Programme description

Martin Larsson

The staff are very supportive, and always suggests new spaces to develop your research.

In the case of Anthropology, it must be the most vibrant atmosphere there is in the UK at the moment, including the particular strength of Visual Anthropology.

Martin Larsson / PhD Social Anthropology Student

The Social Anthropology PhD programme involves substantial original research, normally including ethnographic fieldwork of 12-18 months and leading to the production of a thesis of up to 80,000 words. Throughout, students work closely with an expert supervisor, with further guidance from at least one extra supervisor.

Duration of the programme is three or four years, full-time study (or part-time equivalent). Its structure depends on prior qualification:

Students are registered on the PhD programme and, during the first year, take a set of research training courses. After about 10 months (or 20 in part-time study) you will produce a 12,000-15,000 word research proposal. This proposal is examined in an oral viva. Successful completion of this viva and of coursework at satisfactory level, is a condition for you to proceed to field research. After fieldwork, you will return to the University and start writing your dissertation under the guidance of your supervisors.

If you have successfully completed our MA Anthropological Research (or equivalent ESRC-recognised course in another UK institution), you may be in a position to start fieldwork as soon as is practicable, provided that you have submitted a satisfactory research proposal as part of that degree and it has been approved by the School of Social Sciences. After fieldwork, you will return to the University and start writing your dissertation under the guidance of your supervisors.

Currently, Social Anthropology at Manchester has a lively PhD community of over 50 students working in all of the world's continents and on a variety of topics. Find out what some of our postgraduate researchers are working on .

Teaching and learning

During the first year, students who have not taken the MA Anthropological Research or an equivalent, normally take a number of research training modules. Two core modules are Issues in Ethnographic Research 1 and 2, geared towards research design and planning of your field study. In addition, the postgraduate seminar provides a forum for presentation, discussion and reflection amongst peers. A series of optional courses offer skills in additional methods such as quantitative approaches, archival research, working with memory, conducting elite interviews, etc.

At the same time, under the individualised guidance of your supervisors, you will read extensively around your research topic as well as relevant theoretical literature. To deepen your knowledge, you may also take particular modules in social anthropology.

The objective of modules and supervision during the first year is to produce a 12-15,000 word research proposal, which is examined in an oral viva. Successful completion of this viva and of coursework at satisfactory level, is a condition for you to proceed to field research. After fieldwork, normally 12-18 months, depending on concrete case, you return to the University and start writing your dissertation and, in some cases, editing audio-visual material. During this time, you will continue to work with your supervisors and to present your written work to the postgraduate seminar.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (TA) in the School of Social Sciences are considered to be valued members of the teaching team. As such, we take pride in the opportunities provided for the professional development of TA's. Our training includes preparation for application to the Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, which brings a range of benefits:

consolidates your personal development and emphasises your professional practice in HE;

entitlement to use post-nominal letters - AFHEA;

provides a valuable measure of success and is increasingly sought by employers across the education sector as a condition of appointment and promotion;

Recognised and valued by a growing number of international institutions.

For more information, see Associate Fellowship HEA and details on how to apply for a TA position will be available here in due course.