Department of Anthropology and Sociology

MRes Social Anthropology (2022 entry)

Previously 'MA Anthropological Research Methods'

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.

Why study Social Anthropology at SOAS

SOAS is ranked 5th in the UK in the 2021 QS World University Rankings for Anthropology, and 16th in the world
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 programme optional modules and/or our Open Options modules from other departments, including the opportunity to learn a regional language
we are specialists in the delivery of languages; your command of a language at SOAS will set you apart from graduates of other universities.

The MRes Social Anthropology 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

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 2:ii (or international equivalent) or higher. In addition to degree classification we take into account other elements of the application including supporting statement and references.

Featured events

duration:: 1 year full-time or 2/3 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 2021/22

UK fees:

£11,520

Overseas fees:: £22,500

Fees for 2021/22 entrants. This is a Band 3 fee. The fees are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. Further details can be found in the Fees and Funding tab on this page or in the Registry's Postgraduate Tuition Fees page

Convenors

Dr Kostas Retsikas Convenor

Structure

Learn a language as part of this programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.

Structure

The programme consists of 180 credits: 90 credits of modules and a dissertation of 15,000 words at 90 credits.

All students are expected to take the following three modules: a. Research Methods in Anthropology, b. the MRes Training Seminar, and c. Epigeum- Statistical Methods for Research – Social Sciences.

All students are required to take 30 credits from the Anthropology and Sociology list.

The remaining credits can be selected the Department of Anthropology and Sociology list or relevant options from other departments or a language module.

Programme

Taught Component

Compulsory Modules

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Research Methods in Anthropology (15Cr)	15PANH091	15	Term 1
Research Training Seminar	15PANH092	15	Full Year

AND

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

AND

Guided Module(s) from the Anthropology and Sociology list below, OR modules from the Postgraduate Open Options List, to the value of 60 credits.

Dissertation

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

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Dissertation in Anthropological Research Methods (90)	15PANC995	90	Full Year

List of Modules (subject to availability)

Anthropology and Sociology

Module	Code	Credits	Term
African and Asian Diasporas in the Contemporary World: Cultures of Resistance and the Dissolution of Boundaries	15PANH085	15	Term 2
African and Asian Diasporas in the Contemporary World: Migration, Space, Identities	15PANH086	15	Term 1
Anthropology of Sustainability: Global Challenges and Alternative Futures	15PANH083	15	Term 1
Anthropology of Development and Sustainability: Knowledge, Power and Inequality	15PANH084	15	Term 1
Anthropology of Food: Diet, Society and Environment	15PANH090	15	Term 2
Anthropology of Food: Politics, Place and Mobility	15PANH087	15	Term 1
Body politics: the anthropology of "race", gender and desire	15PANH082	15	Term 2
Culture and Society of East Africa	15PANH063	15	Term 2
Culture and Society of Near and Middle East	15PANH067	15	Term 1
Directed Practical Study in the Anthropology of Food	15PANH045	15	Full Year
Issues in Anthropology and Climate Change	15PANH070	15	Term 2
Issues in Mind, Culture and Psychiatry	15PANH032	15	Term 1
Medical Anthropology: Bodies and Cultures	15PANH088	15	Term 2
Medical Anthropology: Global Perspectives	15PANH089	15	Term 1
Culture and Society of China	15PANH062	15	Term 2
Culture and Society of Japan	15PANH065	15	Term 1
How to Change Things	15PANH093	15	Term 2

Programme Specification

MRes Social Anthropology 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.

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 2021/22 entrants, per academic year (Band 3 tuition fee)

Full-time		Part-time 2 Years		Part-time 3 Years		Part-time 4 Years Intensive Language only
UK Students	Overseas Students	UK Students	Overseas Students	UK Students	Overseas Students	UK Students	Overseas Students
£11,520	£22,500	£5,760	£11,250	£3,840	£7,500	£5,760	£11,250

Fees go up each year, therefore, your tuition fee in your second and subsequent years of study will be higher.

Our continuing students, on the same degree programme, are protected from annual increases higher than 5%.

Full details of postgraduate tuition fees can be found on the postgraduate tuition fees page.

Scholarships

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Studentships

ESRC

Application Deadline: 2021-01-11 23:59

Felix Non- Indian Scholarship

Application Deadline: 2021-01-29 00:00