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Medical Anthropology at The University of Edinburgh - UCAS

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2025 - 2026
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Course summary

This programme studies health, illness and healing from a cross-cultural perspective. With a focus on the understanding of health, illness and medicine in a globalised world, this programme allows you to engage with contemporary debates about old ills and emerging diseases. You will explore both traditional forms of healing and modern medical technologies. You will examine key questions in current medical anthropology from the perspective of both medical and social sciences, and address relevant issues, such as:

  • the way encounters between patients and professional healers are negotiated in varied cultural settings
  • the importance of political, economic and historical analysis to an understanding of the body
  • the health-related effects of globalisation
Medical anthropologists explore a wide range of medical practices, including both performative forms of healing (e.g. shamanism) and the newest biomedical technologies. Medical anthropologists are working in diverse fields:
  • academic research
  • global health organisations
  • health-focused NGOs
Concepts and methodologies from medical anthropology have become essential in all areas of global health research. Our MSc in Medical Anthropology engages students with the field's distinctive approach to health and medicine. It takes students away from the idea that there is only one standardized 'best practice' by showing an astounding diversity of therapeutic methods, ideas of disease causation, healer personalities, and spaces for healing. Who this programme is for Intended for a diverse range of students, this distinctive and interdisciplinary programme will complement your background in anthropology or health sciences. The programme also acts as a conversion MSc for those without training in anthropology who wish to progress to a research career. This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Health Academy.

Modules

See our website for detailed programme information.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on our website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Tuition fees vary between degree programmes. Find the specific fees for your chosen programme on our website.
Medical Anthropology at The University of Edinburgh - UCAS