Master of Arts
MA Social Anthropology
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Overview
Course overview
- Study a master’s in Social Anthropology 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 research spanning Africa, the Artic, Latin America, Asia and even outer space.
- Benefit 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).
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.
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Social Sciences
- Contact name
- School of Social Sciences Admissions Office
- Telephone
- +44 (0) 161 306 5500
- pg-soss@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/social-anthropology/
- 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.
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a Lower-Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline for entry to our Postgraduate Diploma.
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.
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
- 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
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Applicants from Majority English-speaking countries
If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country (or have studied for a full bachelor's degree or higher from one of these countries) you may be exempt from submitting further evidence of English language proficiency.
Other international entry requirements
We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students, the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our country-specific information page for guidance on the academic and English language qualifications which may be accepted from your country.
Fees and funding
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2026, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MA (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £15,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £31,500 -
MA (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £7,500
International, including EU, students (per annum): £15,750 -
PGDip (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £12,200
International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,000 -
PGDip (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £6,100
International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,500
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
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Please note, due to the high volume of applications we receive, an early application is advised.
If you meet our entry requirements but we are unable to make you an offer, you may be placed on a waiting list.
Candidates on a waiting list will receive an offer only if places become available.
Re-applications
Course details
Course description
There’s never been a greater need to understand humans across international borders and cultures. Our MA Social Anthropology will empower you to examine the differences and similarities between human behaviours, beliefs, and societies, so we can better understand what it means to be human.
You will study classic and contemporary anthropological debates, and as one of the largest anthropology departments in the UK, there’s no shortage of topics you could cover.
Our innovative course is taught by expert academics, both with practical experience of the field and a real passion for enhancing your learning experience.
You will put the theory into practice from day one, gaining expertise in ethnographic research methods.
You can also to tailor your course to fit your interests, and optional course units may include:
- Migrants, Borders and Im/mobilities;
- The Anthropology of Health and Wellbeing;
- Food and Eating: The Cultural BodyFood;
- Elemental Media; Documentary and Sensory Practice;
- Extra-Terrestrial Anthropology.
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. Our staff conduct research all over the world – from the Artic to South Asias, from Latin America to Europe, and even into outer space Everest – and teach from their 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 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.
Award-winning careers support
Our Careers Service is award-winning, providing bespoke support and guidance for you from day one. You will even have access to our services for up to two years after you graduate.
Teaching and learning
This course is taught by an interdisciplinary team using a variety of delivery methods:
- lectures;
- workshops;
- student-led presentations and debate;
- group work;
- individual research.
Coursework and assessment
Most 15-credit course units are assessed by 4,000-word essays.
Certain optional units involving practical instruction in research methods, audio-visual media or museum display may also be assessed by means of presentations and/or portfolios of practical work. In addition, all MA students are required to write a 15,000-word dissertation.
Part-time students
Part-time students complete the full-time course over two years. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time course.
Course unit details
A master’s degree is formed of 180 credits.
120 of these credits are made up by a mix of mandatory and optional course units, worth 15 credits each. You will need to select between four and eight of these course units, with 60 credits taken each semester. 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.
Core units include:
- Images, Text, Fieldwork;
- MA Ethnography Reading Seminar;
- Key Approaches in Social Anthropology;
- Contemporary Debates in Social Anthropology.
The remaining 60 credits are awarded through a compulsory research component in the form of a 12,000-word dissertation. Your dissertation must be within the area of one of the course units you have chosen.
Your dissertation research is supported a methodology course and a series of workshops designed to improve your research and writing skills.
Students who do not fulfil the criteria for passing the taught element of the course at the masters' level of 50% will not be permitted to progress to the dissertation element of the course and will leave the course with the highest award that the credits that have been passed will allow.
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.
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 |
---|---|---|---|
SOAN61000 | 60 | Mandatory | |
SOAN70452 | 15 | Mandatory | |
SOAN70691 | 15 | Mandatory | |
SOAN70811 | 15 | Mandatory | |
SOAN70822 | 15 | Mandatory | |
SOAN60112 | 15 | Optional | |
SOAN60252 | 15 | Optional | |
SOAN60382 | 15 | Optional | |
SOAN60412 | 15 | Optional | |
SOAN60881 | 15 | Optional | |
Displaying 10 of 14 course units | |||
Display all course units |
What our students say
Discover why our students chose our MA in Social Anthropology and what they loved about their time at Manchester – take a look at our student spotlights .
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
The University of Manchester is one of the most targeted universities by the UK’s top graduate employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2024).
Our MA Social 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. Our highly-skilled graduates go on to succeed in areas such as:
- think tanks and pressure groups;
- social research;
- business and management;
- data analysis;
- academia and teaching.
Another popular option is to continue specialising for a career in research and universities through a PhD in Social Anthropology or a similar subject.
The University has its own dedicated, award-winning Careers Service where you can benefit from tailored careers support, practice interviews, CV and application support, job listings for Manchester students, and much more. Better yet, you’ll have access to our Careers Service both during your course and for two years after you graduate, so we know you’re on the right path.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
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.