Course contact details
Postgraduate Admissions
Email:pgadmissions@abdn.ac.uk
Phone:01224 272090
University of Aberdeen
Directorate of Global Engagement, Marketing and Recruitment
King's College
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX
Anthropological Research (Taught)
- Master of Science
- 12 Months
- Full-Time
- 13 September 2027
- Postgraduate
- Main Site
Course summary
The MSc Anthropological Research (formerly MRes Social Anthropology) offers a unique opportunity to delve into human cultures and societies within a world-renowned academic setting. This programme combines rigorous theoretical teaching with fieldwork opportunities to equip you with both the analytical frameworks and practical skills essential for advanced anthropological study.
Anthropology involves the comparative study of human societies in all their diversity, aiming to understand cultural life across a broad spectrum of social activities. Anthropologists conduct their research through long-term, in-depth fieldwork in various regions worldwide.
Our focus at Aberdeen encompasses multiple facets of people's everyday lives, from routine activities to special festivals and events. By observing these occurrences, researchers gain insights into other societies and reflect on their own, contributing to knowledge about distant cultures and addressing pressing issues in nearby communities.
The Anthropology Department at the University of Aberdeen is known worldwide for its expertise in Scotland and the Circumpolar North - including Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and Russia, blending interdisciplinary perspectives with a strong research foundation
The MSc programme offers an introduction to the work of anthropologists, the methods for conducting fieldwork, and a historical and contemporary overview of anthropological research. Students will develop their own research topic with the help of a supervisor. You will learn to access research materials, conduct ethnographic fieldwork, apply research methods such as participant observation, interviewing, and recording, and adhere to ethical standards in anthropological research.
Upon completing the program, graduates will be prepared for further research towards a PhD in Social Anthropology or to pursue careers as trained researchers in the public or private sectors.
Modules
Course Modules
View all modules on the programme page to find out more about what you will be studying and when. University of Aberdeen modules are designed to give you breadth and depth to your master’s degree. The range of modules you study will allow you to become proficient in all subjects which are directly relevant to your degree giving you greater career options.
Assessment method
Assessment will be based on extended essays for each individual course module and the dissertation.
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Entry requirements
A 2:2 UK Honours degree, or an Honours degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth.
Applicants without this qualification may be admitted subject to having an alternative qualification, or an approved level of work experience appropriate to the field of study. Also taken into careful consideration is the trajectory of results, an applicant without an overall 2:2 but with 2:2 results in their final two years of study may be admitted.
Many students, but not all, intend to go on to study for a PhD, in which case the dissertation written at the end of the MSc serves as a PhD research proposal. To apply therefore, please include a short outline of your intended research theme. This need not be very detailed, up to about 1000 words in length. Please include this in your Personal Statement.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | Overall - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5 or above; Reading - 6.0 or above; Speaking - 5.5 or above; Writing - 6.0 or above. IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training are not accepted. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 90 | TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: Overall - 90 with: Listening - 17 or above; Reading - 21 or above; Speaking - 20 or above; Writing - 21 or above. DI code is 0818 |
| PTE Academic | 62 | Overall - 62 with: Listening - 59 or above; Reading - 59 or above; Speaking - 59 or above; Writing - 59 or above. Online test is not accepted. |
| Institution's Own Test | Academic English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE) - Pass (valid for 1 year). Academic English Preparation Programme undertaken at other UK HEI - accredited by BALEAP and within 1 year of start of course. | |
| Cambridge English Advanced | C | Overall - 176 with: Listening - 162 or above; Reading - 162 or above; Speaking - 162 or above; Writing - 169 or above. |
To study for a postgraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write academic English fluently. These skills will allow you to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations. We can assess your English language proficiency through a variety of means: through your nationality, through the qualifications you gained in high school, through the degree you undertook or are undertaking at university, or through a recognised English language test. Postgraduate Higher requirements are used by the Schools of Business; Divinity, History and Philosophy; Education; Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture; Law; and Social Sciences. The MSc in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management and the MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geoscience also make use of the Postgraduate Higher requirements. Please note certification must be within the two years prior to commencement of your degree programme, unless otherwise stated.https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/requirements-pg-266.php
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
Fee information is not yet published for entry in Academic Year 2027/2028. For guidance, the fees on the University Online Prospectus website are for 2026/27.
Sponsorship information
Aberdeen Alumni Discount - PG
This scholarship is available for students registered for online programmes and on-campus programmes delivered at our Aberdeen campus.
A special ‘loyalty discount’ of 20% off the cost of any element of self funded graduate study is available to University of Aberdeen graduates who wish to undertake further study at the University of Aberdeen. The discount applies to a range of taught graduate programmes (Masters, Diploma, Certificate and Short Course), and the year one of a full time research programme (years one and two for part time research students). It is available to both UK/EU and International students.
Please see Eligibility at the link provided.
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