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 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 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 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:: 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 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

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

Compulsory Modules

All students take 30 credits of compulsory modules:

Module	Code	Credits	Term
801 Research Methods in Anthropology	15PANH091	15	Term 1
802 Research Training Seminar	15PANH092	0	Full Year
Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Social Research	15PPOH035	15	Term 2

Guided Options

All students choose 60 credits from the list below:

Module	Code	Credits	Term
701 Contemporary Anthropological Theory	15PANH102	15	Term 1
721 Ethnographic Encounters	15PANH103	15	Term 1
722 Food, Place and Mobility	15PANH087	15	Term 1
723 Diet, Society and Environment	15PANH090	15	Term 2
724 Migration, Borders and Space: Decolonial Approaches	15PANH086	15	Term 1
725 African and Asian Diasporas: Culture, Politics, Identities	15PANH085	15	Term 2
729 Anthropology of Sustainability: Global Challenges and Alternative Futures	15PANH083	15	Term 1
730 Anthropology and Climate Change	15PANH070	15	Term 2
731 How to Change Things	15PANH093	15	Term 2
750A Ethnographic Locations: Sub-Saharan Africa	15PANH063	15
750B Ethnographic Locations: East Asia	15PANH062	15
750C Ethnographic Locations: Near and Middle East	15PANH067	15
751 Conceptualising the Social	15PANH104	15	Term 2
752 Anthropology of 'Race', Gender and Sexuality	15PANH082	15	Term 2
753 Mind, Culture and Psychiatry	15PANH032	15	Term 1
754 Medical Anthropology: Global Perspectives	15PANH089	15	Term 1
755 Anthropological Approaches to the Body and Embodiment	15PANH088	15

Dissertation

All students enrol in the dissertation module:

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

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

Full-time		Part-time 2 Years		Part-time 3 Years
Home Students	Overseas Students	Home Students	Overseas Students	Home Students	Overseas Students
£11,980	£23,400	£5,990	£11,700	£3,955	£7,725

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%.

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

Scholarships

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Studentships.

ESRC

Application Deadline: 2022-01-10 23:59

Felix Non- Indian Scholarship

Application Deadline: 2022-01-28 15:00