This is a demanding course which enables students to reach a fairly high level of specialist knowledge in social anthropology within a relatively short time and, subject to performance in their exams and assessed work, equips them to undertake a research degree. Given that MPhil students are supervised on an individual basis in order to provide a programme of teaching tailored to individual needs, the assignment of supervisors is spread as evenly as possible among the staff attached to the Department.

Principal fields of anthropological analysis are covered in two core seminar courses in 'The Scope of Social Anthropology'. Attendance at these is compulsory for all students. These two courses cover, respectively, 'Production and Reproduction', which includes the fields of economic anthropology and kinship studies; and 'Systems of Power and Knowledge', which includes political anthropology and the anthropology of religion.

Students also take a non-assessed course in theory and methods and one course in a specialist option subject. Options available for 2021-22 are expected to include: Anthropology and Development, Science and Environment and Gender, Kinship and Care. In addition, for those wishing to specialise in a particular professional field, the Department also offers options in Social Anthropology and Museums and Medical Anthropology. Please see the Department website for confirmation of options running in 2021-22 and further details of the courses.