MRes Anthropology

Goldsmiths, University of London

This programme offers advanced training to students who intend to undertake a doctorate in Anthropology, and it presents a valuable stand-alone research degree in and of itself that allows students to apply for researcher positions.

• Students applying for the MRes in Anthropology need to have a BA or an MA and need to provide a written research proposal the department can assess
• The MRes is a taught degree that provides training through classes and close supervision, which will enable you to develop your own research proposal and complete training modules that will support your intended project
• Having accomplished the degree you will be able to design and conduct research based on qualitative and quantitative methodologies
• The MRes provides you with insights into social science research methods, and in-depth training in ethnographic methods and issues around anthropological research, including ethics and practicalities of undertaking fieldwork, as well as basic quantitative training
• The MRes is a stand-alone degree programme where students may chose to develop professional research skills
• Other MRes students use this as a training year for the MPhil/PhD programme in order to refine their proposal and to acquire necessary skills to conduct research in Anthropology
• The taught elements of the programme include modules on research design; ethnographic methods and quantitative methods and opportunities to audit a wide range of courses in the department, the university and across the University of London
• Many students use this year to acquire optional language training
• The taught modules are assessed individually and the final assessment is a dissertation
• The dissertation includes a detailed account of your proposed research and an analysis of relevant theoretical and regional literatures that contributes to refining your original proposal

How to choose between MRes and MPhil/PhD

All research students are encouraged to register for the MRes in order to complete the requisite training for carrying out a doctoral research project in Anthropology regardless of whether they hold a degree in Anthropology.

Students who complete the MRes successfully will transfer to MPhil status after completing the dissertation (usually in September) and register for the MPhil/PhD degree afterwards.

However, if you hold an MA in Anthropology with a substantial methods training component it is possible to register directly for the full-time MPhil programme provided the Department and your future supervisor(s) agree after interviewing you.

MPhil-registered students are expected to audit the courses available to the MRes students and present assessed material similar to the MRes dissertation during their first year to be upgraded to PhD status.

Only after they have been upgraded successfully they can start fieldwork or other forms of data-collection.

Students cannot be registered as PhD students without having gone through this process.