Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Arts
- Duration
- TBA
- Entry requirements
-
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline for entry to our MA programme.
- How to apply
TBA
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA | Y | N | N | N |
Course overview
Use anthropology to understand people, cultures and urgent social questions.
- Build research, analytical, and communication skills that translate across the Civil Service, international NGOs, the cultural sector, and beyond, at the UK’s most targeted university by top employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2026).
- Become a specialist in ethnographic research methods and learn how to use anthropological approaches to make a difference in the world. Apply your skills to address real-world problems such as inequality, identity, migration, development, climate change, and social justice with project partners in Greater Manchester.
- Benefit from our world-leading facilities and resources, such as film-making, sound-recording, and other multimedia tools at the Granada Centre for Visual Anthropology .
- Study at one of the UK's largest and most internationally recognised anthropology departments, ranked top 10 in the UK and top 25 worldwide (QS World University Rankings 2025).
Our students. Real experiences. Visit the Students Stories page to hear from our students as they share what it’s really like to study here.
Open days
The University holds regular events throughout the year, including webinars and the annual on-campus Master's Expo, all of which offer the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses from our academic and admissions staff.
We also attend a number of education fairs both in the UK and overseas throughout the year.
For more details on how you can meet us, visit our events page: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/meet-us/
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
We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.
- Learn more about - student finance options for UK students .
- Learn more about - fees and finance for international students.
- Graduates of The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University can receive a 10% discount on their master's degree tuition fees as part of our Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount scheme.
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Social Sciences
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: School Subjects
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline for entry to our MA programme.
English language
Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:
IELTS Academic test score of 7 overall, including 7 in writing with no further component score below 6.5
TOEFL IBT 100 with 25 in writing and no further score below 22 in each section. TOEFL code for Manchester is 0757. From 2026: 5 overall, with 5 in writing and no other subskill below 4.5
Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 76 overall, with 76 in writing and no further score below 70
Priority will be given to applicants who have provided evidence of meeting these scores when making offers.
Further information on accepted language requirements can be found here .
Pre-Sessional English Courses
We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you may be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.
To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:
6 Week Pre-Sessional Course: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one sub-skill of 6.0.
10 Week Pre-sessional Course: IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 or above in each sub-skill
If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate to ensure that you are eligible for a separate visa for the English language course.
English language test validity
Application and selection
How to apply
TBA
Course details
Course description
From migration and inequality to health and what it means to be human, the world’s most complex global challenges demand anthropological thinking. By studying our MA in Public and Applied Anthropology, you will develop the theoretical grounding and research skills to understand people's lived experiences and contribute to real-world solutions.
You will engage with classic and cutting-edge anthropological debates, framed as theoretical and methodological tools for social engagement, collaboration, and transformation. As one of the largest social anthropology departments in one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in the UK, there’s no shortage of topics you could cover.
Our innovative course is taught by expert academics, both with practical experience in the field and a real passion for enhancing your learning experience.
From day one, you'll be working with ethnographic research methods. Our core course units will equip you to understand and apply anthropological theory and qualitative methods to contemporary social issues, through individual and group activities. Your dissertation is your opportunity to develop original research on a question that matters to you.
You can also to tailor your course to fit your interests with an array of optional units.
Throughout your studies you’ll benefit from personalised support, allowing you to develop transferable skills in research, critical enquiry, and creative thinking. You will graduate with the skills and experience you need for a successful career in a variety of sectors.
Special features
A prestigious department
Manchester is one of the world’s best institutions for the study and practice of social anthropology. Whilst studying with us, you’ll work alongside expert researchers operating across five continents. Our staff conducts fieldwork from Arctic communities to Latin America, from post-conflict Africa to outer space. Your teaching is informed directly by this specialist knowledge.
Real-world impact
We put theory into practice. Our students and academics are making a difference on the global stage across multiple sectors. For example, our research has provided crucial insight at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, to British Nuclear Fuels on the decommissioning of nuclear power plants, and to anti-racist organisations and artists in Latin America.
Put the theory into practice
Design and lead your own ethnographic research project, supported by specialists whose work is actively shaping policy, business, and cultural understanding globally.
Course unit details
A master’s degree is formed of 180 credits.
On the MA Public and Applied Anthropology, there are seven mandatory course units, as well as a compulsory research component worth 60 credits. Your compulsory research component will take the form of a 12,000-word Advanced Anthropology Capstone: Dissertation or Applied Project.
You will also choose optional course units worth 15 credits each.
The availability of individual optional course units may be subject to change. Information that is sent to you in August about registration onto the course will clearly state the course units that are available in the academic year ahead.
Part-time students
Part-time students take four out of the five compulsory course units in the first year and then take the other one in year two. The remaining 60 credits of optional course units are selected and taken accordingly over the two years.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
Career opportunities
The University of Manchester is the most targeted university by the UK’s top graduate employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2026).
Our MA in Public and Applied Anthropology course gives you the specialist skills required for a range of careers, such as in:
- the media and cultural industries;
- the Civil Service and public sector;
- the business and charity sector;
- international humanitarian institutions like the UN.
You will also acquire vital skills relevant to many different sectors and roles, such as research design, effective communication, and teamwork. In the past few years, our graduates have gone on to successful careers in:
- think tanks and pressure groups;
- social research;
- business and management;
- data analysis;
- arts, culture and heritage
- academia and teaching.
Another popular option is to continue specialising for a career in research and universities through a PhD in Social Anthropology at Manchester or a similar subject.
Careers support
At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability , such as careers fairs, employer presentations, and workshops through the University’s dedicated Careers Service . As a student at Manchester, you would have full access to this service during your studies and for two years after you graduate.