BSocSc Social Anthropology

This core methods course offers students the opportunity to conduct self-directed ethnographic research based on their own interests and questions. It focuses on how to design, carry out, and write up a short ethnographic research project. It explores both the practical and conceptual issues raised by anthropology’s primary methodology, including the ethics of participant observation, the politics of “writing up” one’s findings, and how the historical, political, and cultural context of research can condition ethnographic writing. As a practical, hands-on course, it revolves around individual students’ own research projects and explores both the possibilities and the challenges associated with conducting ethnographic work. This course is aimed at students who will be writing a dissertation in social anthropology

Restricted to BSocSc Social Anthropology, BA Social Sciences with SOAN pathways, and joint degree students with SOAN in SALC (Archaeology, Linguistics, Religion).

Pre-requisites/co-requisites - any 40 credits of level one or two SOAN units.

This course aims to familiarise students with the practice of (and debates surrounding) ethnographic research. Students will acquire and develop ethnographic skills by undertaking a short research project, which they will design and carry out themselves. This work in progress will be closely monitored and developed through collective reflections and discussions in class. This course is aimed at students who will be writing a dissertation in social anthropology.

On completion of this unit, successful students will have acquired:

• An understanding of the questions and complexities raised by ethnographic fieldwork;

• Skills to apply knowledge and theory in defining a research area and identifying appropriate ways of dealing with practical and conceptual problems;

• Initial experience of participant observation and the “writing up” of fieldwork;

• A better understanding of personal and conceptual relationships in and of the fieldwork site, including an awareness of the politics of fieldwork;

• An appreciation of the fundamental role of ethnography for anthropological knowledge and theory;

Weekly lectures

• Oral presentation (worth 20%);
• 3,000 word final essay (worth 80%);

Students will receive feedback on assessed work.

Recommended reading

- Kelly, Tobias. 2014. “Getting Started: The Search for Anthropological Questions.” In Doing Anthropological Research, edited by Natalie Konopinski, 6-20. Abingdon: Routledge.

- Shah, Alpa. 2017. “Ethnography? Participant Observation, A Potentially Revolutionary Praxis.” HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory 7 (1): 45-59.

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £29,200 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

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).

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.

As an international student you may be eligible for our Global Futures Scholarships . This is open to students starting their studies in September 2026.