MA Social Anthropology (online 3 year)

This module introduces you to thinking anthropologically about the world, helping you understand cultural difference, social relationships, and everyday practices across diverse societies. Organised thematically, it explores topics such as kinship, death rituals, human–animal relations, gift exchange, social hierarchy, and belief systems, showing how anthropologists interpret cultural expression in different contexts. You’ll also examine how knowledge is produced in anthropology, whose perspectives are represented, and how power and context shape understanding of culture. Learning combines reflection and application, encouraging you to connect ideas to your own experiences, communicate across cultural differences, and engage thoughtfully with complex social issues. Through this module, you’ll develop cultural awareness, critical thinking, and communication skills, equipping you to engage ethically with diversity and apply anthropological insights in professional and everyday life, preparing you for careers in policy, research, development, and international or cross-cultural work.

This module explores how research paradigms, methodologies, and methods shape the creation of knowledge, situating these within both established and emerging disciplinary practices. You’ll engage deeply with the research culture of a specific field while exploring alternative approaches across disciplines, developing reflexivity, creativity, and agency in making research choices. The module examines the possibilities, challenges, and implications of these choices, emphasising the production of trustworthy, ethical, and impactful data with real-world application. Through applied learning focused on authentic issues, you’ll gain experience with the conventions, practices, and genres of research in your field, building confidence as an ethical and effective research designer. By the end, you’ll be equipped to plan, conduct, and evaluate research independently, contributing meaningfully to knowledge creation and application across academic and professional contexts, while developing key skills in communication, planning, technical design, and ethical practice.

Ethnography lies at the heart of anthropology, offering both a method for understanding the world and a way to bring cultural insights to life. This module introduces ethnography as practice and product, showing how it can be used to analyse everyday life, institutions, and communities. You’ll learn how to observe, interpret, and communicate meaning, exploring how ethnographers craft narratives that convey complex cultural realities. The module also examines how ethnographic insights can inform action, support change, and challenge assumptions within organisations and communities, emphasising storytelling, persuasion, and public engagement. Through practical, applied learning, you’ll develop skills in research design, observation, analysis, and writing, along with the ability to communicate effectively across cultural and professional boundaries. By the end, you’ll be equipped to produce rigorous, insightful, and persuasive accounts of social life, preparing you for careers in policy, NGOs, research, and organisational practice.

How can anthropology help us make sense of a world facing political, social, economic, and environmental crises? This module introduces contemporary anthropology through key issues such as food systems, mental health, climate change, migration, and trust in institutions, showing how research connects directly to real-world challenges. You’ll explore how anthropologists use cultural insight and qualitative methods to reveal perspectives often overlooked by purely data-driven approaches, and how this knowledge can shape policy, advocacy, and action. Through engaging case studies, you’ll learn to analyse complex global problems and communicate your ideas clearly to different audiences. The module builds valuable skills in critical thinking, research, and problem-solving, preparing you for careers in policy, NGOs, the public sector, and beyond - equipping you to contribute thoughtful, context-aware solutions in a rapidly changing world.

Water and land sit at the centre of the climate crisis, global development, and social justice - and this module shows why they matter more than ever. You’ll explore how climate change is reshaping these vital resources and what that means for livelihoods, food security, and economies worldwide. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, the module examines how power, inequality, and politics influence who controls and benefits from natural resources. Through global case studies, you’ll analyse real-world challenges and solutions, from sustainable land use to water management and the interconnected land–water–energy–food nexus. Along the way, you’ll build practical skills in critical analysis, research, and communication, preparing you for careers in sustainability, policy, development, and consultancy. If you want to tackle complex global challenges and help shape fair, resilient solutions, this module equips you to make a meaningful impact.

Biodiversity underpins healthy ecosystems and human well-being, yet it is under growing threat from climate change, unsustainable production, and global inequality. This module explores how and why biodiversity is being lost, and what can be done to protect it in ways that are both effective and just. You’ll examine conservation as a dynamic and often contested field, shaped by power, politics, and competing values, from Indigenous and community-led approaches to global policy frameworks. Through case studies from around the world, you’ll analyse the trade-offs and opportunities involved in balancing environmental protection with development. Along the way, you’ll build skills in critical thinking, research, and communication, preparing you for careers in conservation, policy, sustainability, and beyond. If you want to understand the future of nature - and play a role in shaping it - this module will give you the insight and tools to make a difference.

Gender shapes how development is experienced, negotiated, and challenged across the world. This module explores the relationships between gender, power, and development, helping you understand how inequality is produced - and how it can be transformed. You’ll examine how gender is socially constructed and how it influences policies, practices, and outcomes in different contexts, while engaging with competing ideas about what development means in practice. Through real-world case studies and interactive learning, you’ll build the ability to analyse policies, identify intersectional inequalities, and evaluate how power operates across social, economic, and political systems. Along the way, you’ll develop valuable skills in critical thinking, research, and communication, preparing you for careers in development, policy, NGOs, and advocacy. If you want to contribute to more inclusive and just forms of development, this module will give you the tools and confidence to do so.

This module critically examines how human mobility is governed and contested in a world of increasing movement and tightening borders. It explores how states construct categories such as “refugee” and “irregular migrant,” and how these shape rights and access to mobility. You will analyse the historical roots of these systems, including colonial legacies, racialisation, and global economic change, alongside contemporary case studies. The module also engages with lived experiences of migration, encouraging you to challenge dominant narratives and explore forms of resistance and solidarity. By the end, you will be able to critically assess migration debates and develop independent, evidence-based arguments. Key skills developed include analytical thinking, political awareness, research, communication, and the ability to synthesise complex information.

Industrial policy is back at the centre of global economic debates as governments respond to technological change, uncertainty, and shifting geopolitics. This module explores how industrial policy shapes economic development and structural transformation across different contexts, from its historical roots to its contemporary resurgence. You’ll examine how policies are designed and implemented, the tools governments use, and the political and institutional factors that influence success or failure. Through real-world case studies and discussion-based learning, you’ll connect theory to practice and build the ability to analyse state capacity, evaluate policy decisions, and assess what works in different settings. Along the way, you’ll develop strong skills in critical thinking, research, and communication, preparing you for careers in government, international organisations, development, and policy analysis. If you want to understand how economies are shaped - and how policy can drive change - this module will give you the insight and confidence to engage.

In a rapidly changing global economy, how do multinational enterprises make financial decisions that drive success? This module explores how firms design and adapt financial strategies to compete across international markets, responding to digital transformation, sustainability pressures, and geopolitical change. You’ll examine how businesses allocate capital, manage risk, and create value while navigating different regulatory systems, cultural contexts, and economic conditions. Through real-world case studies and applied analysis, you’ll develop the ability to interpret financial data, evaluate strategic options, and support decision-making in complex environments. Along the way, you’ll build advanced skills in analytical thinking, research, and communication, preparing you for careers in international business, finance, and consultancy. If you want to understand how global organisations make high-stakes financial decisions - and how you can contribute to them - this module will give you the expertise and confidence to succeed.

How can machine learning transform financial decision-making? This module introduces how data-driven techniques are used to analyse markets, uncover patterns, and support forecasting in finance. Designed for students from all backgrounds, it requires no prior programming experience - foundational maths and statistics are built in, with step-by-step support throughout. You’ll gain hands-on experience using industry-relevant tools and a widely used programming language, working with real financial data to develop practical skills in analysis, modelling, and interpretation. As you build confidence in handling complex datasets, you’ll also explore the opportunities and ethical challenges of AI in finance. By the end, you’ll have strong skills in data analysis, problem-solving, and communication, preparing you for careers in finance, analytics, and technology. If you want to combine finance with cutting-edge data skills, this module offers a powerful starting point.

How are migration and diaspora shaped by power, identity, and global inequalities? This module explores how gender, sexuality, race, and nationality influence experiences of movement, belonging, and exclusion in today’s world. You’ll engage with key issues such as border control, forced displacement, migrant labour, and diasporic politics, drawing on feminist, queer, postcolonial, and decolonial perspectives. Through a mix of research and cultural materials, you’ll learn to analyse how different forms of knowledge shape debates on migration, and develop the ability to interpret complex global processes with nuance and sensitivity. Along the way, you’ll strengthen your skills in critical thinking, research, and communication, preparing you for careers in policy, international organisations, advocacy, and research. If you want to understand the politics of mobility and contribute to more informed and ethical debates, this module will give you the insight and confidence to do so.

This module explores humanity’s evolving relationship with the planet, connecting deep histories to today’s environmental challenges, from climate crisis and injustice to technological change. Tracing transformations from the Ice Age to speculative futures, you’ll examine the rise of agriculture and cities, the persistence of foraging societies, shifting forms of power, and scientific revolutions, while engaging with debates around AI and planetary change. Using interdisciplinary perspectives and global case studies, you’ll develop the ability to analyse human–nature interactions, consider their ethical and political implications, and apply historical insight to contemporary environmental issues. Collaborative, inquiry-driven learning will help you synthesise complex information and communicate effectively to diverse audiences. By the end, you’ll gain critical, analytical, and communication skills relevant to sustainability, policy, research, and public engagement, equipping you to contribute thoughtfully to debates on ethical and sustainable futures.

This module explores how digital media, data, and artificial intelligence are reshaping societies, cultures, and politics across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. You’ll examine the infrastructures of digital life, the “network society,” and how power, inequality, and resistance are negotiated online. The module investigates the impacts of platform economies, labour exploitation, surveillance, digital authoritarianism, and information disorder, while also highlighting participatory culture and innovation in the Global South. Key debates include AI, data colonialism, and how digital systems reproduce social inequalities, alongside questions of governance, regulation, and accountability. Through case studies and critical analysis, you’ll develop skills in research, digital literacy, and global awareness, preparing you to evaluate complex technological change. If you want to understand how digital transformations shape contemporary societies and contribute thoughtfully to debates on technology, policy, and development, this module equips you with the insight and practical skills to make an impact.

How do states define security, and what makes them feel threatened or protected? This module introduces core concepts in geopolitics, strategy, and international security, exploring how power, territory, and identity shape global and regional dynamics. You’ll examine how geopolitical ideas emerge, evolve, and influence policy, strategy, and public discourse, while critically assessing assumptions behind dominant thinking. The module also considers how new technologies, environmental challenges, and emerging powers reshape strategic thinking and spatial imaginaries. Through case studies, lectures, and interactive activities, you’ll analyse contemporary security challenges, integrate Global South perspectives, and reflect on the politics of knowledge production. Along the way, you’ll develop analytical, research, and communication skills, preparing you for careers in policy, advocacy, research, or international affairs. If you want to understand how power and strategy shape our world and make informed contributions to global security debates, this module gives you the tools and insight to do so.

This module gives you the opportunity to engage directly with cutting-edge research led by SOAS staff across the institution. Through small-group, dialogic teaching, you will explore topics aligned with your degree - or entirely new areas - focused on research from the Global South. Delivered in three-week teaching blocks, the module promotes cross-disciplinary learning, interaction with experts, and an inclusive, experiential approach to knowledge creation. Assessment combines a patchwork of tasks designed to develop critical analysis, digital skills, and the use of AI tools, alongside creating an infographic, stakeholder dissemination plan, and a final personal development plan. Throughout, you’ll build key employability skills, including communication, creative and analytical thinking, self-awareness, stakeholder engagement, and the professional use of AI. This module equips you to synthesise knowledge, reflect on your learning, and apply research insights effectively in academic, professional, and global contexts.

The Capstone Dissertation / Project module is the culmination of a SOAS Online Masters programme, giving you the chance to design, conduct, and present an independent research project or applied study in your field. Drawing on the theoretical, methodological, and analytical skills developed throughout your programme, you will investigate a research question or address a practical issue of significance. Under the guidance of a designated supervisor, you can choose either the Dissertation Route—producing an 8,000-word dissertation based on empirical or desk-based research - or the Professional Project Route, creating an 8,000-word equivalent portfolio, which could include a report, digital resource, or project presentation. The module is primarily self-directed, supported by structured supervision, online resources, and formative feedback. By completing it, you will demonstrate advanced skills in critical thinking, research design, ethical awareness, and scholarly communication, preparing you to make a meaningful contribution in your field.