Social Anthropology

Social anthropology is the study of human diversity: of the extraordinary variety of ways in which people around the world organise their lives, make sense of the world, structure their relationships, govern themselves, and understand what it means to be human. It is a discipline that takes that diversity seriously, neither romanticising other ways of life nor dismissing them, and its methods are grounded in sustained, careful attention to what people actually do and say in their own contexts.

At the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, you will study the great variety of beliefs and practices that exist around the world, from remote communities to global cities. SOAS has particular expertise in the societies of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, which means your anthropological education will be shaped by an unusually wide and genuinely global body of scholarship. You will learn the theoretical frameworks that anthropologists use, from kinship and exchange to power, identity, and globalisation, and you will question your own assumptions in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable and always illuminating.

The skills of participant observation, interview, and comparative analysis that anthropology teaches are increasingly valued in applied contexts.

The programme includes a foundation year, making it accessible to students who need a more supported entry route. The typical entry tariff is 120 UCAS points, and the degree is studied full time.

Graduates from social anthropology programmes go on to careers in international development, NGOs, journalism, the civil service, healthcare, education, market research, community engagement, and cultural organisations. The empathetic intelligence and analytical rigour that anthropological training develops are also valuable in diplomacy, law, and public policy. Further study options include postgraduate degrees in social anthropology, development studies, and related fields.