Neil Godfrey
Student spotlight details
The Undergraduate Certificate in Archaeology opened the door to an exciting academic journey in archaeology for Neil, culminating with a Clarendon Scholarship to further his research through the part-time DPhil in Archaeology.
'Whilst my career has been in marketing, I have had a long-standing interest in archaeology. Although I had previously taken some short courses, it wasn’t until 2017 that I began formal studies on a part-time basis. I completed the Undergraduate Certificate in Archaeology in 2019, followed by the Advanced Diploma in British Archaeology in 2021. Two years later I completed the MSc in Applied Landscape Archaeology, before enrolling as a DPhil candidate in Michaelmas term, 2023.
'Although I had already completed degrees in different subjects, beginning my archaeological studies at undergraduate level was immensely valuable as it provided a solid foundation for later progression to the MSc, and eventually the DPhil. I learnt a great deal about the archaeology of various periods, along with exposure to a range of methodological and theoretical approaches.
'The MSc in Landscape Archaeology offered the ideal balance of academic study and field practice, and I received a thorough grounding in a range of techniques, methods and theoretical approaches. I particularly enjoyed the frequent field trips, and fieldwork conducted together with my fellow students. The in-depth training in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) provided on the course has proved essential for my MSc dissertation and subsequent DPhil research.
'The dissertations that I completed during my undergraduate and master's studies were key to developing my research skills and shaping my current research interests, which are focused on the archaeology of ritual and landscape. My undergraduate dissertation explored the Cult of Mithras and the landscape settings of Mithraea, whilst my MSc dissertation examined how landscape context influenced the positioning of Romano-Celtic temples. Building on the foundations established in my undergraduate and master's dissertations, my DPhil research focuses on exploring the landscape context of ritual, sacred space and burial in later Iron Age and Roman Britain.
'The exceptional quality of the teaching and support I have received has been key to my academic development in archaeology, and led to me securing a DPhil place and a Clarendon Scholarship. In addition to my academic studies, I have also really enjoyed serving as the student representative for part-time DPhil students, as well as getting involved in activities at my college and across the wider university.'
