Master of Arts Anthropology

Amid social and environmental conditions that are constantly changing, anthropology offers new critical perspectives on the world by highlighting how local and global issues are interconnected. Ethnography, the disciplines field research method, makes it possible to document in real time a host of complex phenomena pertaining to diverse topics such as medicine, the environment, minorities, the media and indigenousness. Anthropology students have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience, observing and understanding contemporary issues through field research taking place around the world.

The School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies offers a Master of Arts in anthropology program. This MA in anthropology is offered as a full-time and a part-time program, in French and in English. In English, the maximum number of annual admissions is fixed according to the procedure explained in the Admission Requirements section.

Two options are available for the master's program: the MA with thesis and the MA with research paper. Admissible students may submit a request to add the co-op option to their program.

The program is governed by the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.

Students who have a BA with honours or major in anthropology or in another equivalent discipline with a minimum average of 70% (B), calculated in accordance with graduate studies guidelines, may be admitted to the MA program.

 Students who have an honours BA with a minimum average of 70% (B) in another discipline, calculated in accordance with graduate studies guidelines, but are considered to have an insufficient academic background may be accepted into a qualifying program, requiring them to complete a maximum of eight courses.

All applicants must be able to understand, speak, and write either English or French proficiently. Applicants whose first language is neither English nor French must provide proof of proficiency in one or the other. The list of acceptable tests is indicated in the “Admission” section of the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.

 The maximum number of students admitted annually in the MA in anthropology in English is limited to the average of the students admitted to the French language program in the previous three years. The maximum number of admissions for the current year is available from the secretariat of the School of Anthropological and Sociological Studies.

• Apply online through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), by completing form 105.
• Declare all your current and previous postsecondary studies, completed or not, even if they are not related to your application. Failure to do so may lead to the cancellation of your application or the withdrawal of your offer of admission at any time.
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• Pay the application fees for all your admission applications. Applications are forwarded to the University of Ottawa only after fees are paid in full and the payment has cleared. Learn more about application fees.
• Note that OUAC is not part of the University of Ottawa. It handles applications to all Ontario universities and is responsible for transferring your application to our admission office.