SOAS University of London
MRes Social Anthropology and Intensive Language
London, United Kingdom
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
GBP 11,980 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time fees: UK £11,980; Overseas £23,400
Introduction
Mode of Attendance: Full-time or part-time
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.
This two-year intensive language pathway is directed at students who wish to combine knowledge of social anthropology with expertise in a regional language. It prepares students to apply their anthropological knowledge in a specific region by achieving proficiency in a 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
- 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 optional modules and/or optional modules from other departments, including the opportunity to learn a regional language
- We are specialists in the delivery of languages. Your command of a second 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.
The MRes is recognised by the ESRC.
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Admissions
Curriculum
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
- Research Training Seminar
Plus
Guided Module(s) from the Anthropology and Sociology list below, to the value of 15 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
Guided Module(s) from the Anthropology and Sociology list below, to the value of 30 credits.
or
Guided Module(s) from the Anthropology and Sociology list below, OR modules from the Postgraduate Open Options List, to the value of 30 credits.
and
All students are required to attend the Epigeum - Statistical Methods for Social Sciences. This will not count towards your 180 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 Diasporas in the Contemporary World: Cultures of Resistance and the Dissolution of Boundaries
- African and Asian Diasporas in the Contemporary World: Migration, Space, Identities
- Anthropology of Development and Sustainability: Global Challenges and Alternative Futures
- Anthropology of Development and Sustainability: History, Politics and Culture
- Anthropology of Food: Diet, Society and Environment
- Anthropology of Food: Politics, Place and Mobility
- Body politics: the anthropology of "race", gender and desire
- Culture and Society of East Africa
- Culture and Society of Near and Middle East
- Directed Practical Study in the Anthropology of Food
- Issues in Anthropology and Climate Change
- Issues in Anthropology and Film
- Issues in Mind, Culture and Psychiatry
- Medical Anthropology: Bodies and Cultures
- Medical Anthropology: Global Perspectives
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.
Rankings
Our Anthropology Department is ranked 5th in the UK and 13th in the world in the 2020 QS World University Rankings
Program Outcome
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 (including chi-square tests, the T-test, F-test, and the rank correlation test)
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 the appropriate regional and theoretical literature
- writing-up (in the field and producing ethnography) and communicating research results; and
- Language training
Career Opportunities
Employment
Students of the MRes Social Anthropology develop a wide range of transferable skills such as research, analysis, oral and written communication skills.
Many MRes students go on to do successful PhD research, either within our department or at other leading universities. Others apply their knowledge of research methods in employment in international institutions, NGOs, government, and business, both within the UK and overseas. Recent SOAS career choices have included commerce and banking, government service, the police and prison service, social services and health service administration.
English Language Requirements
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