Skip navigation

Social Anthropology and African Studies

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 28 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

Learn about how people live in diverse cultures around the world and deepen your understanding of African societies through history, politics and cultural studies.

Explore the complexity and diversity of lived experiences on the African continent and beyond, and challenge assumptions about society's past, present, and future.

Why study this course?

  • Dive into the diversity of African societies, exploring their histories and stories alongside contemporary cultures. Learn how the study of Africa provides us with different perspectives and enhances our understanding of politics, history and culture.

  • Gain critical and transferable skills that open up a broad range of career opportunities through our work-based placements and employability-focused modules.

  • Take on opportunities to do research of your own, observing and analysing the societies and issues around you through the lens of anthropology.

  • Benefit from more than 60 years’ experience of teaching and research in African studies.

  • Travel and study abroad, choosing from over 300 destinations worldwide, including a range of exciting options across the African continent.

  • Access an exceptional range of learning resources including environmental and material culture collections including the African collection and the Cadbury Research Library.

Top 10 for Anthropology in the Complete University Guide 2025

Modules

First-year modules cover a broad base of the subject and are designed to introduce you to ways of studying at university. By the final year the modules you take will become more specialised and reflect the research expertise of the academic staff. More detailed module information can be found on the course page.

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
LT65
Institution code:
B32
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff Not accepted

A level BBB

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) DMM

BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM plus B at A-level.
BTEC Diploma: DM, plus B at A-level.
BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus BB at A-level.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme 32 points

5,5,5 in Higher Level subjects.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Accepted in place of a non-required A level with the equivalent grade.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Accepted in place of A levels with the following grade equivalencies: D2 = A*; D3 = A; M2 = B. Combinations of A levels and Principle subjects are accepted. NB required subjects must be offered (see A level Section)

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

The historic entry grades range shown below includes students admitted with alternative offers through our contextual admissions schemes. These are typically 1 or 2 grades below the standard offer. You can find information on these schemes using the link below.
You can check your eligibility to receive an offer for this course using our Offer Calculator using the same link.

Learn more on the University of Birmingham website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

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

For details of the annual tuition fee for International Students please see the course web page listed in the 'course details' section above.
If you are made an offer to study by the University, the yearly tuition fee will be stated in your offer letter.

Like this page