Course information

Entry requirements

UCAS code

L602

Entry requirements

A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
IB: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655

Length

3 years full-time or 4-6 years part-time

Department

Anthropology

Course overview

Investigate the world of anthropology from a new angle. The BA Anthropology programme offers a challenging and contemporary syllabus, exploring key anthropological debates, and using them to help you understand contemporary societal and cultural issues.

Why study BA Anthropology at Goldsmiths

  • We offer a fresher approach to the subject than other institutions – from the impact of austerity economics to investigating how the creative arts can tackle inequality, you’ll learn much more than just ‘traditional’ anthropology. This is one of the reasons we've been ranked top 10 in the UK for anthropology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.
  • You’ll look at the subject from a contemporary perspective, and be able to apply what you learn in lectures to your everyday life.
  • In the first two years, you’ll concentrate on basic anthropological concepts, such as kinship, ritual, world systems, and development. You'll also learn to analyse these concepts using video, film and written texts, and you’ll get to study two regions of the world in depth.
  • In your final year, you’ll be able to specialise by choosing a selection of option modules, tailoring your degree to your own interests and aspirations. You'll have the opportunity to investigate anthropology in relation to politics, religion, philosophy, psychology, and history in order to develop an interdisciplinary perspective of the subject.
  • You'll explore links between theoretical issues and ethnographic studies, enabling you to think critically about culture and society in Britain, and around the world. Our graduates have gone on to work for the UN, World Bank, NGOs, law companies and corporate social responsibility (CSR) consultancies.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Julia Sauma.

Watch videos about your course

What you'll study

Note about optional modules (if available): The below is indicative of the typical modules offered, but is not intended to be construed or relied on as a definitive list of what might be available in any given year. The module content and availability is subject to change.

Year 1 (credit level 4)

In your first year, you'll study the following compulsory modules, and then choose one optional module of either Anthropological Ideas or Anthropology Today.

Module title Credits
Being Related 15 credits
Approaches to Contemporary Anthropology 30 credits
Anthropological Methods 15 credits
Ethnographic Film 15 credits
Academic Skills for Anthropology 15 credits
Anthropology in London 15 credits
Anthropological Ideas 15 credits
or
Anthropology Today 15 Credits

Year 2 (credit level 5)

In your second year, you'll take five compulsory modules and 45 credits of optional modules.

Compulsory modules

Module title Credits
Critical Ecologies: black, indigenous and transnational feminist approaches 15 credits
Anthropology and Political Economy 15 credits
Thinking Anthropologically 15 credits
Thinking Through Race 15 credits
The Goldsmiths Elective 15 credits

Optional modules

You'll then take 45 credits from the following optional module list:

Module title Credits
Anthropology and Public Policy 15 credits
Indigenous Cosmopolitics, Anthropology and Global Justice 15 credits
Anthropology of Religion 15 credits
Working with Images 15 credits
Anthropology in Public Practice 30 credits
Goldsmiths’ Social Change Module 15 credits

Year 3 (credit level 6)

In your third year, you'll complete an individual research project. You can choose either to complete an Individual Project or to complete an extended version.

Module title Credits
Individual Project 30 credits
or
Extended Individual Project 45 credits

You will make up the remaining 75-90 credits (depending on your chosen project) from a list of optional modules. Recent examples of optional modules include:

Module title Credits
Anthropology in Public Practice 30 credits
Psychological Perspectives in Anthropology 15 credits
Anthropology of Health and Medicine 15 credits
Anthropology of Art 15 credits
Anthropology and the Environment 15 credits
Anthropology of Development 15 credits
Anthropology and Gender Theory 15 credits
Anthropology of Rights 15 credits
Multimodal Experiments 15 Credits
Theorising the Visual 15 credits
Anthropology of Violence 15 credits
Learning from Social Movements 15 credits
Borders and Migration 15 credits
Digital Anthropology 15 credits

Teaching style

This programme is mainly taught through scheduled learning - a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. This includes carrying out required and additional reading, preparing topics for discussion, and producing essays or project work.

The following information gives an indication of the typical proportions of learning and teaching for each year of this programme*:

  • Year 1 - 18% scheduled learning, 83% independent learning
  • Year 2 - 13% scheduled learning, 87% independent learning
  • Year 3 - 15% scheduled learning, 85% independent learning

How you’ll be assessed

You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These include coursework, examinations, group work and projects.

The following information gives an indication of how you can typically expect to be assessed on each year of this programme*:

  • Year 1 - 50% coursework, 50% written exam
  • Year 2 - 88% coursework, 13% written exam
  • Year 3 - 100% coursework

*Please note that these averages are based on enrolments for 2022/23. Each student’s time in teaching, learning and assessment activities will differ based on individual module choices. Find out more about how this information is calculated.

 

Credits and levels of learning

An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6. If you are a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 modules in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 modules in your final year. A standard module is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half modules or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation or a Major Project.

Download the programme specification.

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

What our students say

Natasha Moody

I loved exploring New Cross, there are some lovely places along the high street and around the campus. New Cross also has great transport links to explore the rest of London.

Creating the degree around you

The staff in the Anthropology department were very friendly and helpful and they all created their modules around the students, adjusting to our preferences and capacities.

I also enjoyed times when I was able to be on campus because of the many places that are great for studying and the green spaces around. I loved exploring New Cross, there are some lovely places along the high street and around the campus. New Cross also has great transport links to explore the rest of London.

Manage your time

My advice to someone studying at Goldsmiths or at any University is probably something you've heard countless times. Manage your time well, it's something I'm not very good at but it definitely helps!

Entry requirements

We accept the following qualifications:

A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
International Baccalaureate: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655
Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject-specific modules
Scottish qualifications: BBBBC (Higher) or BBC (Advanced Higher)
European Baccalaureate: 75%
Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H2 H2

We don't assume you have any knowledge of anthropology, and welcome applications from anyone with arts, social studies or science backgrounds.

International qualifications

We also 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 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.

Alternative qualifications

See our full list of undergraduate entry qualifications.

Fees & funding

Annual tuition fees

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

From August 2021 EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for 'Home' fee status. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will be classified as 'International' for fee purposes, more information can be found on our fees page.

  • Home - full-time: £9250
  • Home - part-time: £4625
  • International - full-time: £20160

If your fees are not listed here, please check our undergraduate 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

We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our careers service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies. Find out more about funding your studies with us.

Careers

Skills

Our Anthropology programmes and courses aim to equip you with a range of specialist and transferable skills.

As part of your studies, seminars and course work, you'll develop skills in:

  • communication (including public speaking, developing and presenting an argument, note taking, report writing)
  • analytical thinking
  • awareness of social, political and cultural processes
  • awareness of social and cultural difference
  • thinking 'outside the box'

These skills provide a good foundation for a number of career paths, find out more on our Anthropology skills and careers page. 

Careers

Our students have been successful in a range of areas, from postgraduate research and teaching in higher education, to film making and other media careers, journalism, and museum curating, to applied or advocacy work for NGOs and development agencies.

Our particular emphasis on public anthropology encourages our students to explore options in a range of practice-based and public sector career paths.

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths

Research

JESS PERRIAM, PhD Studentship, CSISP (Centre for the Study of Invention and Social Process)