Master of Arts (Honours) Social Anthropology

at University of St Andrews

Modules
In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours), you will take the required modules in social anthropology alongside modules in at least one other subject.

Typically, you will take one social anthropology module per semester during your first two years, and two modules per semester during your third and fourth year (known as Honours). 

Find out more about the modular Scottish degree system.

First year
Students will take the following compulsory first-year module:

• Ways of Thinking: concentrates on the ways in which human beings think about their worlds and on the different modes of thought and systems of belief that are manifest in societies across the world. Covering a range of ethnographic areas of study, both classical and contemporary, the module aims to stimulate new ways of thinking anthropologically about human being and becoming.

Second year

Students will take both of the following second-year modules: 

• Ethnographic Encounters: explores the emergence of fieldwork practice in social anthropology, and reflexively considers the social, methodological and theoretical relations produced through ethnography.
• The Foundations of Social Anthropology: explores the history of theory in anthropology that underlies our current understanding of anthropology as the comparative study of human social experience.

These grades are the overall standards required to consider you for entry. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

• Home-funded  -  £1820
• RUK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) and Republic of Ireland  -  £9250
• Islands (Channel Islands, Isle of Man)  -  £9250
• EU and overseas  -  £26350

A degree in social anthropology is important for any career where knowledge of other cultures is vital, such as in overseas development or in community relations work. Graduates from the Social Anthropology MA have entered into a wide range of careers, including the diplomatic service, social work, law and business.

Popular career paths for social anthropology graduates include:

• advertising and marketing
• civil service
• education and social work
• human rights
• humanitarian aid
• international or non-profit organisations
• media and journalism.