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Anthropology at Goldsmiths, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2024 - 2025
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This programme offers advanced training to students who intend to undertake a doctorate in Anthropology, and it presents a valuable stand-alone research degree in and of itself that allows students to apply for researcher positions.

  • Students applying for the MRes in Anthropology need to have a BA or an MA and need to provide a written research proposal the department can assess
  • The MRes is a taught degree that provides training through classes and close supervision, which will enable you to develop your own research proposal and complete training modules that will support your intended project
  • Having accomplished the degree you will be able to design and conduct research based on qualitative and quantitative methodologies
  • The MRes provides you with insights into social science research methods, and in-depth training in ethnographic methods and issues around anthropological research, including ethics and practicalities of undertaking fieldwork, as well as basic quantitative training
  • The MRes is a stand-alone degree programme where students may chose to develop professional research skills
  • Other MRes students use this as a training year for the MPhil/PhD programme in order to refine their proposal and to acquire necessary skills to conduct research in Anthropology
  • The taught elements of the programme include modules on research design; ethnographic methods and quantitative methods and opportunities to audit a wide range of courses in the department, the university and across the University of London
  • Many students use this year to acquire optional language training
  • The taught modules are assessed individually and the final assessment is a dissertation
  • The dissertation includes a detailed account of your proposed research and an analysis of relevant theoretical and regional literatures that contributes to refining your original proposal
How to choose between MRes and MPhil/PhD All research students are encouraged to register for the MRes in order to complete the requisite training for carrying out a doctoral research project in Anthropology regardless of whether they hold a degree in Anthropology. Students who complete the MRes successfully will transfer to MPhil status after completing the dissertation (usually in September) and register for the MPhil/PhD degree afterwards. However, if you hold an MA in Anthropology with a substantial methods training component it is possible to register directly for the full-time MPhil programme provided the Department and your future supervisor(s) agree after interviewing you. MPhil-registered students are expected to audit the courses available to the MRes students and present assessed material similar to the MRes dissertation during their first year to be upgraded to PhD status. Only after they have been upgraded successfully they can start fieldwork or other forms of data-collection. Students cannot be registered as PhD students without having gone through this process.

Modules

In the week before the beginning of the academic year in mid-September there is an Induction Programme for all new research postgraduates at Goldsmiths. You will be introduced to College and Departmental facilities and procedures, and attend workshops on what is involved in doing a research degree. The MRes is a training year, in which work on your own research project is coupled with general training in Anthropological and Social Science Methods - run both within the Department and by the Goldsmiths College Research Office - as follows: Doing Ethnography (10 weeks x 2 hours) Research Design (10 weeks x 2.5 hours) Quantitative Research Methods (15 sessions of 2 hours each) Department of Anthropology Research Seminar You may also take other modules depending on your specific training needs, such as learning a language, or auditing an MA course, either in the Department or elsewhere, of particular relevance to your research project. You are also encouraged to attend seminars in other parts of the University of London, attend conferences, and go on outside modules such as those organised by GAPP (Group for Anthropology in Policy and Practice). There are Departmental funds to enable you to attend such events. At the end of the year, MRes students present a 15,000-word dissertation in September, which discusses in depth their proposed research topic and the relevant literature.

Assessment method

Assessment is by reports, unseen examination, and at the end of the year, MRes students present a 15,000-word dissertation in September, which discusses in depth their proposed research topic and the relevant literature.

Entry requirements

Most direct entrants to the MRes already have a first degree or an MA in Social Anthropology. If you don't have this, you should normally do an MA, or you may be able to take a qualifying year conversion course. There is little difference between the taught Masters and the qualifying year, except that the qualifying year is not a qualification in itself and involves no dissertation. If you achieve the required standard, you can apply to register for the MRes or MPhil/PhD. If English isn’t your first language, you’ll need to meet our English language requirements of IELTS 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study with us.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

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Additional fee information

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Anthropology at Goldsmiths, University of London - UCAS