Anthropology Degree Course

It examines how people live, think, adapt, organise societies, and make meaning of the world. If you're curious about everything from ancient tools to modern rituals, kinship systems to climate justice, studying Anthropology gives you a wide-angle view of what it means to be human.

This guide outlines what to expect from an Anthropology degree in the UK, what you'll study, how it's taught, and how it compares internationally. It also includes recommended A levels and an overview of possible careers after graduation.

Studying Anthropology in the UK

In the UK, Anthropology is typically offered as a BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BSc (Bachelor of Science), depending on whether the emphasis is more social or biological. Courses usually last three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or four years in Scotland. Anthropology can be studied on its own or combined with subjects like Archaeology, Sociology, International Development, or History.

UK Anthropology degrees often cover both major branches of the discipline: Social Anthropology and Biological (or Physical) Anthropology. Some programmes also include Linguistic Anthropology and Material Culture Studies, allowing students to develop a truly interdisciplinary perspective.

What You Study in an Anthropology Degree

Anthropology courses are broad and flexible. You’ll explore many different aspects of human life, often through comparative and cross-cultural perspectives. Here’s a breakdown of the typical topics and areas you might encounter:

1. Social and Cultural Anthropology
This branch focuses on how people organise their lives, beliefs, relationships and systems of power. Topics may include:

• Kinship, marriage and family structures

• Religion, ritual and symbolism

• Political organisation and power

• Globalisation, migration and transnationalism

• Race, identity and postcolonialism

• Development, humanitarianism and inequality

• Indigenous rights and environmental justice

• Urban anthropology and everyday life

• Anthropology of health and the body

• Media, digital culture and technology

2. Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology
This area focuses on humans as biological organisms and how we evolved. Topics may include:

• Human evolution and fossil records

• Primatology – studying our closest relatives (apes and monkeys)

• Genetics, adaptation and variation in populations

• Forensic anthropology and skeletal analysis

• Evolution of diet, disease and physical activity

• Growth, development and ageing in different societies

3. Fieldwork and Ethnography
A key part of Anthropology is learning how to observe and engage with people and cultures. Most students are trained in ethnographic methods, including interviews, participant observation and cultural analysis. Many programmes offer opportunities for fieldwork, either locally or abroad, and some may include a dissertation based on original research.

4. Theoretical and Comparative Approaches
You’ll learn how different anthropologists have tried to explain social behaviour, belief systems and cultural change. Theories may draw from structuralism, Marxism, feminism, post-colonialism, symbolic anthropology or contemporary decolonial thought.

5. Optional Modules and Specialisms
As you progress, you’ll be able to tailor your degree with options such as:

• Anthropology of religion

• Political ecology

• Gender and sexuality

• Language and culture

• Visual anthropology

• Medical anthropology

• Economic anthropology

• Anthropology of science and technology

Teaching and Assessment
Anthropology is taught through lectures, seminars, reading groups, lab sessions (for biological anthropology), and often hands-on workshops. Assessment methods include essays, ethnographic reports, presentations, exams, reflective journals and independent research projects.

Well-known UK universities for Anthropology include University College London (UCL), Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Sussex, and Kent, but many others offer strong and varied programmes.

Useful A Levels for Studying Anthropology

Anthropology A level is not widely available in schools, and it is not usually a requirement. However, several subjects provide a useful foundation for Anthropology degrees:

• Sociology – introduces key ideas about culture, society and inequality

• Biology – essential for understanding the biological side of the subject

• Geography – useful for studying human-environment interactions and global diversity

• History – helps understand social change and long-term processes

• Religious Studies – relevant for belief systems, ritual and ethics

• Psychology – supports understanding of human behaviour and development

• English Literature or Language – develops analytical and essay-writing skills

A combination of science and humanities subjects is ideal for Anthropology, especially if you're applying to a programme that covers both social and biological aspects.

Career Prospects

Anthropology graduates are valued for their ability to think critically, analyse complex data, work cross-culturally and communicate effectively. While some continue into academic research or professional anthropology, many enter diverse sectors where their skills are highly relevant. Careers include:

• International development and humanitarian work

• NGOs and advocacy organisations

• Public health and global health initiatives

• Government and civil service

• Museums, heritage and cultural institutions

• Education and outreach

• Journalism, media and documentary work

• Environmental organisations and sustainability projects

• Business, marketing and consumer research

• Human rights and refugee support

• Forensic and biological anthropology with further training

Graduates who wish to become professional anthropologists often continue with postgraduate study, such as an MA or MSc in Anthropology or a specialist field like Medical Anthropology, Visual Anthropology or Development Studies.

Studying Anthropology in the USA

In the United States, Anthropology is typically a four-field discipline that includes cultural, biological, linguistic and archaeological anthropology. Students usually major in Anthropology within a liberal arts degree and can often specialise in areas like Native American studies, forensic anthropology, or social justice. Fieldwork and summer research programmes are common.

Studying Anthropology in Canada

Canadian universities offer four-year degrees in Anthropology, often with a focus on Indigenous studies, medical anthropology, environmental issues and cross-cultural perspectives. Programmes allow students to specialise in biological or cultural anthropology and may include co-op placements or community-based research.

Studying Anthropology in the EU

Anthropology is offered across many European universities, usually as part of a three-year degree under the Bologna system. Courses are often taught in English in countries like the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden. Programmes may focus more on social and cultural anthropology, with a strong emphasis on migration, ethnicity, development and policy.

Studying Anthropology in Australia and New Zealand

Anthropology is widely offered as part of a Bachelor of Arts degree. Programmes often focus on Indigenous Australian and Pacific Island cultures, environmental anthropology, applied anthropology and cross-cultural research. Fieldwork opportunities and regional studies are a common feature.

Final Thoughts

Anthropology is one of the few subjects that lets you study humans from every possible angle - their bodies, beliefs, histories, languages, economies and rituals. It gives students the tools to understand both difference and similarity, and to engage with the world in a nuanced, informed and ethically aware way.