Careers
Social Anthropology is not directly vocational but knowledge and insight gained in its study can be turned to account in many ways. A training in Social Anthropology prepares graduates to meet the demands of new and unexpected situations, and employers are increasingly recognising the value of a degree that combines a multifaceted understanding of culture and society with practical skills in working with people.
The ambition of many, of course, is to work and travel abroad, particularly in the less-developed countries of the Third World. Here, anthropology graduates are to be found on the staff of relief organisations, or as consultants to various overseas development agencies. Some have entered the fields of radio and television broadcasting, film-making and journalism, again with the emphasis on working overseas.
Many of our graduates go on to do postgraduate work, and many go overseas. They take to a wide range of occupations and careers, especially those that require people skills, such as teaching, journalism, development work, social services and business and personnel management. They also find themselves in government and non governmental organisations, the media, the City, and schools.
Those who wish to pursue an academic career in anthropology will be advised to consider various possibilities for postgraduate research. This may include going on directly to a research degree in Social Anthropology, or considering a specialist course which combines anthropology with an area of expertise such as computing or development studies. Our own MA in Visual Anthropology is one such course, as is the Joint MA Degree in Anthropology and the History of Science and Technology of Medicine.