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MA in Anthropology

Queen's University Belfast


Location

United Kingdom

Study Format

On Campus

Course language

English

Study Fields

Social Sciences, Anthropology

Duration

1 Year

Academic pace

Full Time, Part-time

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Tuition Fee

Request info

Program Description

The Anthropology MA is designed to provide students with a strong grounding in the principles and methods of Anthropology. It offers the opportunity to study innovative modules taught by leading experts in key anthropological fields, including Conflict and Borders, Religion, Cognition and Culture, Business and Sustainability, Material Culture and Art, Migration and Diasporas, Anthropology of Ireland, Human-Animal relations and the cross-cultural study of Emotions. Anthropology at Queen’s also has a distinguished history in Ethnomusicology, the cross-cultural study of music.

The MA teaching is research-led and draws on our staff’s theoretical work in these areas, as well as regional expertise, including research in India, Pakistan, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Japan, the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Romania, Finland, the UK, and the island of Ireland. Anthropology at QUB is ranked 2nd in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2021) and 1st in relation to research intensity (Research Excellence Framework 2014). With 97.8% for overall satisfaction!

Our MA in Anthropology explores current debates in the study of cultures and societies and offers specialised knowledge and advanced skills for a range of competitive careers or further study at PhD level. Studying anthropology at postgraduate level combines an in-depth understanding of human diversity and critical social theory, with hands-on training in carrying out grounded ethnographic research.

Studying Anthropology at Queen’s gives you the opportunity to design and carry out field research anywhere in the world. Under the guidance of experienced supervisors, students develop original projects among diverse groups of people across the globe. Doing ethnographic fieldwork will give you real-world skills that are uniquely valued among employers and offer you unforgettable cultural and social experiences. At the same time, Belfast and the island of Ireland, more broadly, offer unique sites to conduct research locally on most topics of anthropological interest, including conflict transformation and peacebuilding, religion, borders, arts and creativity, identity, ethnicity and nationalism, material culture, and policy-engaged anthropology.

Studying anthropology is a great way to get involved in contemporary issues and gain a wide range of critical and applied skills highly relevant in a globally interconnected world. MA students in our programme learn how to discover and understand human societies and cultures, and to work in collaboration with people in their places and communities.

This programme provides students with the opportunity to work in the centre for anthropological study and research in Northern Ireland. Our staff and programmes have long-standing connections with a number of local and international organisations, NGOs, and community groups. Anthropology postgraduate life centres around the weekly Anthropology Postgraduate Seminar, and regular Anthropology Research Seminars, as well as regular events in the Institute for Cognition and Culture, the Institute of Irish Studies, and The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice.

Anthropology Highlights

In the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021, Anthropology was ranked 2nd in the UK, including: 2nd in the UK for: Teaching Quality 5th in the UK for: Student Experience 3rd in the UK for: Research 3rd in the UK for: Graduate Prospects

Global Opportunities

  • Studying Anthropology at Queen’s gives you the opportunity to design and carry out field research locally or anywhere else in the world. Under the guidance of experienced supervisors, students develop original projects among diverse groups of people across the globe.

Industry Links

  • Our staff and programmes have long-standing connections with a range of stakeholders and beneficiaries, including national and international governmental and non-governmental organisations, cross-border and community groups, arts, music and museum professionals as well as politicians and policy-makers. We value our student achievements and offer opportunities for placements and internships in our dissertation module which invites students to participate in work activities at home or overseas. Some of our students have completed successful placements through the Science Shop

Career Development

  • Studying anthropology is a great way to get involved in contemporary issues, and gain a wide range of critical and applied skills highly relevant in a globally interconnected world. In the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021, Anthropology was ranked 3rd in the UK for Graduate Prospects. Queen’s postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes, alongside sterling integration with business experts, helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally. Queen’s is ranked in the top 140 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020).

World Class Facilities

  • Our new state of the art McClay Library has extensive book and journal holdings, and also subscribes to many of the principal online resources for anthropological study, including AnthroSource, Anthropological Index Online, JSTOR, Project Muse and many others. MA researchers also have access to other local libraries, like the historic Linen Hall Library, archives, such as the newly enhanced Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), and a number of collections and museums, such as the Ulster Museum and the Ulster Museum of Folk and Transport. Anthropology at Queen’s also has its own Performance room with several instruments from across the world, as well as revamped labs in the Institute of Cognition and Culture. Queen’s has a state-of-the art newly refurbished Graduate School. QUB was ranked 3rd out of 199 universities worldwide and 2nd out of 44 UK universities for our Graduate School.

Internationally Renowned Experts

  • Anthropology at QUB has offered a seminal programme in Ethnomusicology since the 1970s, when the subject was introduced by the late Professor John Blacking. Students will also benefit from the work carried out in the Institute of Cognition and Culture (ICC) which is one of the world's first centres for research in cognition and culture. This is a burgeoning interdisciplinary field in which scholars seek to explain patterns of cultural stability and variation utilizing theories and methods of the cognitive and evolutionary sciences. Anthropology is ranked 2nd in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2021) and 1st in relation to research intensity (Research Excellence Framework 2014). With 97.8% for overall satisfaction! These results demonstrate the exceptional quality of the work done by Anthropology staff and related researchers in our School, many of whom enjoy international reputations.

Student Experience

  • Doing ethnographic fieldwork will give you real-world skills that are uniquely valued among employers and offer you unforgettable cultural and social experiences. In the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021, Anthropology was ranked 5th in the UK for Student Experience.
  • Queen’s is ranked 22nd in the world for international outlook (Times Higher Education, World University Rankings 2020).
  • Queen’s is also in the top 75 universities in Europe for Teaching Excellent (Times Higher Education, 2019).

About the School

Queen's University Belfast is one of the leading universities in the UK and Ireland with a distinguished heritage and history.

Founded in 1845 as Queen's College Belfast, we became an independent university in 1908. The University is a member of the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities, combining excellence in research and education with a student-centred ethos.

Queen’s campus is at the heart of Belfast in Northern Ireland which has the lowest cost of living in the UK (Mercer Cost of Living City Ranking 2021) making it a more affordable option for students.

A World-Class Education and Student Experience

Queen’s offers a world-class education that prepares our students for leadership and citizenship in a global society.

Our inspiring alumni comprises outstanding scholars, Nobel Prize winners - such as Seamus Heaney and David Trimble - and influential leaders who are making an impact in Northern Ireland and across the globe.

Programmes are focused on preparing students for future employment. Students not only learn the core academic material from the staff at the forefront of their discipline but also learn how to put it into practice through practical workshops and hands-on sessions, ensuring that upon graduation, students are ready to step up as the next generation of industry leaders.

A Global and Inclusive University Community

Queen’s is attracting global talent to Belfast.

We currently have staff and students from over 80 countries, helping to create a multicultural and vibrant campus. They are joining a university that is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing the best global talent within an environment that enables them to realise their full potential.

An innovative, welcoming, and inclusive place to work and study, Queen’s is a leader in gender equality and diversity and currently holds a prestigious Athena Swan Silver Award. The University also holds 14 School Awards comprising 3 Gold, 6 Silver and 5 Bronze.

Research That Shapes Worlds

Queen’s University Belfast is globally connected and networked with leading universities across the world.

We continue to drive forward research to shape worlds, focusing on five key areas. Ensuring a healthy living for all through developing solutions and treatments for diseases; helping to deliver a transformative and sustainable economy for future generations; leading to securely connected intelligence and AI and the data revolution. We are at the forefront of delivering future-focused human-environment relations; and will continue our strong history of expertise in conflict resolution and building inclusive and cohesive communities.

Ranked 24 in the UK for Research Power

We are forward thinkers and will continue to direct and shape research to help support a workable environment and society.

88% of our research has been assessed as world-leading and internationally excellent, 99% of our research environment was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent and we are ranked 24th in the UK for Research Power (REF 2021/ Times Higher Education).

Northern Ireland's Legendary Beauty

Queen’s University is situated in Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland.

In a city with innovation at its heart, technological advances infiltrate every sector helping to build our competitiveness on the global stage. Belfast is in the world’s top 10 Digital Economies of the Future - the only UK city outside London to be listed (Financial Times’ fDi Intelligence, 2018) and was voted one of the top 15 friendliest cities in Europe (Condé Nast Traveller, Readers' Choice Awards 2021).

It is one of Europe's most hip, vibrant and affordable cities, lauded for its energy, and rich in culture and history. Queen's stunning campus is within Belfast's Queen's Quarter, with cafés, bars, restaurants, superb shopping, and entertainment venues (Complete University Guide 2022).

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