Overview and entry requirements
Our BA Social Anthropology degree explores what it is to be human in a complex and changing world. You will study the great variety of beliefs and practices that exist around the world, from remote communities to global cities. You will learn theoretical frameworks and question your own assumptions, helping you to think creatively about how to address global problems.
Bridging the humanities and social sciences, anthropology offers a unique approach grounded in real-world research allowing for a greater understanding in cultural differences, political dynamics, social conflict, and human creativity.
Studying at SOAS is unique as it draws from the regional expertise of our academics in Asian, African, and Middle Eastern languages and societies. If you are passionate about understanding human society and behaviour, and want to learn to think critically about the world around you, then Anthropology at SOAS is for you.
Combine Social Anthropology with other subjects
- 3 year combined degrees: Arabic, Development Studies, Economics, History, History of Art, International Relations, Languages and Cultures, Law, Linguistics, Music, Politics, World Philosophies.
- 3 or 4 year combined degrees: Burmese, Hindi, Indonesian, Nepali, Thai, Vietnamese, Languages and Cultures
- 4 year combined degree: Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Hausa, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Swahili.
Why study Social Anthropology at SOAS
- SOAS is ranked 5th in the UK for Anthropology in the 2022 QS World University Rankings and 10th in the world
- the Department of Anthropology and Sociology has been ranked 4th overall in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, with 42.4% of our research output rated at 4* (world-leading).
- draw on the exceptional regional expertise of our academics in Asian, African, and Middle Eastern languages and politics, many of whom have joined us with a practical working knowledge of their disciplines
- join our thriving community of alumni and academics who have an impact on the world outside of academia
- flexibly structure your programme using our optional modules and/or optional modules from other departments, including the opportunity to learn a regional language
- we are specialists in the delivery of languages. Your command of a second language at SOAS will set you apart from graduates of other universities
This programme has a first-rate graduate employability record, with graduates having moved on to work for a range of organisations such as Deloitte, The New York Times and the British Council.
Explore
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings
Start of programme: September
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Entry requirements
- duration:
- 3 or 4 years - combined honours degree
Fees 2022/23
Fees for 2022/23 entrants per academic year
- UK fees:
- £9,250
- Overseas fees:
- £20,350
Please note that fees go up each year. Further details see 'Fees and funding' (tab on this page) or the Registry's undergraduate tuition fees page.
Please see the Unistats data for the various combinations of this programme under the Combinations tab.
Structure
The BA Social Anthropology and … is a three-year degree programme. In each year students need to take compulsory and optional modules to the total value of 120 credits following the structure below.
All students are expected to complete all compulsory modules.
In years 1 and 2 students will take 60 credits in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology AND 60 credits in their second subject.
Year 3 students are entitled to select up to 30 credits of Open Option modules per year. These modules can be in Anthropology or based in other departments within the School either in another subject or a language option.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Students will take the following compulsory modules (60 credits in total):
Second Subject
Students will take modules to the value of 60 credits from the second subject
Year 2
Credits must be taken in the following combination;
- 30 credit from Year 2 Compulsory Module AND
- 30 credits from Year 2 Guided options
Compulsory modules
Students will take the following 15 credit compulsory module;
List A modules
Students will take 15 credits from List A
List B Guided Options
Students will take a 30 credits from List B
Second Subject
Students will take modules to the value of 60 credits from the second subject
Year 3
Credits must be taken in the following combination;
- Minimum of 30 credits from Guided Options list AND
- Maximum of 30 credits from Third Year Open Options Language Open Options | Non-language Open Options
Compulsory modules
Students will take the following modules (30 credits in total):
Guided Options
Credits must be taken in the following combination;
- 30 credits from Guided Options list OR
- 15 credits from Guided Options list AND 15 credits from Third Year Open Options Language Open Options | Non-language Open Options
Second Subject
Students will take modules to the value of 60 credits from the second subject
List C Open Options
Year 3 Open Options in Anthropology
Programme Specification
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.
Teaching & Learning
The modules are taught by lectures and group discussions. Students become active in class through their reading and essay-writing as well as their participation in discussion groups. Whatever the topic, modules draw particularly on ethnographic studies of China, Japan, South East Asia, South Asia, the Near and Middle East, West Africa and East Africa, as well as their diasporas.
The academic staff in the Department of Anthropology are dynamic, experienced teachers who are widely recognised for their expertise and enjoy working directly with students. Renowned scholars from other institutions also come to share their knowledge. The SOAS Anthropology Department sponsors several lecture series that are open to students, including the weekly Departmental Research Seminar, the Food Studies Centre's Food Forum and the Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies’ Seminar Series.
In addition to these formal settings for learning, our students also learn from one another. Hailing from around the globe, their diverse life experiences make our classes an exciting, rich environment for cultural and intellectual exchange. Students also benefit from campus-wide programmes, clubs, study groups, and performances.
The modules are taught by lectures and group discussions. Students become active in class through their reading and essay-writing as well as their participation in discussion groups. Whatever the topic, modules draw particularly on ethnographic studies of China, Japan, South East Asia, South Asia, the Near and Middle East, West Africa and East Africa, as well as their diasporas.
Independent Study Project (ISP)
The ISP can be taken by final-year students only. This is an opportunity for students to conduct original anthropological research on their own initiative, to engage in in-depth analysis of particular subjects and to undertake ethnographic fieldwork and/or library-based reseach. It is supported by a bi-weekly seminar on anthropological research and writing and is assessed by a single 10,000-word dissertation (including notes but excluding bibliography).
SOAS Library
SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.
Pre-entry reading
- Balzani, Marzia and Niko Besnier, An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology, Routledge, 2016
- Delaney, Carol, An Experiential Introduction to Anthropology, Blackwell, 2004
- Eriksen, Thomas H., Small Places, Large Issues: An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology, Pluto Press, 2015
- Herzfeld, Michael, Anthropology, Theoretical Practice in Culture and Society, Blackwell, 2001
- Kuklick, Henrika, A New History of Anthropology, Blackwell, 2008
- Kuper, Adam, Anthropology and Anthropologists, Routledge, 1996
- Monaghan, John, and Peter Just, Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2000
- Moore, Henrietta L. (ed.), Anthropological Theory Today, Polity Press, 1999.J La Fontaine, What is Social Anthropology
- Edward Arnold, 1985 - An introduction explaining the scope, methods and aims of social anthropology and clears up some popular misconceptions, as well as providing a practical guide to available courses and the kinds of jobs open to a qualified anthropologist
- M Carrithers, Why humans have cultures: explaining anthropology and social diversity, OUP, 1992
- A Cheater, Social Anthropology: an alternative introduction, Routledge 1989, 2nd edition
- E R Leach, Social Anthropology, Fontana Masterguides (1976). A personalised introduction, giving one anthropologist's view of his subject and leading the reader through theory; humanity and animality; kinship; debt; power relationships; marriage and alliances thus formed; cosmology
- I M Lewis, Social Anthropology in Perspective, Penguin 1976, 2nd edition. Clear introduction to modern social anthropology as a comparative study of the beliefs and customs of alien societies as well as those more familiar native communities. The underlying theme is the social setting and cultural expression of identity.
- D Pocock, Understanding Social Anthropology, Teach Yourself Series, Hodder and Stoughton, 1975. This book introduces anthropology by promoting an awareness of the assumed notions that each one of us has about social values, and encouraging a consciousness and questioning of such values through the use of anthropological approaches and data.
- J Hendry, An Introduction to Social Anthropology: other people's worlds, Macmillan 1999. A good general introduction with useful explanation of jargon and clarification of many of the subject's main theme
Tuition fees
Fees for 2022/23 entrants per academic year
| Programme |
Full-Time |
UK
Students |
Overseas
Students |
|
BA, BSc, LLB
|
£9,250
|
£20,350 |
| BA/BSc Language year abroad |
£1,385 |
£10,175 |
Please note that fees go up each year.
For full details of undergraduate tuition fees, see our Registry's undergraduate tuition fees page.
Scholarships
Application Deadline: 2020-04-30 15:00
For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section
Employment
Students from SOAS’ Department of Anthropology and Sociology develop an in-depth understanding of the world. Employers value our graduates’ cultural awareness and global perspective, as well as their skills in analysis, data interpretation and problem-solving.
Recent Department of Anthropology and Sociology graduates have been hired by:
- Allen & Overy
- BBC
- British Council
- Deloitte
- Hackney Migrant Centre
- IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development)
- IOM- UN Migration
- Media 52
- New York Times
- Social Mobility Foundation
- The Week
- UNICEF
- United Nations Development Programme
- World Bank Group
Find out about our Careers Service.
A Student's Perspective
SOAS is a brilliant place to study social anthropology. The broad range of ethnic backgrounds means I can constantly be in touch with many of the issues and topics raised in my study.
Atika Malik
