Boost your knowledge and understanding of the human experience and how it is researched from an anthropological perspective with this Economic and Social Research Council-approved course.
Our MA in Research Methods (Anthropology) is designed to boost your knowledge and understanding of the human experience as you immerse yourself in a department which is passionate about producing the next generation of research anthropologists.
The course consists of three core modules, including qualitative and quantitative methods which are coordinated through the Durham Research Methods Centre. The remaining modules are selected from an extensive range, allowing you to tailor your learning to your chosen pathway be it socio-cultural anthropology, medical anthropology, the anthropology of development or cultural evolution. You can further tailor the direction of your study through your dissertation. The dissertation is often used as a pilot study in preparation for future PhD work.
As a student in one of the largest integrated anthropology departments in the UK, you will study in an environment that is focused on discussion and debate of current issues in the field, this gives you plenty of opportunities to engage with academic issues at the forefront of research. You will also have access to weekly research seminars hosted by the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre, the Behavioural and Ecological Physiology Laboratory, the Physical Activity Laboratory, the South Africa Field Station and the Material Culture and Skeletal Collections.
The course is approved by the Economic and Social Research Council, which is the UK’s largest funder of economic, social, behavioural and human data science and is affiliated to the Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership of which the University is a member.
Course structure
Core modules:
Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Practices across Social Research introduces you to both contemporary social scientific research and the methods used in its practice. You will learn about the issues and challenges associated with researching and recording the complexities of social science and you will develop an understanding of where and how the philosophy, methods and disciplines of different research programmes engage with each other. You will also learn about ethics in social research, including issues of power and equality.
Quantitative Methods and Analysis provides an opportunity to enhance your knowledge, understanding and abilities in quantitative data analysis and develop the use of statistical techniques for exploring and describing sets of numbers-based data. You will also learn how to make statistics-based inferences about the links between social phenomena.
Qualitative Methods and Analysis will equip you with the advanced knowledge and skills to understand and critically examine qualitative social sciences research, including different approaches to research and design and the analysis of qualitative data based on information in the form of feedback or responses from participants rather than from the numbers.
The Dissertation is an independent research project in a specialist area of interest using the techniques developed in the research methods modules. The subject will be agreed with a supervisor and the degree tutor. You will be expected to write a literature review, collect data by fieldwork, laboratory work or from published sources, conduct data analysis and provide a presentation and initiate discussion of your findings.
In recent years, optional modules (related to your pathway) have included:
Research methods modules:
Multilevel Modelling
Simulating Data in R
Computational Social Science
Systematic Review
Advanced Statistics for Psychology and the Behavioural Sciences
Participatory Action Research
Advanced Ethnographic Research
Socio-cultural pathway:
Understanding Society and Culture
Thinking Anthropologically
Interrogating Ethnography
Advanced Ethnographic Research
Anthropology and Development
Advanced Studies in Anthropology, Art, and Experience
Advanced Studies in the Social Anthropology of Hormones
Advanced Studies in the Anthropology of Sport
Advanced Studies in Anthropological Skills for Climate Change Survival
Advanced Studies in Power and Governance
Advanced Studies in Violence and Memory
Advanced Studies in Mediterranean Connections
Advanced Studies in Capitalism in Ruins
Advanced Studies in the Anthropology of Data and Quantification
Advanced Specialised Aspects in Social Anthropology
Climate and Energy - intensive study
Medical Anthropology pathway:
Anthropology of Global Health
Society, Health and Wellbeing
Understanding Society and Culture
Thinking Anthropologically
Advanced Ethnographic Research
Advanced Studies in the Anthropology of Tobacco
Advanced Studies in the Anthropology of Physical Activity for Health
Advanced Studies in Evolutionary Medicine: Maternal and Infant Health
Advanced Studies in Human Reproductive Ecology
Advanced Studies in Development, Conflict and Crisis in the Lower Omo Valley
Advanced Studies in Anthropology of the Body
Advanced Studies in Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainable Livelihoods
Advanced Specialised Aspects in Health and Medical Anthropology
Climate and Energy - intensive study
Development Anthropology pathway:
Society, Energy, Environment and Resilience
Anthropology and Development
Understanding Society and Culture
Thinking Anthropologically
Anthropology of Global Health
Advanced Ethnographic Research
Advanced Studies in the Anthropology of Tobacco
Advanced Studies in the Anthropology of Physical Activity for Health
Advanced Studies in Evolutionary Medicine: Maternal and Infant Health
Advanced Studies in Human Reproductive Ecology
Advanced Studies in Development, Conflict and Crisis in the Lower Omo Valley
Advanced Studies in Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainable Livelihoods
Advanced Studies in Anthropology, Art, and Experience
Advanced Studies in the Social Anthropology of Hormones
Advanced Studies in the Anthropology of Ethics and Morality
Advanced Studies in the Anthropology of Sport
Advanced Studies in Anthropological Skills for Climate Change Survival
Advanced Studies in Power and Governance
Advanced Studies in Violence and Memory
Advanced Studies in Mediterranean Connections
Advanced Studies in Capitalism in Ruins
Climate and Energy - intensive study
Cultural Evolution pathway:
Advanced Specialised Aspects in Health and Medical Anthropology
Thinking Anthropologically
Advanced Ethnographic Research
Advanced Specialised Aspects in Evolutionary Anthropology
Cultural Evolution for MARM
Evolutionary Theory for MARM
Advanced Studies in the Evolution of Cooperation
Advanced Studies in the Cultural Evolution of Music
Advanced Studies in Primates in Peril
Advanced Studies in Forensic Anthropology
Advanced Studies in Palaeoanthropology and Palaeoecology
The full-time course will run from October to September, with structured classes to March and assessment in April and May. After that, you will complete a dissertation under supervision.
You will learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops, in addition to one-to-one dissertation supervision, assignments and project work. Lectures present key subject information with follow up seminars providing the opportunity for further debate and discussion based on your own independent reading and preparation.
The full-time course consists of eight hours of structured teaching and learning per week, supported by independent learning and study. You will also be expected to attend weekly departmental seminars and research group seminars.
You will also meet fortnightly with your tutor who will provide academic support and guidance.
Assessment
Assessment is rigorous and course activities are assessed by a mixture of assignment and project work. You will also complete a dissertation, which is a significant piece of work on a subject of particular interest chosen with guidance and support from your tutor.
Entry requirements
A minimum 2:1 Honours degree from a UK institution (or the overseas equivalent) in a relevant subject.
The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).
Our anthropology postgraduates are well-placed to build on the research-led teaching the department offers. Many continue their academic careers by carrying out further research into the complex and diverse nature of humanity.
Durham courses develop a depth of practical skills and knowledge about understanding behaviour and society that are hugely applicable to the workplace environment and are highly sought after by employers in the UK and internationally.
Such attributes and qualities are easily transferable to a range of stimulating and rewarding professional careers. Our postgraduates have secured roles in development, health, government, policy, social research, culture, heritage, consultancy, education and media.
Recent postgraduates have moved into roles with employers that include Save the Children, HM Prison Service, Civil Service, Durham University, VSO, Office for National Statistics, National Graduate Development Programme (the local authority graduate scheme) and non-governmental organisations such as Concern Universal and Kenwa.
For further information on career options and employability, student and employer testimonials and details of work experience and study abroad opportunities, please visit our employability pages.
Department information
Anthropology
The Department of Anthropology is one of the largest among UK universities and one of only a handful covering Social Anthropology, Evolutionary Anthropology and Anthropology of Health.
This broad subject range is reflected in the flexibility of the Masters learning structure that makes it possible to choose advanced specialist courses to suit career or research aspirations. A research-led approach to teaching means that course content is as relevant and contemporary as it is informed by the latest developments in the subject area.
Learning is delivered by subject specialists who are world experts in their particular field, be it energy use, sustainable development, the evolution of brain and cognition, aesthetics, primatology, global health and sleep.
At Durham, the essential skills and knowledge in anthropology that we nurture are also developed through practical learning. We offer you the opportunity to join an active research group and, supported by expert staff, undertake world-class research that will ultimately prepare you for your future career.
We are proud to say that we produce some of the most innovative research taking place in contemporary anthropology. We are equally proud of the inclusive and supportive community that you will join in the Department, offering a stimulating and rewarding environment in which to work.
Rankings
Top 30 in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2023
Top 10 in The Complete University Guide 2024 and The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
45% of our research was rated as world-leading (REF 2021)
Facilities
In keeping with our vision to offer research-led teaching, the Department provides a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities to support postgraduate research projects and programmes.
These include the Behavioural and Ecological Physiology Laboratory, the Physical Activity Laboratory and the South Africa Field Station as well as the award-winning Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre Laboratory.
We are the location for one of the country’s best collections for palaeoanthropological and morphometric research in biological anthropology and have a material culture collection of over 2,000 objects from around the world.
The Department of Anthropology is housed in the Dawson Building, which is conveniently located next to the main library, and close to lots of other departments and university services.
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