MA Social Anthropology
About this course
MA (Hons) in Social Anthropology, an anthropology degree focused on the comparative study of human conduct and thought in social contexts. The programme includes a wide range of academic links to related fields such as sociology, human geography, development studies, history, archaeology, and philosophy. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules including Social Anthropology 1A: The Life Course and Social Anthropology 1B: Anthropology Matters alongside four option courses. The second year continues with Social Anthropology 2: Key Concepts and Ethnography: Theory and Practice, complemented by four additional courses chosen from the programme or another academic area. The third year builds advanced understanding through compulsory and thematic study with modules such as Anthropological Theory, Kinship: Structure and Process, Ritual and Religion, Consumption, Exchange and Technology, The Anthropology of Health and Healing, Urban Anthropology, Ethnographies of the United States, and War and Peace: Anthropological Perspectives.
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: from AAA to AAB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: from 36 points with 665 at HL to 34 points with 655 at HL
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 34%: 64 offers from 188 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 13 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 84%
- Learning opportunities: 80%
- Assessment and feedback: 65%
- Academic support: 87%
- Organisation and management: 79%
- Learning resources: 91%
- Student voice: 67%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 33 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 76%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 2%
- Unemployed: 4%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 20%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 5%
- Customer service occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 140 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East Midlands: 1%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 20%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 4%
- Scotland: 54%
- Northern Ireland: 3%
Who gets in
Based on about 30 students who started
- A levels: 75%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 10%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Modules
- Social Anthropology 1A: The Life Course
- Social Anthropology 1B: Anthropology Matters
- Four option courses
- gender
- personhood
- work and making a living
- the house
- consumption and exchange
- health
- the body
- climate change
- hunger
- wellbeing
- body modification
- human rights
- Social Anthropology 2: Key Concepts
- Ethnography: Theory and Practice
- Four additional courses, either related to your programme or from another academic area
- Anthropological Theory
- Kinship: Structure and Process
- Ritual and Religion
- Consumption, Exchange and Technology
- The Anthropology of Health and Healing
- Urban Anthropology
- Ethnographies of the United States
- War and Peace: Anthropological Perspectives
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Social Anthropology at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £33,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £26,000 and £43,500. The £33,500 median after five years is £3,000 more than the UK median for Anthropology.
What do graduates of MA Social Anthropology at University of Edinburgh do next?
87% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Social Anthropology at University of Edinburgh?
84% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Social Anthropology at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 36 points in the IB. The average entrant had 181 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for MA Social Anthropology at University of Edinburgh?
34% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 64 offers from 188 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does MA Social Anthropology at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on MA Social Anthropology at University of Edinburgh?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.