African Studies and Anthropology

Entry requirements

For MRes and MA by Research programmes, we usually require a good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree, or an equivalent qualification if you were educated outside the UK, usually in a relevant area.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

Join an internationally renowned department of African Studies and Anthropology and conduct anthropological research with a focus on communities in Africa or the African diaspora.

You’ll be supported by an interdisciplinary department with strengths in both African studies and Anthropology. We'll provide you with expert supervision and knowledge of each discipline to enhance your research.

Course highlights

Our Department of African Studies and Anthropology (DASA) is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in research and postgraduate training. Benefit from the department’s international staff, interdisciplinary approach, diverse range of expertise, and active research community.

Academics in the Department of African Studies and Anthropology can supervise research projects drawing on archival, ethnographic and/or textual and media sources.

We have thematic expertise in topics including migration and diasporas, religion and society, economic inequality and insecurity, youth, the urban, popular culture, kinship, gender and sexuality.

We encourage you to consult our staff profile pages to identify a suitable lead supervisor before applying.

• Be part of world-leading research. The Department was ranked second among all Area Studies departments in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise 2021, according to Times Higher Education, with 100% of published research deemed "world-leading" or "internationally excellent".
• Get involved with a range of activities, from weekly departmental seminars to our frequent international conferences on cutting-edge research topics hosted on campus.
• The Department is home to an energetic and friendly community of anthropologists and Africanists – you'll forge valuable research connections during your time at Birmingham.

Course delivery

Most of our postgraduate research-only programmes offer a PhD or Masters by Research option, but some programmes only offer the PhD route. The PhD is taken over three-six years and the Masters by Research over one-two years. We offer flexibility so you can choose the mode of study that works for you - full-time, part-time, or distance learning.

• There are no formal lectures or seminars in a PhD or MA by Research (if available). Instead, you’ll undertake research under the expert guidance of a primary supervisor, co-supervisor and mentor, supported by complementary research training.
• Your supervisory team will meet with you at regular intervals throughout your programme to offer guidance on how best to approach, implement and report on your research.
• If you take the distance learning option you’ll receive the same level of support and supervision as on-campus students, but with supervisory sessions taking place online. You'll be funded to make one compulsory visit to the University, enabling you to meet your supervisory team, undertake intensive research skills training and make a start on your doctoral studies.
• You’re expected to take full responsibility for your work, developing your own timetable for your research project so you can successfully complete it on time.

Information for international students

• 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.