Department of Anthropology and Sociology

MRes Social Anthropology and Intensive Language (2022 entry)

Previously MA Anthropological Research Methods and Intensive Language

Select year of entry: 2022 2021

Overview

Overview and entry requirements

The MRes Social Anthropology offers students training in social science research methods, with a strong focus on ethnographic methods. It aims to provide students with the skills they need to conduct research at a doctoral level, or to work as social science researchers. In addition to the acquisition of strong methodological skills, students are able to benefit from SOAS' renowned offering of African and Asian languages, as well as its expertise in the humanities, including philosophy, linguistics, literature, and history.

Combine Social Anthropology and Intensive Language

This two-year intensive language pathway is directed at students who wish to combine knowledge of social anthropology with expertise in a regional language. It prepares students to apply their anthropological knowledge in a specific region by achieving proficiency in a language.

Intensive language pathways: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Persian, South East Asian Languages (Indonesian, Vietnamese), Swahili, Turkish.

Why study Social Anthropology and Intensive Language at SOAS

SOAS is ranked 5th in the UK in the 2022 QS World University Rankings for Anthropology, 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.

The MRes Social Anthropology may be taken either as a free standing MRes or as the first part of a PhD (for example, as a 1 + 3 research training programme). In the latter case, the MRes therefore serves as a shortcut into the PhD. It is designed to train students in research skills, including language training, to the level prescribed by the ESRC’s research training guidelines.

Most students would be expected to progress to PhD registration at the end of the degree.

The MRes is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Aims and outcomes

The MRes is designed to train students in research skills to the level prescribed by the ESRC’s research training guidelines. It is intended for students with a good first degree (minimum of a 2.1) in social anthropology and/or a taught Masters degree in social anthropology. Most students would be expected to progress to PhD registration at the end of the degree. By the end of the program students will:

have achieved practical competence in a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods and tools
have the ability to understand key issues of method and theory, and to understand the epistemological issues involved in using different methods

In addition to key issues of research design, students will be introduced to a range of specific research methods and tools including:

interviewing, collection and analysis of oral sources, analysis and use of documents, participatory research methods, issues of triangulation research validity and reliability, writing and analysing field notes, and ethnographic writing
social statistics techniques relevant for fieldwork and ethnographic data analysis (including chi-square tests, the T-test, F-test, and the rank correlation test)

Discipline specific training in anthropology includes:

ethnographic methods and participant observation
ethical and legal issues in anthropological research
the logistics of long-term fieldwork
familiarisation with appropriate regional and theoretical literatures
writing-up (in the field and producing ethnography) and communicating research results
Language training.

See Department of Anthropology and Sociology

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Entry requirements

We will consider all applications with a 2:1 (or international equivalent) in social anthropolgy. In addition to degree classification we take into account other elements of the application such as supporting statement. References are optional, but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:2 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications.

Please see our 'postgraduate entry requirements' page for Overseas and EU qualifications and equivalencies.

Featured events

duration:: 2 year full-time or 4 years part-time. The expectation in the UK is of continuous study across the year, with break periods used to read and to prepare coursework.

Fees 2022/23

Home students fees:: £11,980

Overseas students fees:: £23,400

Fees for 2022/23 entrants. This is a Band 1 fee. The fees are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. Further details can be found on the Postgraduate tuition fees page

Convenors

Dr Kostas Retsikas Convenor

Combinations

May be combined with:

MRes Social Anthropology can be combined with the following Intensive Language pathways:

Arabic
Chinese
Japanese
Korean
Persian
South East Asian Languages: Indonesian, Vietnamese
Swahili
Turkish

Structure

Students must take 315 credits in total, comprised of 225 taught credits (45 of which are taught abroad as part of a Summer School) and a 90-credit dissertation as outlined below.

In their first year, students on this two-year Intensive Language programme take 60 credits of intensive language instruction and 60 credits in the discipline. During the summer, they participate in a Summer School abroad. In the second year, they take another 30 language credits as well as 30 credits in the discipline; they also complete their dissertation in the discipline.

Part-time

The structure of the programme can be adjusted for those who wish to take the programme part-time over a period of four years and/or for those who have a previous background in Anthropology. For more information email anthsoc@soas.ac.uk

The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics offer information on the Intensive Language part of the programme.

Programme

Year 1 (two years full time)

Discipline Component

Compulsory Modules

All students take 45 credits compulsory modules:

Module	Code	Credits	Term
801 Research Methods in Anthropology	15PANH091	15	Term 1
802 Research Training Seminar	15PANH092	0	Full Year

AND

Guided Module(s) from the Anthropology and Sociology list below, to the value of 15 credits.

Language Component

Students take 60 credits in the selected language.

Summer Abroad

Students participate in a Summer School abroad for the selected language, to the value of 45 credits.

Year 2 (two years full time)

Language Component

Students take 30 credits in the selected language.

AND

Discipline Component

Guided Module(s) from the Anthropology and Sociology list below, to the value of 30 credits.

Guided Module(s) from the Anthropology and Sociology list below, OR modules from the Postgraduate Open Options List, to the value of 30 credits.

AND

All students are required to attend the Epigeum - Statistical Methods for Social Sciences. This will not count towards your 180 credits.

Dissertation

All students are required to take the compulsory dissertation module worth 90 credits.

Module	Code	Credits	Term
799B Dissertation (MRes) in Anthropology	15PANC995	90	Full Year

List of modules (subject to availability)

Anthropology and Sociology

Module	Code	Credits	Term
725 African and Asian Diasporas: Culture, Politics, Identities	15PANH085	15	Term 2
724 Migration, Borders and Space: Decolonial Approaches	15PANH086	15	Term 1
729 Anthropology of Sustainability: Global Challenges and Alternative Futures	15PANH083	15	Term 1
723 Diet, Society and Environment	15PANH090	15	Term 2
722 Food, Place and Mobility	15PANH087	15	Term 1
752 Anthropology of 'Race', Gender and Sexuality	15PANH082	15	Term 2
750A Ethnographic Locations: Sub-Saharan Africa	15PANH063	15	Term 2
750C Ethnographic Locations: Near and Middle East	15PANH067	15
797A Directed Practical Study in the Anthropology of Food	15PANH045	15	Full Year
730 Anthropology and Climate Change	15PANH070	15	Term 2
753 Mind, Culture and Psychiatry	15PANH032	15	Term 1
755 Anthropological Approaches to the Body and Embodiment	15PANH088	15
754 Medical Anthropology: Global Perspectives	15PANH089	15	Term 1
750B Ethnographic Locations: East Asia	15PANH062	15
731 How to Change Things	15PANH093	15	Term 2

Programme Specification

MRes social Anthropology and Intensive Language Programme Specification (pdf; 548kb)

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 and Learning

Teaching & Learning

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, 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 and bringing diverse life experiences to bear on their studies, all MA students in the Department of Anthropology can take courses together, making it a rich environment for intellectual exchange. Students also benefit from campus-wide programmes, clubs, study groups, and performances.

Contact hours

During the academic year, modules are delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials and/or seminars. Students can expect an average of two hours of classroom time per week for each module. Outside of the classroom, students explore topics of the module through independent study and through personal exchanges with teachers and fellow students. In some cases, modules are taught by several teachers within the department to provide students with an array of perpsectives on the subject. All modules involve the active participation of students in the discussion of ideas, viewpoints and readings.

Dissertation

The MRes Social Anthropology culminates in a 15,000-word dissertation, based on original research on a topic of the student's own choosing and developed in discussion with a supervisor.

Year abroad

All students participate in a Summer School abroad for the selected language.

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.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for 2022/23 entrants, per academic year (Band 1 tuition fee)

Full-time
Home Students	Overseas Students
£11,980	£23,400

Please note that fees go up each year. Two-year full-time programmes have 2 years of full-time fees; the fee in the second year will be higher than the fee for the first year (the full time fee above is for the first year only).

For full details of tuition fees, see our postgraduate tuition fees page.

Scholarships

Felix Non- Indian Scholarship

Application Deadline: 2022-01-28 15:00