Social Anthropology - BA (Hons)

This is an archived course for 2020 entry
Join our world

Study everything from religion and politics, to gender, creativity, conflict, inequality, and the anthropology of business. You gain in-depth knowledge of today’s global cultures and challenges, and valuable skills that will help you to find your place in a changing world and make you more employable. If you're a creative and critical thinker, fascinated by every aspect of human life then our BA Social Anthropology is for you.

Overview


The University of Kent boasts one of the UK's largest groups of Anthropology lecturers. Each specialises in at least one geographical region and a number of fascinating research topics. This means that you gain an unusually diverse range of module choices, covering the usual core topics such as the study of politics and religion, but also more specialist or practical modules that help you to prepare for life after graduation.

Social Anthropology was established at the University of Kent in 1965 and is one of the longest-running programmes in the United Kingdom. Kent plays an important role in pioneering new and innovative approaches to contemporary anthropology and our exciting range of expertise reaches across all regions of the globe. It is through drawing directly on this wealth of experience that we deliver a dynamic Social Anthropology programme.

Our degree programme

You learn to understand and address the challenges of our time and are given skills to contribute to society in a wide range of exciting careers after you graduate.

  • Regional expertise and cultural literacy. Social Anthropology is the social science that specialises in cultural diversity. In no other subject will you have the opportunity to study so many different cultures. You may develop your cultural literacy further by taking one of our Year Abroad programmes (see below).
  • Understanding changing values and identity. Rapidly changing values and identities present one of the greatest areas of challenge for the world today—as well as exciting opportunities. Studying Social Anthropology at Kent provides you with opportunities to learn more about how these changes are affecting people in different societies and how social scientists have tried to understand them.
  • Understanding the impacts of the planetary crisis. One of the biggest changes in the social sciences in the past ten years has been the growing interest in the relationship between human beings and their environment. You have the opportunity to study this relationship with researchers who are at the forefront of this trend.
  • Ethnographic research skills. Across your degree programme, you have the opportunity to choose modules that offer training in ethnographic methods, including the possibility of undertaking your own research under the supervision of our expert staff, and writing a dissertation about your research in your final year.
  • Using your creativity. You are trained to use your creativity to produce vivid accounts of social life. Most of these will be in writing, but you have the opportunity to choose modules that focus on other media, for example, by producing your own short documentary film.

You acquire these skills by taking a combination of compulsory core modules and a number of optional modules that you choose from a wide range.

In the first year, you take core modules that give you a broad background in the subject. The core modules in the second and final year of the programme cover the anthropology of politics, religion and economics, and introduce you to some advanced topics in social theory. These core modules also give you an understanding of the distinctive research method of Social Anthropology: ethnographic research.

In each year you have the opportunity to pursue your own interests by choosing from a wide range of optional modules. These teach you more about specialist areas and develop corresponding skills. Some modules cover thematic issues, such as the anthropology of law or the anthropology of business. Others focus on particular regions of the world, such as China, Europe, South East Asia and Amazonia. You take at least two regional modules during the programme.

Year abroad

Studying Social Anthropology abroad for a year as part of your degree programme allows you to take your cultural expertise to the next level. You either study in English (Social Anthropology with a Year Abroad) or in the local language (Social Anthropology with French / German / Spanish / Italian). In recent years, our students have spent a year at our partner universities in countries including Japan, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, as well as France, Spain and Italy.

You don't need to make your mind up about studying abroad before you enrol at Kent, but certain conditions apply. See Social Anthropology with French / German / Spanish / Italian.

Year in professional practice

If you have specific ideas about how you would like your career to develop, you may be able to expand your degree into a four-year programme by adding a work placement between the second and final years.

You don’t have to make a decision before you enrol at Kent, but certain conditions apply. See Social Anthropology with a Year in Professional Practice.

Study resources

Students studying BA Social Anthropology at the University of Kent enjoy world-class study resources including:

  • a recently renovated and expanded library with up-to-date collections, access to top journals, plenty of comfortable spaces providing for quiet individual work or group work
  • well equipped lecture and seminar rooms with integrated audio-visual technology
  • a state-of-the-art visual anthropology room with a suite of computers equipped for editing film and cameras made available for student use
  • an ethnobiology lab for studying human-related plant material
  • a teaching laboratory with first-rate equipment
  • for students interested in taking Biological Anthropology we have an excellent fossil cast collection with hundreds of casts, including multiple entire skeletons of extant and extinct primates and hominins.

Extra activities

The University of Kent has an active Anthropology Society run by the students, which you are encouraged to join, as well as a wealth of other student clubs and associations to enjoy.

The School of Anthropology and Conservation puts on many events that you are welcome to attend. We host two public lectures a year, the Stirling Lecture and the DICE Lecture, which bring current ideas in anthropology and conservation to a wider audience. We are delighted that these events attract leading anthropological figures from around the world; in 2017 we hosted paleoanthropologist Professor Lee Berger, one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people.

Each term, there are also seminars and workshops discussing current research in anthropology, conservation and human ecology.

I studied in Japan. It was probably one of the best years of my life.

Hannah Fitchett - Social Anthropology with a Year in Japan

Entry requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Typical requirements are listed below. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice. 

Please note that meeting this typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee an offer being made.Please also see our general entry requirements.

New GCSE grades

If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.

  • medal-empty

    A level

    BBB

  • medal-empty Access to HE Diploma

    The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. 

    If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above.

  • medal-empty BTEC Nationals

    Distinction, Distinction, Merit in an academic based subject. Other subjects such as Hospitality, Catering, Art & Design, Music, Photography and Dance will be considered on a case-by-case basis

  • medal-empty International Baccalaureate

    34 points overall or 15 points at HL

The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country. 

However, please note that international fee-paying students cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.

If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.

Meet our staff in your country

For more advice about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.

English Language Requirements

Please see our English language entry requirements web page.

Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme. 

Course structure

Duration: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time

Like all degree programmes at Kent, the Social Anthropology programmes are based on a combination of core, optional and wild courses or 'modules'. 

Core modules build your background knowledge of the subject and provide you with training in its basic skills. After introductory courses in the first year, your core modules in the second and final year of the programme cover the anthropology of politics, religion and economics, while introducing you to some advanced topics in social theory. Your core modules also give you an understanding of the distinctive research method of Social Anthropology: ethnographic research. 

Optional modules provide an opportunity to learn more about specialist areas and develop corresponding skills. These modules are usually taught by a researcher who is actively contributing to knowledge in the field. In Social Anthropology you study two kinds of optional modules. Some modules cover thematic issues, such as the anthropology of law or the anthropology of business. Others focus on particular regions of the world, such as China, Turkey and the Middle East, Europe, South East Asia and Amazonia. You take at least two of these regional modules during your programme.    

Elective modules (also known as 'wild') are drawn from across the university and give you an opportunity to develop your own interests in subjects beyond your own degree programme.  

The list below is indicative of the core and optional modules offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year.

Fees

The 2020/21 annual tuition fees for this programme are:

  • Home/EU full-time TBC
  • International full-time TBC
  • Home/EU part-time TBC
  • International part-time TBC

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

Full-time tuition fees for Home and EU undergraduates are £9,250.

For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* 

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

Additional costs

Field trips

One day trips that are compulsory to a module are financially funded by the School. Optional or longer trips may require support funding from attendees.

General additional costs

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Teaching and assessment

In the Government's recent Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment of teaching at UK universities, Kent was awarded a Gold rating. Based on the evidence available, the TEF panel judged that the University of Kent delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality found in the UK. 

Teaching

Our teaching is research-led as all our staff are active in their fields. Social Anthropology staff have been awarded national teaching awards, reflecting the quality of the undergraduate programmes. Social Anthropology at Kent uses a stimulating mix of teaching methods, including lectures, small seminar groups, field trips and practical sessions. For project work, you are assigned to a supervisor with whom you meet regularly.

Assessment

Assessment varies according to module and to some extent you are able to choose your modules in order to maximise your preferred form of assessment. Some modules include a mix of an exam and coursework, many are 100% coursework based. We try to make coursework assessments varied in order to make the most of each student's unique strengths: some are essay based, others may involve project work or presentations. 

Fieldtrips

A number of our modules include opportunities for learning and experiences outside of the classroom through field trips in the UK and abroad. Potential excursions are: 

  • Paris, the Musée du quai Branly and Musée de l'Homme
  • The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge
  • Fo Guang Buddhist Temple, London
  • City of London financial district
  • Impact Hub Islington
  • Canterbury Cathedral 

These may change from year to year and may incur additional costs. See the funding tab for more information.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

The programme aims to:

  • provide a broad knowledge in the major sub-divisions of anthropology, showing how it is linked to other academic disciplines
  • explore theoretical and methodological issues
  • demonstrate the relevance of anthropological knowledge to an understanding of many local, national and international issues
  • ensure that the research by staff informs the design of modules, and their content and delivery in a manner that is efficient, reliable and enjoyable to students
  • prepare graduates for employment and/or further study in their chosen careers through developing students’ transferable skills.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • social anthropology as the comparative study of human societies
  • specific themes in social anthropology, such as religion, politics, kinship, nationalism and ethnicity
  • human diversity and an appreciation of its scope
  • several ethnographic regions of the world including Central Asia, the Mediterranean, Amazonia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific
  • the history of anthropology as a discipline
  • the variety of theoretical approaches contained within anthropology
  • the process of historical and social change
  • the application of anthropology to understanding issues of social and economic development throughout the world
  • the relevance of anthropology to understanding everyday processes of social life anywhere in the world.

Intellectual skills

You develop intellectual skills in:

  • general learning and study
  • critical and analytical abilities
  • expressing ideas in writing and orally
  • communication
  • group work
  • IT
  • the ability to review and summarise information
  • data retrieval.

Subject-specific skills

You gain the following subject-specific:

  • understanding how people are shaped by their social, cultural and physical environments while retaining a capacity for individual agency
  • recognising the pertinence of an anthropological perspective to understanding major national and international events
  • interpreting texts and performance by locating them within cultural and historical contexts
  • using anthropological theories and perspectives in the presentation of information and argument
  • analysing the significance of the social and cultural contexts of language use
  • devising questions for research and study which are anthropologically informed
  • perceiving the way in which cultural assumptions may affect the opinions of others and oneself
  • the ability to make sense of cultural and social phenomena which may, at first sight, appear incomprehensible.

Transferable skills

You gain the following transferable skills:

  • information retrieval skills in relation to primary and secondary sources of information.
  • communication and presentation skills (using oral and written materials and information technology).
  • time planning and management skills.
  • ability to engage in constructive discussion in group situations and group work skills.

Independent rankings

Anthropology at Kent scored 90% overall and was ranked 13th in The Complete University Guide 2021.

In The Guardian University Guide 2020, over 91% of final-year Anthropology students were satisfied with the quality of teaching on their course.

Of Anthropology graduates who responded to the most recent national survey of graduate destinations, 100% were in work or further study within six months (DLHE, 2017).

Careers

Studying social anthropology gives you an exciting range of career opportunities. We work with you to help direct your module choices to the career paths you are considering. Through your studies you learn how to work independently, analyse complex data and present your work with clarity and flair.

Graduate destinations

Our recent graduates have gone into areas such as:

  • overseas development and aid work
  • media research or production (TV and radio)
  • journalism
  • advertising
  • film production
  • social work
  • education
  • international consultancy
  • work with community groups
  • town and country planning
  • business
  • civil service
  • further research in social anthropology
  • social sciences research.

Help finding a job

The School offers an employability programme aimed at helping you develop the skills you'll need to look for a job. This includes workshops, mentoring and an online blog featuring tips, advice from employers, job adverts, internship information and volunteering opportunities.

The University’s friendly Careers and Employability Service offers advice on how to:

  • apply for jobs
  • write a good CV
  • perform well in interviews.

Career-enhancing skills

Through your studies you learn how to work independently, analyse complex data and present your work with clarity and flair. Alongside such specialist skills, you also develop the transferable skills graduate employers look for, including the ability to:

  • think critically 
  • communicate your ideas and opinions 
  • work independently and as part of a team.

You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.

Apply for Social Anthropology - BA (Hons)

This course page is for the 2020/21 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of undergraduate courses we offer.

Contact us

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United Kingdom/EU enquiries

T: +44 (0)1227 768896

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International student enquiries

Enquire online

T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk

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