Social Anthropology

Entry requirements

An upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in any discipline including anthropology within the context of a more general degree is required.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The MSc Social Anthropology is an excellent and intensive introduction to the discipline of social anthropology. The programme gives you a thorough grounding in anthropology, both in terms of its ethnographic diversity and its theoretical development.

Teaching is directly informed and enhanced by the strong tradition of fieldwork-based research within the Department. Compulsory components include a course which examines the relationship between theory and ethnography in modern social and cultural anthropology, and a 10,000-word dissertation on an approved topic of your choice.

This programme is suitable for graduates with a degree in any discipline, and prior knowledge of anthropology, while beneficial, is not essential. It is suitable either as an introduction to the subject for those intending to proceed with other careers, or is an ideal preparation for further research work in anthropology and related disciplines.

Department of Anthropology

LSE has one of the most famous anthropology departments in the world. The research interests of our staff span all the major theoretical spheres of modern social anthropology. We carry out ethnographic research in diverse settings such as bureaucracies, corporations, NGOs, rural and urban communities and religious and social movements. Our expertise covers all the regions of the world including China, South Asia, South East Asia, the U.S.A, Europe, Latin America and post-socialist states. Our Department is well known for the rigour of its ethnography in settings such as these, and also for the pivotal contributions it makes to foundational topics in the social sciences such as politics, economics, religion and kinship.

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students.

Fees and funding

Fees

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme. Visit the website for more information about the fees.

Funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for needs-based awards from LSE, including the Graduate Support Scheme, Master's Awards, and Anniversary Scholarships.

Selection for any funding opportunity is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.

Find out more about financial support.