Course summary
The Department of Anthropology offers supervision in a wide range of areas for research degrees. In addition to the particular research interests of each member of staff, we have a number of postgraduate students undertaking research of contemporary social and political relevance in Britain and Europe. Current students are engaged in research projects covering a broad range of subjects, located in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. How do I choose between MRes and MPhil/PhD? Normally research students register for the MRes in order to complete the requisite training for carrying out a doctoral research project. You then transfer to MPhil status after completing your MRes dissertation in September (or in your second year if you are part-time). However, if you already have a substantial background, it is possible to register directly for the full-time MPhil, provided the Department and your future supervisor(s) agree. MPhil-registered students audit the same research training modules as MRes students without assessment. They prepare material for their formal ‘upgrade’ viva to PhD status, which may allow them to upgrade to PhD status and fieldwork or other forms of data-collection in that year (not before May), but usually not before the end of that first year. Whether you start registered as MRes or MPhil, upgrading to PhD status takes place at a later date.
Modules
First year 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. For the first year you are normally registered for the MRes. It 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: Research Design (10 weeks) Doing Ethnography (10 weeks) Quantitative Methods in Social Science (term 1 and 2) Dissertation Sessions (Summer Term) Department of Anthropology Research Seminar Additional options across departments as discussed with supervisors 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 first year, MRes students present a 15,000-word dissertation in September, which discusses in depth their proposed research topic and the relevant literature. Before you can move to PhD status you need to be registered for the MPhil and present a set of ‘upgrade’ material’ to change registration. This will enable you to gain formal approval from the Department before you can start your fieldwork or other forms of data-collection. The Upgrade Viva can only take place after you have registered for the MPhil. Fieldwork and writing up your thesis Whether you are doing fieldwork down the road or data collection on the other side of the world, it is important that you submit regular reports to your supervisor/s. At the end of the data-collection period when you return to the Department, you join the Writing-Up seminar, which meets weekly to discuss students' draft chapters. Some time after you return from data-collection (after about 8 months for full-time students, and 16 months for part-time students) you are required to present a detailed thesis outline and 2 draft chapters for consideration by your Advisory Committee. Students normally upgrade to PhD status at this point. You are expected to complete a PhD in 3-4 years (full-time registration) or 4-6 years (part-time registration). An MPhil thesis is shorter and should be completed within 3 years (full-time) or 4 years (part-time). Some students move between full-time and part-time modes. For example, they may do their training on a part-time basis and then seek funding for a year's full-time fieldwork, reverting once more to part-time mode for the writing-up period. We are happy to encourage such flexibility.
Assessment method
Assessment is by a written thesis (100,000 words) and viva voce.
Entry requirements
Most direct entrants to this programme 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 will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Additional fee information
For full details on fees and funding go to https://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/fees-funding/
Sponsorship information
ESRC
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW