Application deadline
Thursday 10 August 2023
Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.
“My course emphasises the use of multiple perceptions to understand cultural phenomena. Studying here has helped improve my theoretical knowledge and broadened my horizons. St Andrews is a good place to study and relax and you can meet students from many different cultural backgrounds.”
- Shanxi, China
Entry requirements
- An upper 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree. No previous anthropological experience is required. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Application requirements
- CV
- personal statement (optional)
- sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words)
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Course details
The MRes in Anthropology, Art and Perception is led by the Department of Social Anthropology within the School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies.
Highlights
- Students will explore new ways of thinking anthropologically and gain access to cutting-edge research tools for future research, including practical learning labs with invited experts and a field visit.
- The course benefits from small class sizes and an interdisciplinary approach.
- The course includes a project-based module that allows you to experiment with audio-visual and other creative anthropological research methods.
- Students have the option to write a library-based dissertation or a dissertation with a practical component.
The programme takes perception as its starting point and draws on themes extending across the subject boundaries between art and anthropology. These themes include:
- the senses and perception in anthropology
- the role of community and cooperation in both making and use of apprenticeship and practice-based research
- observation and the use of attention in drawing, photography, sound and film
- representation
- a practical sensory project
- heritage
- design anthropology
- commonalities between anthropological fieldwork and contemporary arts practice.
The MRes provides an excellent grounding in contemporary research themes and innovative research methods for students aiming to do a PhD in anthropology, visual culture, design anthropology, heritage studies, and related subjects. It also provides important training for students interested in a career in the heritage sector, development, the creative industries, workplace management and design.
Modules
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your programme. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.
Each module typically comprises:
- 22 contact hours for lectures and seminars, plus additional 'learning lab' time and field trip
- 100% coursework assessment.
For more details about each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue, which is for the 2022-2023 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2023 entry.
- Anthropology, Art and Perception 1: centres on the role of perception in visual and material culture and covers haptic, visual, sonic and gustatory themes in anthropology, and addresses the role of aesthetics from ethnographic and anthropological perspectives.
- The Anthropology of Connections: Interdisciplinarity as Methodology: examines the relevance of other disciplines for social anthropology by working with methodologies and concepts drawn from history, social science, philosophy, language and the arts.
- Anthropology, Art and Perception 2: explores anthropology's potential for contributing to and critiquing image production in film, art and photography; develops new sensory approaches to observation and engagement; and asks what is entailed in perceiving the past.
- Research Methods in Social Anthropology: examines the methodology of anthropological research through close attention to the relationship between method and fieldwork experience.
Students can choose to complete a 15,000-word research dissertation or a 7,500-word dissertation with a practical element. Student dissertations will be supervised by a member of teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation must be submitted by a specified date in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MRes, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MRes.
Teaching
Over two semesters, students take four compulsory modules. Teaching methods include:
- formal lectures combined with seminar-style teaching
- one-off practical learning labs with invited experts
- a field trip.
Lecture groups are small.
Over the course of the year, with particular focus during the summer months, you will devise a research project culminating in either a 15,000-word dissertation or 7,500-word dissertation with a practical element.
Modules are assessed through coursework which includes essays and independent research-led assignments.
Every taught postgraduate student is assigned an individual supervisor from among the Social Anthropology staff who will work with them closely to develop a topic and direction for the dissertation.
The Department of Social Anthropology provides postgraduates with access to a museum collection of ethnographic material and a common room that includes a general anthropological library, providing a space that is shared by both staff and postgraduates. The departmental libraries, together with the main University library which holds a fine anthropology collection, include resources covering nearly all regions of the world.
Events
The Scottish Training in Anthropological Research (STAR) consortium brings together social anthropologists from the universities of St Andrews, Aberdeen and Edinburgh to support innovation in research and teaching.
In addition to co-hosting international conferences and workshops, the consortium runs two free week-long residential training courses each year in anthropology for postgraduate students and early career researchers. The first course is for students at the pre-fieldwork level and the second is for those at an advanced stage of research writing.
Fees
Home
£11,120
Overseas
£23,530
More information on tuition fees can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
After your degree
Careers
Social Anthropology graduates have characteristics many employers seek, and a Social Anthropology degree provides openings to a wide range of careers. Graduates have gained successful employment in areas such as:
- design
- international policy and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- journalism (BBC and The Independent)
- marketing
- museums
- teaching
- wildlife conservation.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Further study
Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere. The department of Social Anthropology offers PhD supervision across a diverse range of theoretical interests and topics.
Postgraduate researchWhat to do next
Online information events
Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.
Postgraduate online visiting days
We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online visiting days.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 2977
- pgpafs@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- Department of Social Anthropology
71 North Street
St Andrews
KY16 9AL