MPhil in Social Anthropology
A taught graduate course during which you will investigate diverse ways of understanding social life through advanced anthropological theory and ethnographic methods, while undertaking an independent year-long research project.
Full time
- Upcoming application deadline for 2027-28 entry:
- 12:00 midday UK time on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Expected length
- 21 months
- Expected start date
- 3 October 2027
- English language level
- Higher level required
Application deadlines
Final application deadline for entry in 2027-28
About the course
Social anthropology considers people, through and through, as social beings. Everything that all of us do, in whatever society or culture at whatever period of history, rests on assumptions, which usually are not stated but which are largely shared with our particular neighbours, kin, friends, or colleagues.
Everything social is open to question, including solidly held beliefs and attitudes and ideas about causality, the self in society, and nature and culture. Learning to relate different versions of the world to each other is learning to be a Social Anthropologist and is what we hope you will learn over the course of your degree.
The MPhil in Social Anthropology is intended both as a standalone degree and as a broader and deeper preparation for doctoral research than is possible with the MSc in Social Anthropology.
Course structure
First year
During your first year you will critically read key intellectual contributions to the discipline and you will be introduced to ethnographic methods and experiences of living among, and writing about, people. You will learn how to comparatively study what makes humans simultaneously similar and yet different.
You will take four core courses in social anthropology. You will normally have eight tutorials with your supervisor to accompany the core lecture series throughout the first year as well as two dedicated thesis tutorials.
You will also choose two option courses from a range offered within the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography.
You may also consider doing fieldwork over the summer in preparation for your MPhil thesis if appropriate (and the school approves).
In the final term of your first year, you will take a course on research methods
Teaching is by a mixture of lectures, where you will be listening to a specialist in the topic, classes, where you will be presenting and discussing texts in small groups (eight to nine students), and tutorials, where, in small groups of three or four, you will be exploring with one another and with your supervisor issues and ideas raised in your own essays and other work on the topic they have assigned. Your supervisor will also provide written feedback on the essays.
Second year
During your second year, you will spend most of the year researching and writing your 30,000-word MPhil thesis, which is submitted in Trinity term. You will take a further assessed option course from the range on offer within the school, an ethnographic writing class and your choice of two research methods modules.
Methods and skills training are offered through the school and sometimes through other institutions as well. A programme of research seminars is available, some of which feature invited speakers from outside the university. The principal event in this programme is the departmental seminar, run weekly during term time.
Core components
You will take four core courses, a programme of research methods training and submit a thesis.
Option modules
You will take three subject option courses during the degree, two in the first year and one in the second year, as well as two research methods modules.
Course details
Entry requirements
For entry in 2027-28