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Department

Anthropology
Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies

Length

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Scholarship information

Funding available

Course overview

Professionally validated by the National Youth Agency, this programme brings together community development and youth work practice with the research methods and theoretical preoccupations of anthropology.

This programme is fully endorsed by the National Youth Agency for pay and qualification purposes and endorsed by the Endorsement and Quality Standards Board for Community Development.

 

Why study MA Applied Anthropology & Community & Youth Work

  • This MA is the first of its kind in the country, combining academic and professional qualifications. It is aimed at students who wish to pursue a career in youth and community work and who need a professional qualification. 
  • Taught jointly by the Departments of Anthropology, and Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies, the programme reflects the common concerns of lecturers in both disciplines.
  • Established in 1992, it is the first of three pathways, with an additional MA Applied Anthropology and Community Development launched in 2012 and an MA Applied Anthropology and Community Arts launched in 2015. The three pathways entail different placements but are taught together, providing many opportunities for exchange of ideas and collaboration amongst students.
  • You'll learn from leading academics and practitioners, with Goldsmiths being rated top 10 in the UK for anthropology in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Martin Webb (Anthropology co-convenor) or Louise Doherty (STaCS co-convenor).

What you'll study

The MA combines an academic programme of lectures, seminars and tutorial assignments with practical experience.

Modules are taken over one academic year if you are studying full-time, and two years if you are studying part-time (part-time study only available to home/EU students).

Full-time students attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays and spend the rest of the week on fieldwork placements and library studies.

Part-time students attend on Thursdays in one year and Tuesdays in the other and spend some of the week on fieldwork placements and library studies

Anthropology components

The Department of Anthropology teaches two of the core components of your degree: Contemporary Social Issues and Anthropological Research Methods.

Module title Credits
Anthropological Research Methods

Anthropological Research Methods

30 credits

This module aims to complement the Anthropological Theory module by introducing you to the research methods used by anthropologists. It will return to some of the key texts used in the previous term to critically analyse the links between theory and methods. The module provides you with experience in working with qualitative and ethnographic methods to support fieldwork and dissertation modules.

It is designed to follow the three stages of research design and report writing: scoping and planning, conducting research and analysing data, and writing it up.

It covers a range of different kind of data and types of method including:

  • ethnographic fieldwork
  • in-depth interviews
  • surveys and questionnaires
  • ‘studying up’
  • autoethnography
  • the use of archives
  • images and film
  • participatory and collaborative research methods
  • conflicts of interest
  • ethical codes
  • informed consent

You will work in groups to devise team research projects and are encouraged to use this as a springboard for your individual reports, relating to issues raised in the lectures and readings. The report will discuss the research context, data gathering techniques, the merits of the approach used, the data it produced, and any problems encountered within the research process.

 30 credits
Contemporary Social Issues

Contemporary Social Issues

30 credits

This module provides a space to encounter and discuss critical perspectives from anthropology and social theory on the contemporary social issues that youth and community work, community development, and community arts practice engage with.

We’ll engage with key themes in anthropology and related social sciences which will allow you to reflect on enduring structures of power and the possibilities of working to create agency and change within them. These include explorations of the intersections between race, gender, sexuality, class, culture, space and the environment, mental and physical health, and the role of digital technology in contemporary societies.

You’ll focus on these topics through readings and multi-modal resources drawn from social and policy focused research in the UK and global settings. You’ll be encouraged to think through these themes in relation to your own practice and life experience and to deploy this grounded knowledge in classroom discussions as well as writing. The module aims to enable you to reflect on the wider politico-economic and social contexts in which youth and community work, community development, and community arts initiatives take place.

 30 credits
Dissertation

Dissertation

60 credits

The dissertation should link academic work with a theme emerging from practice. You’ll be able to demonstrate a coherent understanding of a Youth Work, Community Development or Community Arts related issue. You’ll link it to relevant debates in Anthropology and other social sciences.

Whilst the dissertation isn’t required to be based on original research, you may illustrate the analysis with case studies obtained through fieldwork material gathered while on your work placement or whilst conducting a project for the Methods in Anthropological Research assignment.

 60 credits

In addition, we strongly encourage all students, particularly those without a background in anthropology, to sit in on the module Anthropological Theory offered by the Department of Anthropology.

Fieldwork and placements

The Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies runs the three fieldwork modules, which involve placements that are supported by seminars, lectures, workshops and tutorials.

This MA pathway entails a total of 400 hours. This is divided between 20 hours of observations and 380 hours of placements, consisting of three placements with at least two different organisations. The accompanying teaching is divided into three modules.

Module title Credits
Fieldwork Report 1: Perspectives and Approaches

Fieldwork Report 1: Perspectives and Approaches

15 credits

This module focuses on key themes, principles and values underlying youth work, community development and community arts, enabling you to recognise them in competing approaches and perspectives. This includes consideration of the history, principles and competing models and approaches.

You’ll consider your own values, ideological positions and critically reflect on your own practice perspectives. The perspectives specific to faith and voluntary/community sector-based practice will be analysed and considered in relation to key contemporary policies related to civil society and democratic engagement.

We’ll explore the value of experiential learning approaches, critical pedagogy, informal learning, and community-based approaches, alongside group work principles, processes, and theories.

 15 credits
Fieldwork Report 2: Critical Practice

Fieldwork Report 2: Critical Practice

15 credits

This module enables you to critically analyse the changing context of professional practice. It will help you develop as a critically reflective practitioner and learn how to recognise and challenge discrimination and oppression.

We’ll also explore topics such as youth participation, methods of engaging communities with a view to facilitating ‘empowerment’, along with the ethical dilemmas faced in fieldwork practice.

 15 credits
Fieldwork Report 3: Management, Enterprise and Development

Fieldwork Report 3: Management, Enterprise and Development

30 credits

This module will advance your understanding of competing approaches to the management of community and youth work projects, staff and resources.

We’ll learn about sourcing and preparing funding bids, preparing budgets and the issues and processes involved in growing a social enterprise. You’ll gain a critical understanding of project development, management and evaluation.

 30 credits

All three modules are currently assessed by an essay, documents completed by the student in relation to the placement and community development national occupational standards learning, a report by the placement supervisor and a fieldwork contract form.

The final placement also involves an assessment of the observations. Overall, at least 200 hours of all fieldwork must be face-to-face with the 11-25 year age group.

Download the programme specification.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Between 2020 and 2022 we needed to make some changes to how programmes were delivered due to Covid-19 restrictions. For more information about past programme changes please visit our programme changes information page.

Entry requirements

You'll need to have:

  • an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in the social sciences or another appropriate subject, with some experience of community and youth work.
  • one year of full-time, or part-time equivalent, work experience prior to starting the MA. Experience can include paid or unpaid work; voluntary, community and youth work in organisations; and relevant informal work.
  • an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from the DBS. Please note there will be a fee of £56 for all DBS applications; we will send you further information about payment with your offer. You can find more information about this on our fitness to train pages

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2023/2024 academic year.

  • Home - full-time: £9720
  • Home - part-time: £4860
  • International - full-time: £18330

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

Scholarships

Aziz Foundation Scholarship

This programme is eligible for an Aziz Foundation scholarship. Find out more about how to apply. 

How to apply

Apply now

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:

  • A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
  • Details of your academic qualifications
  • The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
  • Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
  • A work experience report. This work experience report should be up to 1,000 words about recent personal experience of working or volunteering in a Community and/or Youth Work setting. It should outline this recent work experience, consisting of a brief description of the agency or project, role within the agency, the responsibilities carried and actual work done. You should outline the reflections on learning gained from the work experience

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

When to apply

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. 

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification. 

Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.

If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an earlier application deadline. 

Selection process

Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.

DBS checks

If we make you an offer to study on this programme, we will ask you to complete an application for an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate from the DBS. Please note there will be a fee of £56 for all DBS applications; we will send you further information about payment with your offer. You can find more information about this on our fitness to train pages

Find out more about applying.

Staff

Department of Anthropology

Department of Social, Therapeutic & Community Studies

Careers

Increasing employment prospects are central to this programme.

Our graduates find work directly or indirectly related to the disciplines relatively quickly after graduating, or even while on the programme. The majority of our students gain work in youth work or community work. Examples of recent graduate employment include:

  • Full-time health youth worker for a London Borough, leading on LGBTQ awareness and homophobic bullying
  • Community Centre based youth worker
  • Mentoring and Befriending Co-ordinator at a civil society equalities organisation
  • Community Development Worker in a social work team in Hong Kong

Some seek and gain work in a wide range of other settings, often shaped by the particular interests that they develop during their time with us, such as working with refugees or with disability groups. Others join social enterprises to bid for contracts, join newly developing cooperatives or established NGOs in the UK and abroad.

We have many alumni who have gone on to teaching at university themselves. One of our former students who is now a senior lecturer fed back:

“Studying on the Applied Anthropology, Youth and Community Work Masters provided me with an experience and opportunity to validate 20 years of practice and to consider a wide range of theoretical and disciplinary perspectives. Immediately this impacted on my ability to better articulate a more nuanced and evidence-based understanding of the context that surrounds practice. Before completing the MA I was promoted to a management post, overseeing six trainee community development posts, and three senior workers (the obvious impact of the course on my work was specifically highlighted during post-interview feedback)... It is clear to me that the course delivered positive outcomes in terms of career progression.”

Students from the past recommend the programme to others and recognise the combination of disciplines as unique:

“Put simply, I honestly believe I would not have got any of my three jobs since completing the course in 2003 without the MA. This is mostly reputation. The course has a cachet amongst managers in the voluntary sector, and the assumption is that students are able not only to do development work but also to do it in the right way, with values and processes embedded.”

Placements

Placement experiences and networks developed while on the programme often produce new job opportunities. As one recent graduate explained:

“I actually managed to find paid employment as a result of making a good impression during my second placement. My third placement was a job that I was able to progress effectively in and was a real step up in terms of experience and responsibility. I eventually became a line manager there, and was working on a payment by results programme, which really reflected the new political climate. It also made for a very interesting and topical research essay that I scored really well on. I know that employers look upon my CV and applications favourably due to the fact that I have an MA in Community and Youth Work from Goldsmiths.”

Similar programmes

MA Social Work

This Masters programme is ideal for graduates with relevant experience interested in pursuing a professional career in social work. You will receive an approved qualification, enabling you to register with Social Work England and work as a qualified professional social worker on completion of the programme.

MA Applied Anthropology & Community Development

This is a pathway of the MA Applied Anthropology & Community and Youth Work, aimed both at international applicants who may not need a British National Youth Agency qualification and those who want to become specialists in community development.

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