MRes Social Anthropology and Intensive Language

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or part-time

Our MRes Social Anthropology programme focuses largely on the study of the developing world, from remote communities to more recent urban development. We are curious about the world and innovative in our approach to finding new solutions to recurring problems.

Studying the programme at SOAS is unique as it draws from our expertise in a plethora of humanities subjects including sociology, philosophy, linguistics, literature, and history. If you are interested in nurturing a better understanding of what it is to be human in the complex world in which we live, then this discipline is suited to you.

This two-year intensive language pathway is directed at students who want to engage with a country in a professional as well as academic way, as the intensive language courses will enable them to reach a near proficient knowledge of the language.

May be combined with:

The following Intensive Language pathways are available with the MRes Social Anthropology:

• Arabic
• Japanese
• Korean
• Persian
• South-East Asian Languages: Burmese, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese
• Swahili
• Turkish

Why study MRes Social Anthropology at SOAS

• Our Anthropology Department is ranked 6 in the UK and 16 in the world in the 2019 QS World University Rankings.
• We 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 practical working knowledge of their disciplines.
• You will be joining our thriving community of alumni and academics who have an impact on the world outside of academia.
• You will be able to 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 may be taken either as a free-standing MRes or as the first part of a PhD [e.g. 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.

This programme has a first-rate graduate employability record, with graduates moving on to find employment in information and technology, the media, tourism, commerce and banking, government, the police and prison service, social services and health service administration.

Employment

Students of the MRes Social Anthropology develop a wide range of transferable skills such as research, analysis, oral and written communication skills.

The communication skills of anthropologists transfer well to areas such as information and technology, the media and tourism. Other recent SOAS career choices have included commerce and banking, government service, the police and prison service, social services and health service administration. Opportunities for graduates with trained awareness of the socio-cultural norms of minority communities also arise in education, local government, libraries and museums.

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.

In addition, all students must participate in the MPhil Research Training Seminar.

Year 1 (two years full time)

Discipline Component

• Research Methods in Anthropology

Plus

A module(s) from the list below to the value of 30 credits.

Plus

All students are expected to attend the MPhil Research Training Seminar. This will not count towards your 180 credits.

Language Component

Students take 60 credits in the selected language.

Summer Abroad

Students participate in a Summer School abroad for the selected language.

Year 2 (two years full time)

Discipline Component

A module(s) from the list below (or relevant options from other departments) to the value of 30 credits.

Language Component

Students take 30 credits in the selected language.

Dissertation

• Dissertation in Anthropological Research Methods (90)

List of Modules (subject to availability)

• African and Asian Cultures in Britain
• African and Asian Diasporas in the Modern World
• African and Asian Diasporas in the Contemporary World
• Anthropology of Development
• The Anthropology of Food
• Anthropology of Globalisation (PG)
• Anthropology of Human Rights (PG)
• Anthropology of Law
• Comparative Studies of Society and Culture
• Comparative Media Studies
• Issues in Anthropology of Media
• Culture and Society of China
• Culture and Society of East Africa
• Culture and Society of Japan
• Culture and Society of South Asia
• Culture and Society of South East Asia
• Culture and Society of Near and Middle East
• Culture and Society of West Africa
• Medical Anthropology in Global Perspective
• Issues in Anthropology and Film
• Issues in Mind, Culture and Psychiatry
• Issues in the Anthropology of Gender
• Media Production Skills (Group B)
• Perspectives On Development
• Religions on the move: New Currents and Emerging Trends in Global Religion
• Therapy and Culture
• Tourism and Travel: A Global Perspective

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.

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.

Admissions and Applications

You can apply for this course via the online application form.

We aim to assess a complete application and provide a decision within a 5-week time frame. Overseas students who require a Tier 4 visa and wish to join SOAS should bear in mind visa applications can take several weeks, so you should apply as soon as possible.

Consideration of Application

The whole application, including transcript and references, is considered before a decision is reached. You are therefore advised to submit a complete application including references and transcript (where required). An incomplete application will add considerable delays to the decision-making process.

Students will receive an acknowledgement of their application. Each application is carefully considered and although we try and respond as quickly as possible, we do ask that students should expect to receive a response within five weeks of receipt.

Candidates who are available in the United Kingdom may be called for an interview. The absence of academic members of staff (or instance on study leave) may affect the timing of decisions.

Entry Requirements

Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in Social Anthropology or a taught Masters degree in social anthropology. This Masters is designed for students wishing to pursue a PhD in Social Anthropology. Exceptionally this course may be taken as a conversion MA. Students who would like to take this path must demonstrate a solid grounding in the discipline as well as the regional and language expertise necessary for continuing onto a PhD.

English Language Entry Requirements

Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent).

International students

For EU and International students who need a visa, if unconditional entry scores are achieved we accept qualifications from several countries, as well as a range of international qualifications and tests.

If a Tier 4 entry visa is required then a SELT, such as UKVI IELTS may be needed. For this reason, we recommend all Tier 4 visa students to choose the UKVI IELTS Academic test as the test of first resort.