BSocSc Social Anthropology / Course details

BSocSc Social Anthropology is a single honours course for Social Anthropology specialists.

You will learn the diverse ways human beings live in the world today.

Contemporary social anthropology is a discipline that critically tackles some of the most pressing issues of our time.

These range from the implications of new reproductive technologies, environmental crises, migration, and challenges to health and wellbeing through the analysis of ritual, kinship, and material culture.

You will also study violence, poverty, and the means to alleviate human suffering.

You will learn about our distinctive character focusing on the political and economic aspects of social and cultural life, and the anthropology of visual and other sensory media.

The course has both regional and global scope, teaching you to challenge common sense assumptions through cross-cultural comparisons.

We focus on contemporary political and economic challenges and are specialists in:

• visual, sensory, and digital media;
• race and genetic technologies;
• migration, climate change and disasters;
• AIDS and medicine;
• death;
• masculinities;
• social class;
• cities and infrastructures;
• border politics;
• humanitarianism and development;
• religion.

Study abroad

If you would like to broaden your horizons and your degree, you can apply to study overseas for a year at one of our partner universities. You apply in Year 2 to spend a year abroad in Year 3.

If successful, you will put together a programme of study at the host university in consultation with your Academic Exchange Advisor, to complement your studies at Manchester.

You will then come back to Manchester to study for a fourth year and graduate with a degree title including ‘with International Study'.

See The University of Manchester Study Abroad pages

Paid placement opportunities

Apply for a paid Q-Step internship between Years 2 and 3.

It is an excellent opportunity to gain work experience and future contacts.

Professional Experience Year

You apply in Year 1 to boost your employability through a paid Professional Experience Year. If you meet the criteria, the Professional Experience Team and Careers Service will work with you to find a suitable placement in Year 2.

You will complete your Professional Experience Year in Year 3 extending your degree to four years, before returning to University to finish your final year.

Your degree title will include 'with Professional Experience'.

Course units feature formal lectures supported by smaller tutorials or seminars where you explore the contents of lectures and recommended reading in greater depth.

Tutorials and seminars are key to improving your written and oral communication skills through group discussions, essay-writing, and presentations.

You are assigned an Academic Advisor who can advise you on selecting course units and career opportunities.

The range of methods is designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding, including:

• essays, coursework, and other mid-term evaluations allow development and feedback on your knowledge and understanding;
• dissertations promote the development of argument and understanding of academic material, and test how you work independently;
• presentations or group projects promote the development of teamwork and communication skills.

Read profiles of our students to find out more about studying Social Anthropology at Manchester.