Anthropology of Food and Intensive Language (South East Asian Languages)

The MA Anthropology of Food with a 2-year intensive language pathway is directed at students who wish to combine knowledge of the anthropology of food with expertise in a regional language.

It prepares students to apply their anthropological knowledge in a specific region by achieving proficiency in a language. Our MA programme in the Anthropology of Food offers you the opportunity to explore historically and culturally variable foodways, from foraging to industrial agriculture, from Europe and North America to Africa, Asia and South America.

You will study the passage of food from plant to palate, and examine who benefits, and who suffers, from contemporary modes of food production, exchange, preparation, and consumption. You will also explore the role of food in human migrations, the formation of regional and national cuisines, and food fears and food safety and concerns over ‘nutrition transition’.

Debates over the impact of agricultural biotechnology on agrarian livelihoods and knowledge systems, as well as on the natural environment, are assessed. Movements toward organic agriculture, veganism and vegetarianism, fair trade, and slow food are also analysed.

An anthropological approach to the study of food draws upon and challenges the perspectives of other disciplines, whether agronomy or nutritional science, economics or law, history or literature.

Why study MA Anthropology of Food and Intensive Language at SOAS?

• We are ranked 6th in the UK and 18th in the world for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• 3rd in the UK for Employer Reputation (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• 5th in the UK for Academic Reputation (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• 12th in the UK (Times/Sunday Times League Table 2025)
• We are ranked 13th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• Flexibly structure your programme using our optional modules and/or optional modules from other departments, including the opportunity to learn a regional language
• First-rate graduate employability record, with graduates moving on to find employment in food-related government ministries, international organisations, development agencies, or non-governmental associations

This 2-year intensive language pathway is directed at students who want to engage with a country academically and/or professionally, as the intensive language courses will enable them to reach near proficiency in the language.