MRes Visual Anthropology

The MRes Visual Anthropology offers advanced-level training to students who normally already have an undergraduate degree or an MA. Alternative practical experiences will be considered and assessed on a case-to-case basis. The programme offers training to students who intend to undertake a doctorate in anthropology and/or it presents a research degree in and of itself.

• Students applying for the MRes in Visual Anthropology need to hold a BA or an MA and need to provide a written research proposal the department can assess. However, alternative practical experiences will be considered on a case-to-case basis.
• The MRes Visual Anthropology is the only programme of its kind in the UK and has a worldwide reputation.
• It is a taught degree that provides training through classes and close supervision that will enable you to develop your own research proposal and complete training modules that will support your intended project.
• The MRes provides you with a wide range of training in social science research methods, and in-depth training in anthropological methods and issues around anthropological research, including ethics and practicalities of undertaking fieldwork. It has a visual theory component that enable students to critically engage with visual-based research methods.
• The MRes Visual Anthropology is a standalone degree, and some students chose it as a basis to develop professional research skills. However, most of our MRes students use this is a training year for the MPhil/PhD in Visual Anthropology programme in order to sharpen their proposal and to acquire necessary critical skills, as well as acquainting themselves with relevant bodies of scholarship as part of writing the dissertation.
• The taught elements of the programme include modules on research design, ethnographic methods, and visual theory/methods. There are also opportunities to audit a wide range of courses in the department – including modules on visual anthropology and practice – as well as modules engaging with visual cultures the university provides and available across the University of London.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Henrike Donner.

Most direct entrants to the MRes already have a first degree or an MA in Social Anthropology, but this is not mandatory. If you don't have this the MRes acts as a conversion course that allows you to apply for the MPhil/PhD in Visual Anthropology.

The MRes is a qualification in itself and if you achieve the required standard, you can apply to register for the MPhil/PhD.

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 study.

The MRes will train you in general social science and discipline-specific research methods so that you can carry out research in anthropology to doctoral level.

The programme prepares students for careers in generic social scientific research, and in anthropological research in particular.

Skills

Our MRes programme will enable you to:

• Gain a thorough knowledge of the main methods used by anthropologists
• Understand the principles of quantitative and qualitative research in the social sciences
• Plan, design and present a research project
• Evaluate the research of others
• Develop professional research skills