BA Social Anthropology
About this course
Bachelor of Arts in Social Anthropology, an anthropology degree exploring the lived experiences of communities worldwide. Core topics include Research Methods. The course includes a final-year dissertation project. The first year introduces foundational themes through Around the World with Anthropology, Studying Societies: Social Anthropology, Thinking Anthropologically, and Anthropologists at Work. The second year develops methodological skills and theoretical perspectives via Research in Practice, Theory and Ethnography, Kinship, Gender and Sexuality, and Political Anthropology. The final year allows students to pursue specialised interests through modules such as The African Canon, Fake News: Social Media, Truth Verification and Digital Investigation, and Urban Anthropology, culminating in a Dissertation.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A Level: ABB. IB: 6,5,5 including 32 points overall.. BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma: DDD. See below for full information.
What students say
Based on about 9 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 96%
- Learning opportunities: 83%
- Assessment and feedback: 85%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 78%
- Learning resources: 85%
- Student voice: 82%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 7 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 14%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Teaching Professionals: 9%
- Sales occupations: 9%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 7%
- Find their work meaningful: 76%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 61%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 36%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 135 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 6%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 2%
- West Midlands: 43%
- East of England: 10%
- London: 22%
- South East: 9%
- South West: 5%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 95%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Around the World with Anthropology
- Studying Societies: Social Anthropology
- Thinking Anthropologically
- Anthropologists at Work
- Anthropology of Africa
- Ethnographic Film
- Urban Encounters: Anthropology in Birmingham
- Writing Worlds: Ethnography as Craft
- Rethinking the Ancient World A: Mythology and Identity
- Rethinking the Ancient World B: Other Voices
- Classics in the 20th and 21st Centuries
- Discover History: Skills and Sources
- Greek World
- Options in History and Heritage
- The History of Africa in Global Context
- The Making of the Early Modern World, 1500-1800.
- The Roman World
- Understanding Archaeology
- Research in Practice
- Theory and Ethnography
- African Popular Culture
- Atlantic Slavery: West Africa and the Caribbean
- Africans in the Global Diaspora
- Anthropology and/of Activism
- Anthropology of Islam
- Anthropology of Migration
- Anthropology of the Middle East
- Anticolonial, Postcolonial, Decolonial
- Development in Africa
- Ethnographies of the Marginalised
- From Colonialism to Civil War: Nigeria 1861-1970
- Gender and Colonialism in African History
- Health and Disease in Africa
- Independent Study
- Kinship, Gender and Sexuality
- New African Writing
- Political Anthropology
- Recovering Africa's Past: oralities in the digital age
- Religion and Ritual
- The Anthropology of Sport and Recreation
- The Anthropology of Tomorrow
- The Social Life of the Economy
- The Struggle for Zimbabwe: Nationalism, Liberation and the International Community Since the Cold War
- Urban Anthropology
- Humanities in the classroom
- Media in Practice
- Sustainable Development: Climate, Culture, Society and Policy
- Professional Skills
- Professional Skills – Freelance
- Dissertation
- Atlantic Slavery: West Africa and the Caribbean
- African Popular Culture
- Africans in the Global Diaspora
- Anthropology and/of Activism
- Anthropology of Islam
- Anthropology of Migration
- Anthropology of the Middle East
- Anticolonial, Postcolonial, Decolonial
- Development in Africa
- Ethnographies of the Marginalised
- Fake News: Social Media, Truth Verification and Digital Investigation
- From Colonialism to Civil War: Nigeria 1861-1970
- Gender and Colonialism in African History
- Health and Disease in Africa
- Kinship, Gender and Sexuality
- New African Writing
- Political Anthropology
- Recovering Africa's Past: oralities in the digital age
- Religion and Ritual
- The African Canon
- The Anthropology of Sport and Recreation
- The Struggle for Zimbabwe: Nationalism, Liberation and the International Community Since the Cold War
- Urban Anthropology
- The Social Life of the Economy
- Professional Skills
- Professional Skills - Freelance
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Social Anthropology at University of Birmingham earn?
The median salary is £28,500 after 15 months, £25,000 after 3 years, £31,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £40,500. The £31,000 median after five years is £500 more than the UK median for Anthropology.
What do graduates of BA Social Anthropology at University of Birmingham do next?
80% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Social Anthropology at University of Birmingham?
96% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Social Anthropology at University of Birmingham?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 126 UCAS points.
Does BA Social Anthropology at University of Birmingham include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Social Anthropology at University of Birmingham?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.