MA Anthropological Research / Overview

Year of entry: 2026

Degree awarded
Master of Arts (MA)
Duration
1 year
Entry requirements

Minimum UK 2:1 (or overseas equivalent) in social anthropology or in a degree where social anthropology formed a major component.

When assessing your academic record we consider your degree subject, grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

Full entry requirements

How to apply
Apply online

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MA Y N N N

Course overview

  • Study a master’s in Anthropological Research at a university ranked top 10 in the UK and top 25 worldwide (QS World University Rankings 2025).
  • Join a department that was born to break the mould. Founded by the trailblazing anthropologists interested in social change, conflict and urbanisation in colonial and post-colonial Africa, we have championed a socially engaged, accessible, and high-quality study of anthropology from day one.
  • Pioneer your own research project with support from our expert staff, who are conducting global studies from Everest to the Arctic.
  • Develop your research skills with a master’s course that is part of the North West Doctoral Training Centre, one of the largest doctoral training centres that has awarded over 450 PhD studentships.
  • Learn from our first-rate facilities and resources, such as the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology.
  • Graduate from one of the UK’s most targeted universities by top employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2024).
  • Seamlessly transition from master's to PhD study through a fully-funded 1+3 pathway with our prestigious ESRC North West Social Sciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP).

Open days

The University holds regular open days, where you will have the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses.

On this day, you will find out more about the School, our resources, and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

See open days and visits for more information.

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MA (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £18,400
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £31,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

For information on available scholarships please visit: Master’s Fees and Funding

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Social Sciences
Contact name
School of Social Sciences Admissions Office
Telephone
+44 (0) 161 306 5500
Email
Website
https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/social-anthropology/
School/Faculty overview

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

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You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.