Program Overview

Anthropology, MA

Introduction

Anthropology at Aberdeen is the study of the diversity of human communities and cultures around the world. It brings together theories about ‘being human’ from a wide range of Western and non-Western thinkers to understand human action, culture and thought, as studied through long-term international research with the communities themselves.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MA
• Duration: 48 months
• Study Mode: Full Time
• Start Month: September
• UCAS Code: L600
• Pathway Programme Available: Undergraduate Foundation Programme

What You'll Study

Anthropology is a diverse field of study that will provide you with unique insights into the differences in human behaviour from a cross-cultural perspective. You'll learn about the beliefs and attitudes of societies all over the world and will study themes such as ethnicity and nationalism, anthropological approaches to religion, colonialism, society, nature and morality. This programme is taught through a selection of compulsory and optional courses adding up to 120 credits each year.

Year 1

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD1002)
  • Introduction to Anthropology: Peoples of the World (AT1003)
  • Introduction to Anthropology: Questions of Diversity (AT1502)
  • Academic Writing for Social Sciences (AW1006)
• Optional Courses: Select a further 90 credit points from courses of choice.

Year 2

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Key Debates in Anthropology (AT2010)
  • Reimagining Colonialism (AT2515)
• Optional Courses: Select a further 60 credit points from courses of choice.

Year 3

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Anthropological Theory (AT3027)
  • Anthropological Research Methods and Project Design (AT3538)
• Optional Courses: Select one of:
  • AT3061: Roads, Mobility, Movement, Migration
  • AT3062: Anthropology of the North
  • AND one of:
  • AT3557: Comparative Constitutional Systems
  • AT3558: Emotions, Self and Society
  • AT3559: The Political Anthropology of Indigenous Rights
  • AT3560: More Than Human

Year 4

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Research Project - Part 2 (AT4037)
• Optional Courses: Plus, select a further 60 credit points from level 4 Anthropology courses of choice, and a further 30 credit points from level 3 or 4 courses of choice.

How You'll Study

The Anthropology programme combines a flexible combination of lectures, small-group seminars and personal supervision of individual project work.

Learning Methods

• Individual Projects
• Lectures
• Tutorials

Assessment Methods

Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods:

• Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course
• Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course
• Written examinations at the end of each course.

Why Study Anthropology?

• You will gain a deep knowledge and understanding of human behaviour, which can be applied in business and many other fields.
• The University approaches the study of anthropology from an international perspective, meaning you will have unique insights into the infrastructure of companies from other countries and cultures.
• The social, political and economic context in which you will study anthropology at Aberdeen will provide you with a cross-cultural understanding of how current affairs are perceived by international businesses.
• The critical thinking and analysis skills that you develop will enable you to work with a diverse range of people in a variety of international and cultural contexts.
• At Aberdeen, our teaching is research-led, so you will have unique insights into the subject based on research carried out by staff and postgraduate students.
• A particular strength of our Anthropology programme at Aberdeen is our focus on the study of the circumpolar North. Our core staff also specialise in the study of regions as diverse as Canada, the Central Asian Republics, Iceland and Scandinavia, Siberia, Scotland and the UK, South America, Tibet and the Himalayas.
• You will benefit from the University's close links with other programmes such as Sociology, Politics, International Relations and Archaeology.
• As an Anthropology student, you will have access to the University’s extensive anthropological and ethnographic museum collections.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

• SQA Highers:
  • Standard: AABB
  • Minimum: BBB
  • Adjusted: BB
• A LEVELS:
  • Standard: BBB
  • Minimum: BBC
  • Adjusted: CCC
• International Baccalaureate: 32 points, including 5, 5, 5 at HL.
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3.

Fees and Funding

• England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,535
• EU / International students: £20,800
• Self-funded international students commencing eligible undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a £6,000 tuition waiver for every year of their programme.
• Home Students: £1,820

Careers

• The critical thinking and analysis skills that you develop from studying Anthropology at Aberdeen will enable you to work with people in a variety of cultural contexts. Many of our graduates now work in research, teaching, media and politics for private and public sector organisations.
• Alongside support from the University Careers and Employability Service, the valuable skills you will learn at Aberdeen will give you a competitive advantage in the career marketplace.

Useful Fact about this Degree

• Aberdeen is ranked 3rd in the UK for Anthropology and Archaeology (Guardian University Guide 2025) and in the Global Top 100 for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)