Social Anthropology and Politics

BA Social Anthropology and Politics enables you to build a degree programme that suits your interests.

Studying undergraduate Social Anthropology will enable you to develop a distinctive set of skills and attributes. You will learn how to search for, select from and evaluate sources of information, weigh up arguments, and present your findings effectively. As an anthropologist, you will also become sensitive to the assumptions and beliefs that underlie behaviour in a range of social and cultural contexts, and this gives you a critical edge.

A knowledge of politics helps you to understand what governments do, shedding light on how some of history’s pivotal events were motivated by the political leaders of the day. You learn to find your way among different arguments, rival theories and alternative explanations about campaigns, elections, protest movements, policy issues and political ideals. It also teaches you a great deal about human nature. Politics is not only what political scientists study, but also an activity in which professional politicians, civil servants and ordinary citizens take part.

The first year of the degree course gives you a thorough grounding of Social Anthropology and Politics to assist you in choosing from a wide range of modules in the second and final year.

Why study this course?

Taught by experts – The staff who teach undergraduate Social Anthropology at Birmingham are based in the School of History and Cultures, in the Department of African Studies and Anthropology. These members of staff have lived and taught in countries beyond Western Europe, and have a range of language skills acquired through intensive ethnographic field work. As part of a small cohort of students, you will benefit from being taught by practising anthropologists and learning about their research experiences.

Enhancing your student experience - In the Department of Political Science and International Studies, as well as benefiting from our world-leading expertise, you’ll also get the chance to take part in a range of in-house activities are designed to complement your curriculum and enrich your degree at Birmingham.

Experience a vibrant student community - Enjoy access to a student experience team who co-ordinate performances, talks, trips, podcasts, quizzes and celebrations. In recent years, for example, our first years have enjoyed a Sudanese food evening and second and third years have gone on trips to the Liverpool Slavery Museum, the V&A in London, and the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford.

Gain a global understanding - As Europe's youngest and most culturally-diverse city, Birmingham is the perfect place to pursue a degree in Social Anthropology and Politics. You also have the option to experience a different society first hand by studying abroad with one of our 300 international partners as well as being able to study a foreign language for free.

Get a head start in the graduate market - Alongside practical research experience, you will gain critical and transferable skills that open up a broad range of career opportunities. You can also take advantage of our work-based placements and employability focused modules available to all our students.  

Top 15 for Anthropology in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

**90% of Politics graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after this course"

Top 10 for Anthropology and Archaeology in the Guardian League Table 2023