Course description
The MA Anthropological Research course is designed to prepare you to carry out doctoral level research in social anthropology. It provides training in a wide range of research methods and teaches you how to develop a substantive research project in a theoretically and methodologically informed way.
Note that although the MAAR is listed as a taught MA, it is in actuality like a first year PhD programme. This means that MAAR students take classes with first year PhD students. MAAR students should also have a fairly clear idea of their dissertation topic by the time they arrive, although this can change in the course of the programme. Normally, there are only two or three MAAR students per year so you will have a small cohort.
Although, primarily intended as preliminary to doctoral research, the course is also available as a stand-alone taught master's degree to improve your social research skills and gain an in-depth understanding of ethnographic methods and approaches.
You will work closely with an expert supervisor in social anthropology, with further guidance from a second supervisor. All students attend the following core course units:
- Issues in Ethnographic Research I andII;
- Postgraduate ResearchSeminar;
- Independent Theoretical and Ethnographic Analysis I; and
- Introduction to Quantitative Methods.
In consultation with your supervisor, you will also select threeshort, five credit units in qualitative or quantitative research methods. Computer training is also available.
You may then select two specialist course units, of which one must be within social anthropology (options vary from year to year) and one may be elsewhere in the University.
Teaching and learning
You must first check the schedule of the compulsory course units and then select your optional units to suit your requirements.
Updated timetable information will be available from mid-August and you will have the opportunity to discuss your unit choices during induction week with your Course Director.
Coursework and assessment
Under the guidance of your supervisors, you are required to complete eight course units and a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation which is, in effect, a doctoral fieldwork research proposal.
This is prepared over the summer period and presented in September. Most course units, including the postgraduate research seminar, are assessed by essays of up to 4,000 words. Some units also involve assessment of presentations and practical work.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Theoretical & Ethnographic Analysis I | SOAN60771 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Issues in Ethnographic Research I | SOAN70641 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Issues in Ethnographic Research II | SOAN70652 | 15 | Mandatory |
| PG Research Seminar | SOAN70940 | 15 | Mandatory |
| MAAR Dissertation | SOAN72000 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Qualitative Research Methods | SOCS60230 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Introduction to Quantitative Methods | SOST70511 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Anthropology of Development and Humanitarianism | SOAN60112 | 15 | Optional |
| Migrants, Borders and Im/mobilities | SOAN60252 | 15 | Optional |
| Urban Anthropology in Britain | SOAN60382 | 15 | Optional |
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Scholarships and bursaries
The School offers a number of awards for students applying for master's study.
To find our more, please visit our master's funding opportunity search page.
Facilities
Social Anthropology, and the School of Social Sciences of which it is part, are based in a modern building with 24/7 access.
There is shared workspace available for research students within social anthropology, including networked computers and printing facilities. There are also work areas elsewhere in the building and in the University which are available.