Six reasons to study Anthropology

1. Question what it means to be human

Study for a degree in Anthropology, and you’ll explore the complexities of the human race. You’ll ask why different people live in different ways, how our species has evolved and what impact the past of human beings has on our present day.

If you’re curious about how people work, this could be the subject for you. From prehistoric ecology to current social beliefs, Anthropology degree courses scrutinise it all.

2. Overseas opportunities

This subject area studies humans in a global context. Naturally, there are opportunities for international travel. Professional work could see you first-hand researching different groups of people and how they live around the world.

To give you a taste of what a future career might look like, you might have field trips and work experiences that take place overseas. Many university courses offer a whole year abroad where you have the chance to immerse yourself in a different culture.

3. An interdisciplinary subject

Anthropology is not a limited study area. It considers all different aspects of human life, from migration to the way our minds work. Because of this, you’ll likely touch upon several other subject areas such as geography, psychology, languages, economics and international relations.

The interdisciplinary approach provides you with a flexible study method. You get to choose from various modules and tailor your course to areas that interest you most.

4. Gain transferable skills

A degree will equip you with a whole host of skills applicable to many careers and sectors. As well as subject-specific abilities, you’ll develop skills such as research, coherent writing, communication, problem-solving, independent and collaborative work, effective reasoning and information organisation. All of these are highly valued by employers.

5. Many graduate pathways

After completing your degree, you’ll have several different options to pursue. You could continue your studies and earn a master’s or doctoral degree and become a researcher or academic.

Otherwise, roles related to Anthropology span from journalism to community development. You could work for various organisations such as charities, government bodies, museums or law firms.

6. Course combination options

As it is such an interdisciplinary subject area, Anthropology offers a wide variety of combination options. You could choose Anthropology with history, archaeology, economics, psychology, philosophy or politics, for instance.