MRes in Anthropology, Art and Perception
Saint Andrews, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
07 Aug 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,880 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* overseas / home: £11,680
Key Summary
Introduction
The MRes in Anthropology, Art, and Perception provide training for postgraduate research into the anthropology of human creativity, art, material culture, and visual expression. It takes perception as its starting point and draws on themes extending across the subject boundaries between art and anthropology.
Course details
The MRes in Anthropology, Art, and Perception is led by the Department of Social Anthropology within the School of Philosophical, Anthropological, and Film Studies.
Highlights
- The course benefits from small class sizes and an interdisciplinary approach
- The course includes a project-based module that allows you to experiment with audio-visual and other creative anthropological research methods
- Students have the option to write a library-based dissertation or a dissertation with a practical component
The program takes art as its starting point and draws on themes extending across the subject boundaries between art and anthropology. These themes include:
- The senses and perception in anthropology
- The role of community and cooperation in practice-based research
- Experimental methodologies, audio, and audio-visual practices
- Representation
- A practical sensory project
- Commonalities between anthropological fieldwork and contemporary art practice.
The MRes provides an excellent grounding in contemporary research themes and innovative research methods for students aiming to do a PhD in anthropology, visual culture, design anthropology, and related subjects. It also provides important training for students interested in a career in the heritage sector, development, the creative industries, workplace management, and design.
Admissions
Curriculum
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your program.
Each module typically comprises:
- 22 contact hours for lectures and seminars, plus additional practical time
- 100% coursework assessment.
Compulsory
- Anthropology, Art, and Perception 1: centers on the role of the sensory in visual and material culture covers haptic, visual, sonic, and gustatory themes in anthropology, and addresses the role of aesthetics from ethnographic and anthropological perspectives
- The Anthropology of Connections: Interdisciplinarity as Methodology: examines the relevance of other disciplines for social anthropology by working with methodologies and concepts drawn from history, social science, philosophy, language, and the arts
- Anthropology, Art, and Perception 2: explores anthropology's potential for contributing to and critiquing image production in film, art, and photography; develops new sensory approaches to observation and engagement
- Research Methods in Social Anthropology: examines the methodology of anthropological research through close attention to the relationship between method and fieldwork experience.
Dissertation
Students can choose to complete a 15,000-word research dissertation or a 7,500-word dissertation with a practical element. Student dissertations will be supervised by a member of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation must be submitted by a specified date in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MRes, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MRes.
Teaching
Teaching format
Over two semesters, students take four compulsory modules. Teaching methods include:
- Formal lectures combined with seminar-style teaching
- One-off practical workshops
- Preparing and mounting an exhibition of project-based work.
Lecture groups are small.
Over the year, with a particular focus during the summer months, you will devise a research project culminating in either a 15,000-word dissertation or a 7,500-word dissertation with a practical element.
Assessment
Modules are assessed through coursework which includes essays and independent research-led assignments.
Support
Every taught postgraduate student is assigned an individual supervisor from among the Social Anthropology staff who will work with them closely to develop a topic and direction for the dissertation.
The Department of Social Anthropology provides postgraduates with access to a museum collection of ethnographic material and a common room that includes a general anthropological library, providing a space that is shared by both staff and postgraduates. The departmental libraries, together with the main University library which holds a fine anthropology collection, include resources covering nearly all regions of the world.
Scholarships and Funding
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
The University of St Andrews offers postgraduate scholarships and other financial awards. These may be held in addition to external funding or awards from a government body. These may also cover (fully or partially) tuition fees, maintenance (living costs including accommodation), or both.
Scholarships are available based on academic merit and financial need. There are scholarships available for both home and overseas fee status. The scholarship team recommends reading the terms of each award carefully and applying to a range of funding sources.
Postgraduate scholarships
Postgraduate study is an investment in your intellectual development and career potential. The University of St Andrews provides scholarships to help as many students as possible continue in higher education.
Scholarship availability may depend on your area of study or fee status (for example, whether you are a 'Home' or 'Overseas' student).
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Social Anthropology graduates have characteristics many employers seek, and a Social Anthropology degree provides openings to a wide range of careers. Graduates have gained successful employment in areas such as:
- Design
- International policy and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Journalism (BBC and The Independent)
- Marketing
- Museums
- Teaching
- Wildlife conservation.
Further study
Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programs at St Andrews or elsewhere. The Department of Social Anthropology offers Ph.D. supervision across a diverse range of theoretical interests and topics.