BA (Hons) Social Anthropology

Are you interested in contemporary social and cultural diversity? Social Anthropology gives you the tools you need to understand and analyse the contemporary world, in all its variety.

The BA Social Anthropology degree will allow you to explore alternative perspectives on topics such as:

Through cross-cultural comparison and in-depth study of particular societies and communities, you will learn to question taken-for-granted assumptions and to think differently about some of the biggest questions of our time.

Your degree will equip you with a grounding in social and cultural theory and provide opportunities for you to put your knowledge into practice through your own research projects. This practical focus begins from the first year, when you will apply an anthropological lens to the dynamic city of Birmingham, the UK's most ethnically-diverse city; it continues with more systematic and applied research methods training in your second year, and culminates in an individual dissertation project in your final year.

From Africa to Oceania, Europe to Asia and the Americas, anthropology teaching in the department is truly international. Our staff are all committed to long term, on the ground, research on matters of global importance and enjoy sharing their latest research with students through specialist optional modules and project supervision.