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Social Anthropology – (M.A.)
School of Oriental and African Studies
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Programme website
- University Website
- City government site
- Student experiences about the UK - STeXX.eu
| Application Deadline: | June 30 | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 5,641 - ≈ € 15,000 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | London / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
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| Education Variants: |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of School of Oriental and African Studies
The programme is designed on a modular basis offering different pathways to suit, broadly, three categories of students: Students with a degree in social anthropology wishing to pursue more specialist topics and/or more regional and language-based study Students with little or no previous knowledge of social anthropology wishing to acquire a broad knowledge of the discipline Students with little or no previous knowledge of social anthropology wishing to take the degree as a conversion course before proceeding to a research degree in anthropology The Department of Anthropology and Sociology teaches the discipline of Social Anthropology with special reference to the societies and cultures of Asia and Africa, both past and present. The emphasis given to particular regions and approaches varies with current trends in the discipline and contemporary global developments.
Students come to the course from all over the world, following BA study, work and travel experience or after long careers in other fields.
Many of our students have not previously trained as anthropologists. This combination of diverse experience and skills makes for an intellectually exciting atmosphere for both teachers and students.
The MA degree programme in Social Anthropology is designed on a modular basis offering different pathways to suit, broadly, three categories of student:
- Students with a degree in social anthropology wishing to pursue more specialist topics and/or more regional and language-based study;
- Students with little or no previous knowledge of social anthropology wishing to acquire a broad knowledge of the discipline;
- Students with little or no previous knowledge of social anthropology wishing to take the degree as a conversion course before proceeding to a research degree in anthropology, who are required to pass all the examinations with appropriately high marks.
Contents
The programme consists of four units in total: three units of examined courses and a one unit dissertation of 10,000 words.
Core Courses:- Comparative Studies of Society and Culture - 15PANC073 (1.0 unit).
- Dissertation in Anthropology and Sociology - 15PANC999 (1.0 unit). This is a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic agreed with the Programme Convenor of the MA Social Anthropology and the candidate’s supervisor.
- Additionally all MA Anthropology students 'audit' the course Ethnographic Research Methods during term 1 - this will not count towards your 4 units.
Foundation Course:
- Theoretical Approaches to Social Anthropology - 15PANC008 (1.0 unit). This is compulsory only for students without a previous anthropology degree.
Option Courses:
- The remaining unit(s) of your programme, either 1 unit of option courses (if taking Theoretical Approaches to Social Anthropology) or 2 units (if exempted from Theoretical Approaches to Social Anthropology), may then be selected from the Option Courses list below.
- Your 1 or 2 total units may be made up of any combination of 0.5 or 1 unit option courses.
- Alternatively, one language course may be taken from the Faculty of Languages and Cultures.
Programme Detail
Core Courses
- Comparative Studies of Society and Culture - 15PANC073 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Dissertation in Anthropology and Sociology - 15PANC999 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Foundation Course
- Theoretical Approaches to Social Anthropology - 15PANC008 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Option Courses
Full Unit Anthropology Options
- Culture and Society of China - 15PANC089 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of East Africa - 15PANC084 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of Japan - 15PANC086 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of South Asia - 15PANC087 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of South East Asia - 15PANC088 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of the Near & Middle East - 15PANC097 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of West Africa - 15PANC083 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Half Unit Anthropology Options
- African and Asian Diasporas in the Modern World - 15PANH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- African and Asian Cultures in Britain - 15PANH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Anthropology of travel and tourism A - 15PANH051 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Anthropology of travel and tourism B - 15PANH052 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Anthropology of Urban Space, Place and Architecture - 15PANH029 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Approaches to the Other in Horror and Science Fiction Films - 15PANH043 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Comparative Media Theory - 15PANH028 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Ethnographic Research Methods - 15PANH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Issues in the Anthropology of Film - 15PANH022 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives A (Masters) - 15PANH047 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives B (Masters) - 15PANH048 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012 - Must be taken with the first term course - 15PANH047 Comparative Study of Islam: Anthropological Perspectives A (Masters)
- Issues in the Anthropology of Gender - 15PANH024 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not to be combined with 15PDSH010 Gender & Development.
- Food, Body and Society - 15PANH041 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Cannot be taken with 15PANH042 Food, Development And The Global Economy
- Food, Development and the Global Economy - 15PANH042 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Cannot be taken with 15PANH041 Food, Body And Society
- Perspectives On Development - 15PANH033 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Therapy and Culture - 15PANH027 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Courses taught outside the Department of Anthropology
These courses are available subject to the approval of the course convenor and the agreement of the MA Social Anthropology programme convenor. Students may take no more than one full unit of courses taught outside of the Department of Anthropology. A language course unit in the Faculty of Languages & Cultures may also be taken instead. Alternatively, an approved Area or General course from the Music Department can be taken. See the Music Department’s website for details.
- Media Production Skills - 15PANH050 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Iranian Cinema - 15PMSH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Post-crisis Thai Cinema (1997-2007) - 15PSEH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- (Post) Colonialism and Otherness in South East Asia on Screen - 15PSEH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Genders and Sexualities in South East Asian Film - 15PSEH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Selected Texts From Mahayana Sutra Buddhism - 15PSRH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Indian Mahayana Buddhism - 15PSRH005 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Features of Buddhist Monasticism - 15PSRH014 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Esoteric Buddhism in India and Tibet - 15PSRH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Central Concepts and Tenets of Indian Buddhism - 15PSRH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Buddhist Scriptures: Mahayana and Vajrayana - 15PSRH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Tibetan Buddhist Texts From Central Asia - 15PSRH004 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- The Buddhist Conquest of Central Asia - 15PSRH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Buddhist Rituals - 15PSRH012 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Death and Religion - 15PSRC162 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Practice of Warfare in Pre-Colonial Sub-Saharan Africa - 15PHIH004 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- History and Doctrines of Indian Buddhism - 15PSRC059 (1 Unit) - Full Year
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test if you come from a non-English speaking country.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
More informationRequirements
Applicants should have a first or good second class honours bachelors degree from a UK university, or equivalent, in a subject appropriate to that of the programme to be followed. As an approximate comparison, an equivalent BA from a US university would have a Grade Point Average of either 3.3 or 3.5 depending on the awarding university. If an applicant does not have a bachelors degree in an appropriate field s/he may be required to complete a qualifying year or a one year diploma before entering the masters programme. Relevant work experience may also be taken into consideration. Individual courses may have specific entry requirements, so you are advised to consult the postgraduate prospectus for further information.
English language requirements
In order to ensure that SOAS students have a sufficient standard of English to study effectively, we require overseas students to submit evidence, during the application process, of their current level of proficiency.
Score for Unconditional Entry
- IELTS: Overall 7+ with at least 7 in all sub scores
- TOEFL: iBT105+ with at least 25 in all sub scores
- Pearson Test of English - Academic: Score of 75 or above with at least 70 in all sub scores
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 7.0 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 105 |
Funding details
Scholarships and BursariesThere are some scholarships and bursaries available for postgraduate students. These are very competitive and early application is advised.
Loans
Another way to fund your studies is through educational loans. Some high street banks offer loans for education. The other option is a career development loan. Before taking out a loan ensure that you understand what the repayments will be and that you will be able to afford them.
Professional and Career Development LoansA Professional and Career Development Loan is a bank loan for UK students designed to help you pay for your course. Repayments start one month after you complete your course. You can borrow between £300 and £8,000. The bank will approve your loan according to your credit rating.
US Federal LoansEligible US students can apply for Stafford Federal Loans, Federal Plus and private loans to cover their tuition and maintenance costs.
The Registry Fees and Scholarship section can also certify student registration for other loans, such as Canadian educational loans.
Please contact:
- Registry Fees Section if you have any queries on educational loans or fees for degree courses.
- Noel Connaughton for fees information for occasional courses, certificates and diplomas.
- CEFIMS for fees information for distance learning courses.
Other Sources of Funding
Useful funding information can also be found at:
- Hotcourses Scholarship Search
- HERO funding information for research students
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