Masters by Research

Programme Structure

Students can opt to take a one-year Master’s by Research (MbyRes) degree offered by the Department of Anthropology where they conduct independent research into a specific project and write a dissertation that is either socially (MA by Research) or biologically-oriented (MSc by Research). The degree can also be taken part-time over two years (not applicable for international students). We recommend this degree only to students who have a first degree in anthropology (and or a taught Master’s degree) and who are ready to conduct a longer research project within a one-year period.

Staff members in the Department advertise specific projects that can be taken up by prospective students, but we also accept students who have their own viable project that can be completed in the space of one year. Students are supervised by two staff members during their course of study. Most MbyRes students undertake fieldwork for approximately three-months. In some cases, able students with a suitable project can convert a MbyRes project into a PhD over a longer period (minimum of three years).  The normal timetable for completion of a MbyRes degree is shown below for students who enter the University at the start of the University year.  There are options to also start a programme in January. Opportunities exist to audit taught courses during the year of study.

We offer two Masters by Research degrees in Anthropology. The MA in Sociocultural Anthropology by Research and the MSc in Evolutionary Anthropology by Research are one year full-time courses of supervised research. You can also register to study for these qualifications part-time. In this case the length of your course will be at least twice the length for full-time study.

Research students work closely with a supervisory team to undertake a substantial piece of research which must be written up in the form of a thesis. In addition, research students are required to undertake research training, provided by both the university and the department.

Course Requirements

To be accepted for a research degree you must show that you have appropriate training to work independently (with academic guidance from your supervisor) at this level. This will normally involve both an undergraduate degree at upper second or first class level and supportive references. The department will also need to be satisfied that your proposed research is viable and that we are able to provide appropriate supervision and resources.

Previous Masters Theses in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology

• Time is TikToking: People’s perception of primate videos on one of the fastest growing social media platforms
• Principles of Evolutionary Medicine in Programmes against Malaria
• A Physiological and Social Enquiry into the Swaddling of Infants with Regard to Sleep
• “I Forgot the Talking Horse!”: A Transmission Chain Study of the Effects of Minimally Counterintuitive Elements on Faithful Transmission of Fairy Tales
• Re-assessing the Meat Acquisition Strategies of Plio-Pleistocene Hominins: An Actualistic Study

Previous Masters Theses in Sociocultural Anthropology

• Sustaining Energy-Saving Behaviour: A Case Study of an Employee Energy Conservation Campaign
• Living in the Shadow of Fragmented Identity: A Case Study of Chinese Overseas Homosexual Students in the UK Universities
• An Examination of the UK Fracking Debate and the Tactics and Methodologies Used in Influencing Government Policy
• Advocating for Children and Adolescents Living with HIV in Harare, Zimbabwe
• The Construction of Local Identity in the Heritage Industry