Program Overview

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The programme is designed to provide students with an intellectual training in the disciplines of Philosophy and Anthropology which, while discrete subjects, are complementary and mutually enriching. The combination of Philosophy and Anthropology allows for the development of an in-depth appreciation of the ideas that help to explain the foundations of the current world, human behaviour, and thinking across and beyond cultural difference.

During your degree, you will learn about cutting-edge debates in core areas of philosophy such as ethics, metaphysics, theory of knowledge and political philosophy, as well as studying some of the key thinkers in the history of philosophy, such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Mill and Marx. You will also develop your skills in reasoning and argumentation by studying formal logic and critical thinking.

Anthropology is the study of human diversity around the world. In studying anthropology, you will learn how different societies live together and think about such topics as family, sex, religion, art, and economics and gain skills increasingly in demand in a globalized and automated world.

Studying anthropology at Queen’s will allow you to examine some of the deepest and most pressing questions about human beings. Issues addressed in our modules include:

Does globalisation mean the end of cultural difference?

Can a post-conflict society heal?

How do ritual traditions, musical performances, and art shape cultural identities?

How do some people become willing to die for a group?

Through classroom modules, optional placements, and your own anthropological fieldwork, you will also gain valuable skills in critical thinking, cross-cultural understanding, researching, interviewing, writing, and presenting.

Anthropology and Philosophy Degree highlights

In the Guardian University Guide 2021, Anthropology was ranked 2nd in the UK overall.

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Global Opportunities

Undergraduate anthropology students, as part of their training, have carried out ethnographic field research around the world. Projects have focused on orphanages in Kenya; AIDS in southern Africa, education in Ghana; dance in India, NGOs in Guatemala, music in China, marriage in Japan, backpacking in Europe, and whale-watching in Hawaii.

In addition, through the different stages of the dissertation module (preparation and research design, fieldwork itself, and post-fieldwork writing-up), students develop a range of skills (organizational skills, interpersonal skills, information-handling skills, and project management skills) that prepare them for later employment. Many of our students work with NGOs and other organisations as part of their fieldwork.

There are also additional study opportunities in other European countries and in the USA for all HAPP students.

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World Class Facilities

Anthropology at Queens provides students access to world class facilities including; The Ethnomusicology Performance Room which includes a variety of musical instruments from around the world, a collection that has grown since the 1970s when Ethnomusicology was first established as an International Centre at Queen’s by the late Prof John Blacking. These instruments, together with the sprung performance room floor, facilitate music and dance ensembles, enabling our unit to remain one of the leading departments in Ethnomusicology.

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Internationally Renowned Experts

In Philosophy our research has an international reputation, with particular strengths in ethics and epistemology

Anthropology at Queen’s is internationally renowned in the following areas: Ethnomusicology and performance; Conflict and borders; Religion; Cognition and culture; Migration and diasporas; Irish studies; Material culture and art; Human-animal relations; The cross-cultural study of emotions.

Queen’s philosophy department has particular strengths in analytic philosophy. Our faculty work on cutting edge topics in applied ethics and political philosophy. We have an international reputation for our research in the philosophy of religion, epistemology, and the philosophy of science.

Anthropology at Queen's also maintains close connections with the following research institutes: Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice; Institute of Cognition and Culture; Institute of Irish Studies.

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Student Experience

Anthropology combines an understanding of cultural diversity through human behaviour and expression, with a hands-on method of study that focuses on lived experience.

Queen's offers the only anthropology course in the UK that combines the study of expressivity (through art and music) with thematic strands on conflict, religion, cognition, and business anthropology

Philosophy at Queen’s is a small unit that allows students to receive personal attention from dedicated staff across all taught modules

There is an active student-run Philosophy Society. The School is also home to the Belfast branch of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, which organises regular talks and seminars by distinguished visiting philosophers.

Queen's currently has over 3,000 international students from 85 different countries.

‘’Recently the dissertation experience has been really useful in my job search. Because it involves different research methods and demonstrates good written and verbal communication skills, it's great for the CV and even better for coming up with examples for competency questions in interviews. It's also brilliant for networking because it provides easy conversation and an awareness of social issues etc.”

Lucy Proudlock

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