Social & Cultural Anthropology, Master of Arts (MA)

The MA in Social and Cultural Anthropology is a research-focused Master’s programme that offers students an advanced orientation in socio-cultural anthropology and guides them through an ethnographic research project. Students engage with enduring and contemporary questions in the field of anthropology and learn to use ethnography as a reflexive lens onto a particular research problem. The programme is informed by its emphasis on the multiplicity of human experience and on its global entanglements. Students benefit from a close working relationship with academic staff and may take advantage of the University of Bayreuth’s distinction as a centre of African Studies. The core of the Social & Cultural Anthropology Master's programme at the University of Bayreuth is the independent ethnographic research project. Students are guided through the design and execution of an independent research project that has the potential to contribute to key debates in the discipline. In the first term, all students participate in foundational courses (module A) that serve as an advanced introduction to anthropology. These include courses on Social and Cultural Theory and World Anthropologies as well as a masterclass on ethnographic methods, Doing Ethnography. In Contemporary Themes in Anthropology (module B), students engage with central concepts in contemporary anthropology that are relevant to their research projects.  Module C consists of a series of scaffolded courses which include preparation, fieldwork and analysis, altogether forming the independent research project. Fieldwork takes place in the third term and can be combined with a study abroad programme. The research project is guided by senior members of the teaching staff, thereby offering students the opportunity to pursue their research interests with careful mentorship. In addition, students have the opportunity to choose from a number of elective courses (module D) to shape their programme according to their own interests. This includes the opportunity to study a foreign language (other than English or German). PDF Download

Course details verified 09 Sep 2026 — intakes, entry requirements and course facts · official source

1. Winter semester

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English

E.G. PTE Academic: 75 UNIcert® English: UNIcert® III TOEFL iBT (before 2026): 95 Reading: 24 Listening: 22 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24 Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced IELTS Academic: 7.5

Prerequisites

Application All applicants must submit a cover letter comprising a maximum of two pages which they explain why they consider themselves well-suited for the MA programme in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Qualification A Bachelor's degree with at least a grade of "good" (2.5 or higher, or equivalent) in any of the following disciplines: "Social & Cultural Anthropology", "Culture and Society (subject Social and Cultural Anthropology)", "Culture and Society in Africa (subject Social and Cultural Anthropology)" or "Interdisciplinary African Studies", or an equivalent degree. Applications may already be submitted before completion of the Bachelor's degree; however a total of at least 150 credit points with a final German grade of 2.5 or better must be earned by the time of application. Conditional admission is possible; special conditions may comprise up to 30 credit points.

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