Course description

The MA Anthropological Research course is designed to prepare students to carry out doctoral level research in social anthropology. It provides training in a wide range of research methods and teaches students how to develop a substantive research project in a theoretically and methodologically informed way. Although, primarily intended as preliminary to doctoral research, the course is also available as a stand-alone taught master's degree for people who wish to improve their social research skills and gain an in-depth understanding of ethnographic methods and approaches.

You will work closely with an expert supervisor in social anthropology, with further guidance from a second supervisor. All students attend the following core course units:

issues in ethnographic research I and II;

postgraduate research seminar;

independent theoretical and ethnographic analysis I; and

Introduction to quantitative methods.

In consultation with your supervisor, you will also select three short, 5 credit modules in qualitative or quantitative research methods. Computer training is also available.

You may then select two specialist course units, of which one must be within social anthropology (options vary from year to year) and one may be elsewhere in the University.

Teaching and learning

Part-time students complete the full-time course over two years. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time route.  

You must first check the schedule of the compulsory modules and then select your optional modules to suit your requirements.  

Updated timetable information will be available from mid-August and you will have the opportunity to discuss your module choices during induction week with your course director.

Coursework and assessment

Under the guidance of your supervisors, you are required to complete eight course units and a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation which is, in effect, a doctoral fieldwork research proposal.

This is prepared over the summer period and presented in September. Most course units, including the postgraduate research seminar, are assessed by essays of up to 4,000 words. Some units also involve assessment of presentations and practical work.