MPhil in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology

at University of Oxford

First year
 

The first year of the MPhil consists of a structured programme of lectures, classes, and tutorials from October to June. You will then start the research for their MPhil dissertation over the summer.
 

You should expect to spend six to eight hours per week in term time in formal teaching contexts (lectures, seminar groups, tutorials, classes), which can be supplemented with attendance of the many research and visiting speaker seminars on offer; the remainder of your time (ie around 30 hours per week) should be spent on independent study and preparation of submitted work. 
 

The first year of the MPhil is structured around teaching for four papers. 
 

Contemporary themes in visual, material and museum anthropology

This paper focuses on topics such as visual culture (including photography, the internet, art and aesthetics); music and performance; museum ethics and relationships with 'source communities'; landscape and the built environment; dress and body modification; religion and ritual; material culture, mass production and trade; debates concerning tradition, modernity and authenticity; transnational cultural flows and the wider issues of cross-cultural investigation.
 

Option paper

You will select one option paper from those taught each year for students in the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography (SAME). Titles of options available will be made known at the beginning of each academic year.
 

 Research methods in visual, material and museum anthropology

This paper consists of two parts. Paper 3a is an outline proposal for the MSc dissertation. Paper 3b is a methods portfolio consisting of reports (including notes) on trials of three visual and material anthropological methods and/or ethnographic museological methods relevant to the research proposed in paper 3a.
 

Fundamental concepts in visual, material, and museum anthropology

This paper focuses on anthropology’s distinctive contribution to understanding social and cultural form and process, and the role of human creativity within them, with particular reference to artefacts of material and visual culture, and to the collection, display, production, circulation and consumption of such artefacts.
 

Second year
 

You will spend the summer conducting preliminary research. You will then focus principally on research and writing for your thesis in the second year, so the emphasis is on independent study. However, you will still be expected to spend three to four hours per week in term time in formal teaching contexts, including a writing-up seminar and field research training, as well as regular meetings with your thesis supervisor, again supplemented by attendance of research seminars and lectures as you choose.
 

Fieldwork is not expected as a basis for the MPhil thesis, but it can be conducted, and you will be encouraged to make use of the extensive visual and material cultural resources available in the department and the museum in selecting and researching dissertation and thesis topics.
 

You will also take another option paper, again selected from any of the options offered within the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography.

Degree-level qualifications


As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
 

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any discipline.
• Under the UK system, applicants should have a minimum of 65% in at least one prior degree.
• For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.
   

GRE General Test scores

• No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.
• Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience
• Publications are not expected of applicants.
   

Further guidance

The conditions for applicants to proceed from an Oxford master's degree to a doctorate are: 

• a viable project
• agreed supervision
• an overall mark of at least 67% in an Oxford anthropology master's degree
• the agreement of the School of Anthropology as a whole.
   

This degree involves the close analysis of published sources as well as verbal and written critical reflections in the form of oral presentations, essays and exam answers. It is therefore essential to your chance of successfully completing the program that you meet these higher-level English language requirements as stipulated by the University.

Home  
 £21,570

Overseas    
£35,180

Many graduates enter teaching and research, though this often requires a doctorate. Others often go on to work in  museums and galleries, design and market research companies, development agencies, NGOs etc.