MRes/PhD in Anthropology

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Programme Structure - MRes

Programme code: TMRESAN

Department: Anthropology

For students starting this programme of study in 2024/25

Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations

Classification scheme for the award of a taught master's degree (four units)
Exam sub-board local rules

Please note that places are limited on some optional courses. Admission onto any particular course is not guaranteed and can be subject to timetabling constraints and/or students meeting specific prerequisite requirements.


Paper 1	AN471 Qualitative and Quantitative Methods for Anthropologists (1.0)
Paper 2	AN472 Evidence and Arguments in Anthropology and Other Social Sciences (1.0)
Paper 3	AN442 Supervised Reading Course and Fieldwork Preparation (1.0)
Paper 4	AN443 Research Proposal (1.0)
	In addition students are required to complete the following courses, which are compulsory but not examined:
Paper 5	AN500 Seminar on Anthropological Research (0.0)
Paper 6	All MRes students are required to audit one or two of the department's main lecture courses (to the value of 1.0 unit):
	AN402 The Anthropology of Religion (1.0)
	AN405 The Anthropology of Kinship, Sex and Gender (1.0)
	AN451 Anthropology of Politics (0.5)
	AN456 Anthropology of Economy (1): Production and Exchange (0.5)
	AN457 Anthropology of Economy (2): Transformation and Globalisation (0.5)
	AN479 Anthropology of Law (0.5)

Award of the MRes in Anthropology
The award and classification of the MRes degree is consistent with the School's Scheme for the Award of a four-unit Taught Master's Degree.

The marks for AN471 and AN472 will count respectively as 25% of the total mark for the year. The research proposal, worth 50% of the total mark for the MRes year, will be examined (and the examination includes a viva). In order to be upgraded to PhD registration and allowed to commence fieldwork, students (a) must earn an average of 60 or more across all units; (b) must earn a minimum mark of 60 on the research proposal.

Progression to the PhD
If the above MRes requirements are met, students will be upgraded to PhD registration and will commence the fieldwork phase of the programme. The mandatory first year progress review of PhD students will be based on written reports about the early phase of fieldwork. The mandatory third year progress review for students in Anthropology is held in the third term (or, exceptionally, in the fourth term) after their return from fieldwork; this entails a viva with both supervisors and one external examiner.

Programme Structure - PhD

Programme code: RPAN2

In the programme regulations below Years 1 and 2 are listed as "fieldwork", with Years 3 and 4 being post-fieldwork, although in practice the timing/duration of these stages may vary to some extent between students.

Year 1 - Fieldwork
Year 2 - Fieldwork
Year 3
Paper 1	AN505 Advanced Professional Development in Anthropology (1.0)
Papers 2 & 3	Compulsory non-examined courses:
	AN500 Seminar on Anthropological Research (0.0)
	AN503 Thesis Writing Seminar (0.0)
Year 4
Papers 4 & 5	Compulsory non-examined courses:
	AN500 Seminar on Anthropological Research (0.0)
	AN503 Thesis Writing Seminar (0.0)

Local rules
The only permitted format for theses in the Department of Anthropology is that of a monograph that forms an integrated whole.

Note for prospective students:
For changes to graduate course and programme information for the next academic session, please see the graduate summary page for prospective students. Changes to course and programme information for future academic sessions can be found on the graduate summary page for future students.