Program Overview

MPhil in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology

The MPhil in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology is a full-time program that introduces students to theories and perspectives on museum anthropology, visual anthropology, and material culture theory, as well as practical field- and museum-based research methodologies.

Course Structure

The course is divided into two years. The first year consists of a structured program of lectures, classes, and tutorials from October to June, followed by research for the MPhil thesis over the summer. The second year focuses on independent study, with an emphasis on research and writing for the thesis.

Course Components

• Contemporary themes in visual, material and museum anthropology: This paper focuses on topics such as visual and material cultures, photography, digital anthropology, art and aesthetics, film and cinema, museums, colonialism, collecting, and contemporary debates.
• Research methods in visual, material and museum anthropology: This paper consists of two parts: an outline research proposal and a methods portfolio.
• Fundamental concepts in visual, material, and museum anthropology: This paper focuses on key issues and themes in visual, material, and museum anthropology.
• MPhil thesis: Students must submit a final thesis.

Entry Requirements

• Proven and potential academic excellence: Applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors in any discipline.
• Degree-level qualifications: A minimum of 65% in at least one prior degree is required for applicants from the UK.
• English language proficiency: This course requires proficiency in English at the University's higher level.
• References: Three referees are required, with academic letters of reference preferred.
• Supporting documents: Official transcripts, a personal statement, and written work are required.

Funding

The University offers over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships across various graduate courses. Students can use the fees, funding, and scholarship search tool to identify opportunities and apply.

Costs

• Annual course fees: The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis, with the current fees being Ł25,370 for Home students and Ł41,380 for Overseas students.
• Living costs: The estimated living costs for a single, full-time student in Oxford range from Ł1,405 to Ł2,105 per month.

College Preference

Students can express a preference for one of the colleges listed or ask the University to find a college for them. The following colleges accept students on the MPhil in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology:

• Blackfriars
• Campion Hall
• Exeter College
• Hertford College
• Keble College
• Kellogg College
• Linacre College
• Lincoln College
• Magdalen College
• Regent's Park College
• Reuben College
• St Antony's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St Hugh's College
• St Peter's College
• Wolfson College
• Wycliffe Hall

Application Process

The application form will include questions that collect information usually found in a CV/résumé. Applicants should not upload a separate document. The application fee is Ł75, but waivers are available for eligible applicants.

Assessment

The assessment for this course includes examinations, a research methods assessment, and a thesis. The thesis is a significant component of the course, and students are expected to submit original research.

Supervision

Students will receive academic supervision from the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography. The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the school, and it may not always be possible to accommodate preferences.

Graduate Destinations

Many graduates enter teaching and research, while others work in museums and galleries, design and market research companies, development agencies, NGOs, and other fields. The conditions for applicants to proceed from an Oxford master's degree to a doctorate include a viable project, agreed supervision, an overall mark of at least 67% in an Oxford anthropology master's degree, and the agreement of the School of Anthropology as a whole.