Course summary
Course details You will receive broad training in the scientific and social scientific study of humanity encompassing our evolutionary origins and relationship to other primates, cultural diversity, as well as interdisciplinary perspectives on health, politics and the environment. Year 1 In your first year, you will receive a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of anthropology in the broadest sense, addressing the core disciplines of social and biological anthropology as well as interdisciplinary perspectives on culture, society and health. Currently, students take five modules in anthropology and select one elective module offered by another department, including the option to study a module in a modern foreign language. Compulsory modules: Peoples and Cultures Human Evolution and Diversity Being Human: An Introduction to the History and Practice of Anthropology Doing Anthropological Research Health, Illness and Society. Year 2 In your second year, you will develop a deeper and more complex grasp of biological and evolutionary anthropology and continue to gain "hands-on" experience of conducting research through a series of regional field trips and activities that form our Anthropological Research Methods in Action module. You will also begin preparation for your dissertation through modules that are designed to support you to follow either a more social or biological pathway as you design your own research project, in addition to a core module that will help you develop plans for your dissertation and prepare to do your own research. You will also take two elective modules that will enable you to pursue your interests in specific topics from the wider anthropological discipline. Compulsory modules: Anthropological Research Methods in Action Research Project Design Evolution, Variation and Adaptation Our Place in Nature And one of the following modules: Biology, Culture & Society Reading Ethnography Examples of optional modules: Kinship and Religion Politics and Economics Global Health and Disease Sex, Reproduction and Love. Year 3 (Year 4 if undertaking a Year Abroad) In your final year, you will design and carry out your own dissertation project and take part in our Anthropology Field Course Module. The Field Course usually takes place in the September prior to your final year and offers an intensive two-week fieldwork experience at one of the department’s residential field schools. You have a choice of up to six advanced optional taught modules, and you can take an elective option from another department if you wish. Optional modules are generally based on the research expertise of staff, and reflect the University’s ideal of research-led education. Options available in the Department cover the full disciplinary spectrum, from the entirely biological to the entirely socio-cultural, or a mixture of anthropological sub-disciplines. Options change slightly from year-to-year, with a minimum of 18 different options to choose from every year. Throughout your degree you are also invited to attend the regular round of departmental research seminars given by visiting scholars or Durham-based researchers and can participate in a key forum for current innovative research. Core modules: Field School Module Dissertation
Modules
Year 1 Compulsory modules: Peoples and Cultures Human Evolution and Diversity Being Human: An Introduction to the History and Practice of Anthropology Doing Anthropological Research Health, Illness and Society. Year 2 Compulsory modules: Anthropological Research Methods in Action Research Project Design Evolution, Variation and Adaptation Our Place in Nature And one of the following modules: Biology, Culture & Society Reading Ethnography Examples of optional modules: Kinship and Religion Politics and Economics Global Health and Disease Sex, Reproduction and Love. Year 3 (Year 4 if undertaking a Year Abroad) Core modules: Field School Module Dissertation Examples of optional modules: Evolution of Cooperation Comparative Cognition and Culture Cultural Evolution of Music Technological Primates Decolonising Anthropology Primates in Peril Primates, Predators and the Ecology of Fear Homo Narrans: Evolutionary Anthropology of Fiction Forensic Anthropology Palaeoanthropology and Palaeoecology Anthropology in the Contemporary Middle East Anthropology, Art, and Experience Poison, Pollution and the Chemical Anthropocene Exhibiting Anthropology Capitalism in Ruins Social Anthropology of Hormones Anthropology of Ethics and Morality Anthropology of Sport Anthropological Skills for Climate Change Survival Power and Governance Violence and Memory Anthropology of Tobacco Anthropology of Health Inequality Anthropology of Physical Activity and Health Evolutionary Medicine: Maternal and Infant Health Human Reproductive Ecology Development, Conflict and Crisis in the Lower Omo
Assessment method
Assessment on the BA Anthropology degree varies by module, but may include written examinations, coursework in the form of essays or research projects, and presentations.
How to apply
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you’re eligible to apply.
EU
Wales
England
International
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- L601
- Institution code:
- D86
- Campus name:
- Durham City
- Campus code:
- O
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - AAB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDD
Access to HE Diploma - D: 30 credits M: 15 credits
Scottish Higher - AAABB
Scottish Advanced Higher - AAB
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 36 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015) - Not accepted
Extended Project - Not accepted
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H2, H2, H2, H2, H3
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - D3, D3, M2
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - DDD
T Level
Our contextual offer for this programme is A level BBC (or equivalent). To find out if you’re eligible, please visit: https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply/what-happens-to-your-application/contextual-offers/
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
English language requirements
Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses. It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course. Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.
English language requirements
https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
EU | £25000 | Year 1 |
England | £9250 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
International | £25000 | Year 1 |
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
Provider information
Durham University
The Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE