Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of what it means to be human, and the extraordinary variety of ways in which human beings have answered that question. It is concerned with the full range of human life, including how different societies organise themselves, how they make sense of the world, what they believe, how they produce and distribute resources, how they deal with illness, birth, death, and identity, and how they change over time and in contact with other societies. By comparing across cultures, anthropology develops a distinctive kind of analytical humility, training you to understand forms of human life very different from your own without dismissing or reducing them.

At the University of Plymouth, this three-year full-time degree introduces you to the core topics, theories, and methods of the discipline, developing foundational skills in how to understand and analyse human life socially, culturally, and morally across a wide range of contexts. You will learn to compare different societies rigorously, producing evidence-based arguments about the human condition rather than relying on assumption or familiarity. The sandwich year gives you extended professional experience in a research, development, or applied social science context, and a year abroad broadens your direct experience of cultural difference and complements your academic training.

Work placement is embedded throughout, connecting the discipline to real professional environments.

Anthropology is a deeply portable discipline: the analytical and cross-cultural skills it develops are applicable wherever human understanding and cultural competence are needed.

Graduates go on to careers in international development, humanitarian work, social research, public policy, community development, journalism, education, consultancy, and non-governmental organisations. The discipline's focus on understanding difference and complexity is valued in global health, migration, cultural sector work, and any international context. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in anthropology, development studies, or related social sciences.