Social Anthropology and Intensive Language (African Languages)

The MRes Social Anthropology offers students training in social science research methods, with a strong focus on ethnographic methods.

It aims to provide students with the skills they need to conduct research at a doctoral level, or to work as social science researchers. In addition to the acquisition of strong methodological skills, students are able to benefit from SOAS' renowned offering of African and Asian languages, as well as its expertise in the humanities, including philosophy, linguistics, literature, and history.

Why study Social Anthropology 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)
• SOAS is 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
• we are specialists in the delivery of languages; your command of a second language at SOAS will set you apart from graduates of other universities

The MRes Social Anthropology may be taken either as a free standing MRes or as the first part of a PhD (for example, as a 1 + 3 research training programme). In the latter case, the MRes therefore serves as a shortcut into the PhD. It is designed to train students in research skills, including language training, to the level prescribed by the ESRC’s research training guidelines.

Most students would be expected to progress to PhD registration at the end of the degree.

The MRes is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) .

Aims and outcomes

The MRes is designed to train students in research skills to the level prescribed by the ESRC’s research training guidelines. It is intended for students with a good first degree (minimum of a 2.1) in social anthropology and/or a taught Masters degree in social anthropology. Most students would be expected to progress to PhD registration at the end of the degree. By the end of the program students will:

• have achieved practical competence in a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods and tools
• have the ability to understand key issues of method and theory, and to understand the epistemological issues involved in using different methods

In addition to key issues of research design, students will be introduced to a range of specific research methods and tools including:

• interviewing, collection and analysis of oral sources, analysis and use of documents, participatory research methods, issues of triangulation research validity and reliability, writing and analysing field notes, and ethnographic writing
• social statistics techniques relevant for fieldwork and ethnographic data analysis (including chi-square tests, the T-test, F-test, and the rank correlation test)

Discipline specific training in anthropology includes:

• ethnographic methods and participant observation
• ethical and legal issues in anthropological research
• the logistics of long-term fieldwork
• familiarisation with appropriate regional and theoretical literatures
• writing-up (in the field and producing ethnography) and communicating research results
• Language training.