MA in Anthropology
Queen's University Belfast - Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Belfast, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 - 3 Year
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 19,100 / per year
Application deadline
Request Info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
Introduction
The Anthropology MA is designed to provide students with a strong grounding in the principles and methods of Anthropology. It offers the opportunity to study innovative modules taught by leading experts in key anthropological fields, including Conflict and Borders, Religion, Cognition and Culture, Business and Sustainability, Material Culture and Art, Migration and Diasporas, Anthropology of Ireland, Human-Animal relations and the cross-cultural study of Emotions. Anthropology at Queen’s also has a distinguished history in Ethnomusicology, the cross-cultural study of music.
The MA teaching is research-led and draws on our staff’s theoretical work in these areas, as well as regional expertise, including research in India, Pakistan, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Japan, the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, the UK, and the island of Ireland. Anthropology at QUB is ranked 2nd in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2021) and 1st in relation to research intensity (Research Excellence Framework 2014). With 97.8% for overall satisfaction!
Our MA in Anthropology explores current debates in the study of cultures and societies and offers specialised knowledge and advanced skills for a range of competitive careers or further study at the PhD level. Studying anthropology at the postgraduate level combines an in-depth understanding of human diversity and critical social theory with hands-on training in carrying out grounded ethnographic research.
Studying Anthropology at Queen’s gives you the opportunity to design and carry out field research anywhere in the world. Under the guidance of experienced supervisors, students develop original projects among diverse groups of people across the globe. Doing ethnographic fieldwork will give you real-world skills that are uniquely valued among employers and offer you unforgettable cultural and social experiences. At the same time, Belfast and the island of Ireland, more broadly, offer unique sites to conduct research locally on most topics of anthropological interest, including conflict transformation and peacebuilding, religion, borders, arts and creativity, identity, ethnicity and nationalism, material culture, and policy-engaged anthropology.
Studying anthropology is a great way to get involved in contemporary issues and gain a wide range of critical and applied skills highly relevant in a globally interconnected world. MA students in our programme learn how to discover and understand human societies and cultures and to work in collaboration with people in their places and communities.
This programme provides students with the opportunity to work in the centre for anthropological study and research in Northern Ireland. Our staff and programmes have long-standing connections with a number of local and international organisations, NGOs, and community groups. Anthropology postgraduate life centres around the weekly Anthropology Postgraduate Seminar and regular Anthropology Research Seminars, as well as regular events in the Institute for Cognition and Culture, the Institute of Irish Studies, and Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice.
Global Opportunities
Studying Anthropology at Queen’s gives you the opportunity to design and carry out field research locally or anywhere else in the world. Under the guidance of experienced supervisors, students develop original projects among diverse groups of people across the globe.
Industry Links
Our staff and programmes have long-standing connections with a range of stakeholders and beneficiaries, including national and international governmental and non-governmental organisations, cross-border and community groups, arts, music and museum professionals, as well as politicians and policy-makers. We value our student achievements and offer opportunities for placements and internships in our dissertation module, which invites students to participate in work activities at home or overseas. Some of our students have completed successful placements through the Science Shop.
Career Development
Studying anthropology is a great way to get involved in contemporary issues and gain a wide range of critical and applied skills highly relevant in a globally interconnected world. In the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021, Anthropology was ranked 3rd in the UK for Graduate Prospects. Queen’s postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus, bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes, alongside sterling integration with business experts, help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally. Queen’s is ranked in the top 140 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020).
Admissions
Curriculum
If you wish to take the programme on part time basis you will be required to complete 3 taught modules each year (one in first semester and two in second semester or vice versus). It is advised you should complete the core modules in your first year. Please note, all modules run at the same time for full time and part time students. Please contact the programme convenor for further information.
Core Modules
Students are required to take FOUR CORE modules (THREE in semester 1 and ONE in semester 2 PLUS the MA Dissertation). Students are required to take TWO Optional Modules, of which at least one should be from the Anthropology options.
MA students complete a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation under the guided supervision of an expert member of staff. Full-time students design their research in the spring semester with the help of their supervisor, conduct fieldwork in the early summer, and write up and complete the dissertation over the summer months.
Students also participate in the weekly Anthropology Postgraduate Seminar were MA/PhD students present their ongoing research and, in addition, attend the weekly Anthropology Research Seminar, where established academics discuss their work. Students also have the option to audit an undergraduate module and participate in various music ensembles.
Core Modules (Autumn)
- ANT7008 – Advanced Anthropological Perspectives
- ANT7009 - Anthropology: Ethnography and Evolutions
- HAP7001 - Approaches to Research Design
Core Modules (Spring)
- ANT7007 Advanced Anthropological Methods
Elective Modules (choose at least one):
- ANT7013 The Anthropology of Music
- ANT7023 Anthropology of Conflict: Ireland and Beyond
- ANT7003 Anthropology of Business
and
Students will also be able to choose from a list of modules across the School and Faculty to support their specialisation.
Students are required to take FOUR CORE modules (THREE in semester 1 and ONE in semester 2 PLUS the MA Dissertation). Students are required to take TWO Optional Modules, of which at least one should be from the Anthropology options.
Course Details
Students are required to take FOUR CORE modules (THREE in semester 1 and ONE in semester 2 PLUS the MA Dissertation). Students are required to take TWO Optional Modules, of which at least one should be from the Anthropology options.
Students also participate in the weekly Anthropology Postgraduate Seminar were MA/PhD students present their ongoing research and, in addition, attend the weekly Anthropology Research Seminar, where established academics discuss their work. Students also have the option to audit an undergraduate module and participate in various music ensembles.
Elective Modules
Students may take at least one of the Anthropology modules (Spring Semester):
- ANT7013 The Anthropology of Music
- ANT7023 Anthropology of Conflict: Ireland and Beyond
- ANT7003 Anthropology of Business
or
- another MA optional course offered by the AHSS Faculty
Summer
- ANT7014 - Dissertation
Rankings
In the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021, Anthropology was ranked 2nd in the UK, including 2nd in the UK for Teaching Quality, 5th in the UK for Student Experience, 3rd in the UK for Research, 3rd in the UK for Graduate Prospects.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Graduates have pursued careers in a wide range of fields, such as research (academic and non-academic), teaching, music therapy, consultancy, development and charity work, museum and heritage posts, journalism and radio broadcasting. Among those who have pursued academic careers, not all have done so within anthropology - several have taken posts in related disciplines. Others have found positions within governmental and non-governmental organisations abroad. Our graduates have found employment with a very wide range of employers, including the Council for International Educational Exchange, Handelsbanken Bank, the Institute for Conflict Research, US News and World Report and the Bangladesh Civil Service.
Degree plus award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's, you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.