PhD in Anthropology

The PhD in Anthropology offers the opportunity to develop and deliver an original research project under the supervision of at least two academic staff members. Students are supported by close mentorship, tailored training, and a thriving research community. From the outset, all postgraduate researchers become part of one of our research groups, each hosting a lively programme of weekly events, workshops, and discussions throughout the year.

Students may pursue either a Sociocultural (PhD Anthropology) or Biological (PhD Biological Anthropology) pathway, with both routes culminating in a thesis. The first year of the degree provides a strong foundation, including a dedicated biweekly research seminar and the option to audit taught postgraduate modules. Students also submit a 7,000-word progression script outlining their project and its scholarly context, which is assessed through a viva by two internal examiners. Successful completion marks a key milestone, enabling students to move forward into fieldwork/data collection in the second year. The third and final year is dedicated to analysis and writing. A staff-led writing seminar supports students toward a successful thesis submission while a series of career development workshops help students prepare for what comes next.

Part-Time and Distance Learning

We welcome applications from prospective students looking to complete their degree on a part-time basis. Many staff members are also happy to provide remote supervision where students are not able to relocate to Durham for the entirety of their degree. Please note that PhD scholarships generally require students to reside in Durham during their studies and part-time international students may not be eligible for a student visa.

How to Apply

We are delighted that you are considering joining us as a PhD researcher. Our department accepts applications on a rolling basis for October, January, and April start dates through the University’s Postgraduate Applicant Portal. Deadlines and additional processes may apply for students pursuing a scholarship. Please follow the four steps below to make an application.

Identify suitable supervisors: Before making a formal programme application, you must identify two academic staff members willing to act as your primary and secondary supervisors. Have a look at our research groups to learn which of our staff members are working in your area. Please carefully review staff profiles and reach out to those with expertise relevant to your project to ask whether they would be willing to supervise your research. In your email to potential supervisors, we suggest you include:

A research proposal of up to 2000 words.

A 2-page CV.

Your plan for funding your studies and relevant deadlines.

If you are struggling to identify a suitable supervisor, you can contact our Director of Postgraduate Research for guidance at anth.dpgr@durham.ac.uk.

Consider funding options: Students have the option of funding their own studies or pursuing a scholarship. Scholarships that our applicants may be eligible for include NINE-DTP, IAPETUS, Transformative Humanities, Global Grand Challenges, Chinese Scholarship Council(Chinese citizens) and Khodorkovsky Scholarship(Russian citizens). You may be eligible to apply for other scholarships, depending on your region of residence and other criteria (full list of funding opportunities here).

Students applying for a NINE-DTP scholarship must submit a programme application as well as a scholarship application by 27^th October 2026. Please contact anthropology.pgr@durham.ac.uk for further information on deadlines and scholarship application processes.

Develop your research proposal: Work closely with your supervisors to develop the strongest possible research proposal and other application materials, bearing in mind assessment criteria for any scholarship you will pursue.

Make a programme application: Submit an application through the University’s postgraduate Applicant Portal. Please note that even where students have applied for external funding or scholarships, they still need to submit a programme application to the University. All applicants should upload the following documents to support their programme application. First round scholarship application decisions are dependent on all documents being received, with the exception of current Masters student degree documents.

Bachelors certificate and transcript (original and translated)
Masters certificate and transcript (original and translated)
Academic CV
Personal statement
2000-word research proposal
English language evidence - Direct Entry Band B - Durham University
Two academic references
Scholarship award confirmation letter (if funding has been secured)

Contact

For questions concerning the PhD application or scholarship application process, please contact anthropology.pgr@durham.ac.uk

Examples of Previous PhD Theses

Beautiful Mistakes: An Ethnographic Study of Women’s Lives after Marriage in a Rural Sinhala Village

Sedentary time during pregnancy and gestational diabetes risk: a mixed methods approach among women in the UK

‘Hands Up’: Female Call Centre Workers’ Labour, Protest and Health in the Seoul Digital Industrial Complex, Korea.

A study of Wai Phra Kao Wat (Paying Homage to a Buddha Image in the Nine Temples) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Disease, Morality and Bioethics: An Ethnographic Study of a TB Vaccine Trial Site in South Africa.

Childhood Obesity in Bangladeshi Immigrants: A biocultural investigation

Exploring WWOOF Exchange: Meanings and Practices of Ecological Social Network

The Success of Post-Release Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus hilgerti) in Kenya: An Analysis of Pre-Release Threat-Awareness Tests, Training, and Post-Release Success

'Not like before': An ethnographic study of land, continuity, and climate in Taveuni island, Fiji