African Studies
Entry requirements
You should have, or expect to get, a 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant area.
Relevant equivalent study or professional experience can also be considered for entry.
Months of entry
September
Course content
Join a network of African Studies researchers and study taught modules with the freedom to pursue your own research proposal. You'll get to explore the areas of African Studies that interest you the most.
Develop the skills for both doctoral study and a future career. You'll broaden your knowledge of Africa and its diasporas through taught modules and complete a major individual research project supervised by a specialist in the field.
At Birmingham, you'll develop your critical and analytical skills, exploring current ideas in African politics, history and anthropology.
You'll identify, investigate and write up your own research topic, using ethnographic, archival, media or online source materials. Our Department of African Studies and Anthropology is interdisciplinary, meaning we offer expert supervision for a wide range of topics and welcome research that goes beyond subject boundaries.
- Access primary sources including the Church Missionary Society Archive and other Africa-related resources at our Cadbury Research Library.
- Study in the Department of African Studies and Anthropology (DASA), ranked second among all Area Studies departments in the country for its performance in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, according to Times Higher Education.
- Join a close-knit community of African Studies and Anthropology academic staff and postgraduate students - you'll work closely with staff and discuss your research interests.
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in African studies and anthropology.
An MRes is a programme that helps you develop the skills for doctoral study and a future career. You’ll complete a major individual research project, supervised by a specialist in the field of study, and a taught component that develops research and analytical skills.
- Taught modules - each module represents a total of 200 hours of study time, including preparatory reading, homework and assignment preparation.
- Seminars – modules are mainly taught by small group teaching.
- Research thesis– you'll undertake a 20,000-word thesis in an area that interests you.
Information for international students
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
Fees and funding
The College of Arts and Law is a vibrant community of students and academics, dedicated to ensuring that excellence is rewarded, and that fears about finance do not constrain current or prospective students. For this reason, in addition to University funding schemes, we offer our own College-specific funding initiatives.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MRes
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Postgraduate enquiry service