Program Overview

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MA Applied Anthropology & Community & Youth Work

Overview

This MA brings together youth work and community development theory and practice with the research methods and theoretical preoccupations of anthropology. It is aimed at students who wish to pursue a career in youth and community work and associated sectors, and those who want an MA with additional professional qualifications to enable more senior career progression.

Why Study MA Applied Anthropology & Community & Youth Work at Goldsmiths

• This MA is the first of its kind in the country, combining academic and practice learning with high-level professional qualifications.
• Taught jointly by the Departments of Anthropology, and Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies (STaCS), the programme reflects the common concerns of lecturers in both disciplines, with a particular focus on social justice, youth work and community development.
• Established in 1992, it is the first of three fieldwork pathway options, with an additional pathway in Community Development launched in 2012 and a Community Arts pathway launched in 2015.
• Fieldwork pathways each have a different placement focus (youth and community work; community development; community arts) but all pathways are taught together, providing many opportunities for the exchange of ideas and collaboration between students as well as interaction with an extensive range of organisations and practitioners.
• You'll learn with leading academics and practitioners in both departments, with Goldsmiths being rated top 10 in the UK for anthropology in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.

Length

• 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Fees

• Home - full-time: £11250
• Home - part-time: £5625
• International - full-time: £21000

Departments

• Anthropology
• Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies

What You'll Study

Overview STaCS Anthropology

The MA combines an academic programme of lectures, seminars and tutorial assignments with placement-based practical experience.

Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies Components, Fieldwork and Placements

The Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies teaches three of the core modules of your degree. These are the fieldwork modules that involve placements and are supported by lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials.

• Module title | Credits
  • Fieldwork Report 1: Perspectives and Approaches | 15 credits
  • Fieldwork Report 2: Critical Practice | 15 credits
  • Fieldwork Report 3: Management, Enterprise and Development | 30 credits

All three modules are assessed by an academic fieldwork focused essay, and accompanying fieldwork assessments: contract; student's self-assessment; supervisors' assessments. There is also an observation recording form that is populated throughout the year and submitted along with the final placement assessments.

Department of Anthropology Components

The Department of Anthropology teaches the following two core components of your degree:

• Module title | Credits
  • Contemporary Social Issues | 30 credits
  • Anthropological Research Methods | 30 credits

You'll also take:

• Module title | Credits
  • Dissertation | 60 credits

The dissertation is jointly taught and you will have a supervisor from each department.

Structure

The structure of the programme provides the reliability that many of our students who have work and caring responsibilities beyond university require to take the step into postgraduate education, while providing clearly signposted opportunities to personalise their learning journey.

Careers

Increasing employment prospects are central to this programme.

Our graduates find work directly or indirectly related to the disciplines relatively quickly after graduating, or even while on the programme. The majority of our students gain work in youth work or community work. Examples of recent graduate employment include:

• Full-time health youth worker for a London Borough, leading on LGBTQ awareness and homophobic bullying
• CEO of a charity supporting young people with SEND
• Community centre-based senior youth worker
• Mentoring and Befriending Co-ordinator at a civil society equalities organisation
• Community Development Worker in a social work team in Hong Kong

Some gain work in a wide range of other settings, often shaped by the particular interests that they develop during their time with us, such as working with refugees or with specific or marginalised groups. Others join social enterprises to bid for contracts, join newly developing cooperatives or established NGOs in the UK and abroad.

We also have many alumni who have gone on to teach at university themselves.

Placements

Placement experiences and networks developed while on the programme often produce new job opportunities.

Entry Requirements

You should normally have the following qualifications and experience:

• An undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in the social sciences or another appropriate subject, with some experience of community and youth work.
• One year of full-time, or part-time equivalent, work experience prior to starting the MA. Experience can include paid or unpaid work; voluntary, community and youth work in organisations; and relevant informal work.
• An Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from the DBS.

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

International Qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme.

Fees and Funding

Annual Tuition Fees

These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.

• Home - full-time: £11250
• Home - part-time: £5625
• International - full-time: £21000

Funding Opportunities

In recent years students on the programme have been supported by awards from the Chevening Scholarship, the Jean Monnet Scholarship, and the Aziz Foundation.

Explore the Goldsmiths scholarships finder to find out what other funding you may be eligible for.

If you are a UK student you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan.

Meanwhile our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

How to Apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.

To complete your application, you will need to have:

• Details of your academic qualifications
• The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
• Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
• A personal statement
• A work experience report. This work experience report should be up to 1,000 words about your recent personal experience of working or volunteering in a community and/or youth work setting.

Selection Process

Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.

DBS Checks

If we make you an offer to study on this programme, we will ask you to complete an application for an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from the DBS.

Staff

• Dr Martin Webb
• Louise Doherty

Similar Programmes

• MA Applied Anthropology & Community Development / Community Arts
• MA Social Anthropology
• MA Social Work
• MA Psychodynamic Counselling & Psychotherapy