so, the module will examine how our ancestors have been shaped by evolutionary processes, as well as investigating the role of natural selection in the future of our species.
Optional modules
DECIPHERING SYMBOLS: APPROACHES TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE EARLIEST SYMBOLIC BEHAVIOUR (ALGY761)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
In the last 15 years, specialists have largely agreed that the defining characteristic of the behavioural abilities of modern humans is the ability to use symbolism defined as the use of one thing – such as a word, an object, a colour, or an image – to make reference to another. The recognition and identification of symbols and the interpretation of symbolic behaviour through the archaeological record, however, is considerably harder to prove than say, especially in the context of the first possible evidence.
There are significant problems in knowing what early symbols and symbolic behaviour might look like, the contexts in which it might operate and the advantages, if any, of its use as individuals living within cultures that are full of symbols and symbolic activity, and have been this way for tens of thousands of years. This module addresses three key aspects of symbolic activity in the context of human evolution. The first aspect relates to the identification of a symbolic and materially embodied behaviour as a distinctive and new element of anatomically modern humans and the inferred advantages that this capacity conveyed over hominins that did not possess it. The second looks at the evidence for the first material culture that is unambiguously identified as symbolic and the context of its interpretation. The third looks at evidence for more complex information recorded or presented symbolically, and the manner in which we can ‘read’ and unambiguously interpret these artefacts. As part of this process we shall also explore the various different ways in which symbolism, art, design, and communication have been given shape through academic language through the anthropological, art historical and psychological literature.
DENTAL ANTHROPOLOGY (ALGY756)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
This module provides advanced training in the identification of teeth. It will also cover topics that will allow the student to determine origins, phylogenetic affinities, diet, and many other facets of life experience and population structure from human and primate teeth.
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
Final Project
You will undertake your dissertation over the summer vacation period.
Compulsory modules
ACE MA AND MSC DISSERTATION (ALGY600)
Credits: 60 /
Semester: summer
ALGY600 provides the framework for MA students, in the Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, to undertake independent guided research on a scholarly topic of relevance in the discipline of their choice. This substantial piece of work is developed and written up over the course of the M-level study in conjunction with the ‘taught’ component of the programme.
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
How you'll learn
Your modules will be delivered through a combination of formal lectures, student-led seminars and extensive practical and workshop instruction. The focus will be on research-led teaching, and you will be offered practical classes in numerous sub-fields
The modules are designed to guide you to identify your own learning needs and the resources to address them. This will go on to prepare you for your research project, including planning of research, research design, time management, ethics, and health and safety.
How you're assessed
The MSc in Human Evolution uses a wide range of assessment methods, including coursework (critiques, reports, research design, professional reports, and essays), tests, and oral presentations (group and individual).
Assessment elements are regularly structured for you to benefit from the feedback that they provide. Formative assessments include bi-weekly quizzes embedded in the first semester module Advanced Osteology and Skeletal Pathology, to help you transition from undergraduate to postgraduate learning.
The MSc focuses on authentic assessment via tasks such as fieldwork and lithic reports. Through studying the diversity of human societies, you will develop a truly global perspective.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
Your experience
The Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology is part of the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures. Teaching takes place across campus, including in specialist facilities in the Central Teaching Hub and Garstang Museum of Archaeology.
Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
Why Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at University of Liverpool?
Fantastic on-campus facilities such as the Garstang Museum with its outstanding archaeological collections and GIS suite for archaeological drawing
Our extensive laboratories used for conservation, lithics, geomagnetism, stable isotope, trace elements, finds processing and sample preparation
An enviable library which has been built up since the Ancient World and Archaeology has been studied at Liverpool since the 1880s
Opportunities to learn ancient languages such as Greek, Latin, Akkadian, Sumerian, Egyptian and Coptic
Archaeological projects based internationally, in Egypt, Greece, Bulgaria, Jordan, Turkey, Italy, Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa, as well as in the British Isles
Our MSc in Human Evolution will offer you the opportunity to learn a set of scientific skills useful in future careers in academia, in the private sector, or in associated scientific or heritage industries.
The core module, Research Methods, includes employability-focused topics such as; CV writing and applying for jobs, project logistics, communicating your work outside academia, creating websites, use of social media and grant applications.
All students will have their own personal supervisor, allowing for targeted conversations about research (e.g. dissertation research) and future employment.
Our Human Evolution MSc will help you to develop a skill set including data collection and statistical analysis, scientific writing, public presentations, and working as a team, which will be valuable for many careers.
Career support from day one to graduation and beyond
With an MSc in Human Evolution, you may choose to go on to a PhD programme in a more specific area of the Life Sciences, or pursue a career in the following areas:
natural and social sciences
cognition and psychology
genetics
forensic science
archaeological science
zoology
primatology
animal husbandry
veterinary science
museum management
academic research
You will also be eligible to gain employment in:
teaching
the civil service
science communication and science policy through governmental and non-governmental organisations, including journalism
field and laboratory science-related roles across a range of employment sectors.
Fees and funding
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Tuition fees
UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)
Full-time place, per year
£11,700
Part-time place, per year
£5,850
International fees
Full-time place, per year
£24,100
Part-time place, per year
£12,050
Fees stated are for the 2025-26 academic year.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan worth up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs. Learn more about fees and funding.
Additional costs
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
We accept a 2:2 honours degree from a UK university, or an equivalent academic qualification from a similar non-UK institution. This degree should be in Archaeology, Anthropology, Biology or a closely related subject.
Past practical experience will also be considered as an alternative, on a case-by-case basis.
International qualifications
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet our entry requirements, you could be eligible for a Pre-Master’s course. This is offered on campus at the University of Liverpool International College, in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways. It’s a specialist preparation course for postgraduate study, and when you pass the Pre-Master’s at the required level with good attendance, you’re guaranteed entry to a University of Liverpool master’s degree.
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
English language qualification
Requirements
IELTS
6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0
TOEFL iBT
88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 21, writing 21, reading 22, speaking 23. . TOEFL Home Edition not accepted.
PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH
Do you need to complete a Pre-Sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-Sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your postgraduate studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
To fully immerse yourself in the university experience living in halls will keep you close to campus where you can always meet new people. Find your home away from home.
Discover what expenses are covered by the cost of your tuition fees and other finance-related information you may need regarding your studies at Liverpool.
Contact us
Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.
