harvard social anthropology phd

Anthropology

Undergraduate Program

Anthropology brings global, comparative, and holistic views to the study of the human condition, exploring the enormous range of similarities and differences across time and space. It includes the study of how human behavior has evolved as well as how language, culture, and society have shaped and continue to shape the human experience. At Harvard, the Anthropology Department is divided into two programs: Archaeology and Social Anthropology.

Graduate Programs

The Department of Anthropology offers coursework and training leading to the Ph.D. in two principal fields of specialization—archaeology and social anthropology—that have their own programs of study and examination procedures. The department also offers an AM in medical anthropology.

Students enrolled in the Master of Liberal Arts program in Anthropology and Archeology will explore human cultures and societies, and gain a deep understanding of our global complexities and their implications on the human experience.

The graduate program in archaeology provides informed, critical examinations of core issues; comprehensive training in principal methods and theories of anthropologically-oriented archaeology; and direction and support for PhD candidates preparing for research and teaching positions in a wide variety of domains of archaeological practice.

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Anthropology Research

• Social Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Human Evolutionary Biology
• Medical Anthropology

Susan Gilman, Library Liaison for Anthropology

If you have questions or would like to discuss your research, email me ( [email protected] ) or book an appointment !

Background Information

• Annual Reviews   (Harvard Key required): Searches review articles, including the Annual Review of Anthropology.
• Oxford Bibliographies  (Harvard Key required): Articles that are written and reviewed by scholars, which provide an overview of a topic and an annotated bibliography.​
• Very Short Introductions Online   (Harvard Key required): Concise introductions to a diverse range of subjects. 

Books / Book Reviews

• Anthropology Plus  (Harvard Key required): A good source for finding book reviews, both historical and current. 
• Google Books  (some content free / open access): A useful tool for searching within books and seeing book previews. 
• HOLLIS  (some content  free / open access): Contains information about the many different types of items held in the Harvard Library.

Articles / Review Articles

• Academic Search Premier  (Harvard Key required): A general-purpose database covering scholarly journals as well as more mainstream publications.
• Anthropology Plus  (Harvard Key required): Searches the major literature, including journals, in anthropology and related fields. 
• AnthroSource  (Harvard Key required): Searches journals published by the American Anthropological Association.
• Google Scholar  (some content free / open access): Searches many different types of publications across a variety of disciplines. Learn how to connect Google Scholar to your library access. 
• JSTOR  (Harvard Key required): Searches many different types of publications across a variety of disciplines.  
• View More:  Harvard Library Databases Search Page : See all of the Harvard Library's databases. 

Ethnographies

Anthropological Fieldwork Online  (Harvard Key required): Contains primary sources related to landmark ethnographies written by anthropologists like Bronislaw Malinowski and Ruth Benedict.  Anthropology Online  (Harvard Key required): Brings together a wide range of written ethnographies, field notes, seminal texts, memoirs, and contemporary studies. Ethnographic Video Online  (Harvard Key required): A large video streaming library of ethnographic films and documentaries.  Google Books  (some content free / open access): A useful tool for searching within books. Once you find a book that you are interested in, check HOLLIS to see if Harvard owns it. When searching, include the terms ethnography or ethnographic.  HOLLIS  (some content free / open access): Contains information about the many different types of items held in the Harvard Library. When searching, include the terms ethnography or ethnographic. ​ HRAF World Cultures  (Harvard Key required): Contains a variety of primary source materials on over 400 cultures. 

Images / Film

• ARTstor  (some content free / open access): Contains images from museums, libraries, and archives from all over the world. 
• Ethnographic Video Online  (Harvard Key required): A large video streaming library of ethnographic films and documentaries.  ​
• Google Arts & Culture  (free / open access): Contains images from over 130 museums from around the world.
• HOLLIS  Images  (some content free / open access): Includes content from archives, museums, libraries, and other collections throughout Harvard University.

Dissertations / Theses

• DASH  (free / open access): Harvard's central, open-access repository for research by Harvard community members. Contains Harvard anthropology dissertations from 2012-present and some undergraduate theses.
• HOLLIS  (some content free / open access): Find dissertations and theses written by scholars from Harvard. 
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses  (Harvard Key required): Find dissertations and theses written by scholars from North American universities. Most post-1990 titles are available with full-text.
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Except where otherwise noted, this work is subject to a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , which allows anyone to share and adapt our material as long as proper attribution is given. For details and exceptions, see the Harvard Library Copyright Policy ©2021 Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College.

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Social Anthropology

Entry requirements.

A previous background of study in anthropology is not a prerequisite for admissions. However, successful candidates, whether they have studied anthropology previously or not, must be able to state clearly their interests in anthropology and demonstrate familiarity with intellectual issues in current anthropological theory and method. Generally, successful applicants have a strong background in either a geographic, cultural region and/or a particular topical or theoretical interest in anthropology. The personal statement is required as part of the application and should make such backgrounds and interests very clear. Prior preparation in languages related to an applicant’s intended area or areas of specialization is advantageous. Current language abilities should be explained in the application essay. Students in the graduate program are required to demonstrate that they have sufficient abilities for research in both a language they will use for conducting fieldwork and in a language in which there is a body of anthropological writing relevant to their proposed research.

Months of entry

Course content.

The graduate program in Social Anthropology focuses on issues of globalism, ethnic politics, gender studies, “new” nationalisms, diaspora formation, transnationalism and local experience, medical anthropology, linguistic and semiotic anthropology, and media. Our mission is to develop new methodologies for an anthropology that tracks cultural developments in a global economy increasingly defined by the Internet and related technologies. Our graduate students (drawn from over 30 countries) expect to work in the worlds of academe, government, NGOs, law, medicine, and business. 

Knowing that material culture is a key element in the study of globalism and the new world economy, we work closely with staff from Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, who share our interests in redefining the study of popular culture, art, and the origins of industrial society. Research at the museum also makes it possible for us to maintain close ties to our departmental colleagues in the archaeology program. 

Fees and funding

5 years’ funding is guaranteed to all Harvard PhD students. British citizens who are – or will be – graduates of British universities should check out both Kennedy Scholarships and Frank Knox Fellowships Both of these awards typically offer full tuition and health insurance coverage and a generous stipend towards living expenses. They are offered annually in competition. A Frank Knox Fellowship can be particularly welcomed during the early stages of a doctoral degree and both awards offer considerable personal support from their networks. Please note that you will need to submit your application to either or both awards ahead of the deadline for your Harvard application. Kennedy Scholarship and Frank Knox Fellowship applications are to be made online via their websites between mid-August and late-October in the same application season as you will submit your application to Harvard. Please also note they are totally separate from, and independent of, admission to the program. Awards made at interview in London in January are provisional, pending confirmation of a place on the course. See both websites for full information.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

• Campus-based learning is available for this qualification

Course contact details

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• PhD Program in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies

Admissions to the PhD in Anthropology and MES has been paused and will not be accepting applications for fall 2024.

The joint program in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies is designed for students interested in enriching their program of study for the PhD in Anthropology with firsthand knowledge about the Middle East based on literacy in its languages and an understanding of its cultural traditions. As a student in an interdisciplinary program you are a full member of the Department of Anthropology cohort, but also have an intellectual home at CMES and access to CMES faculty, facilities, and resources.

Students in the joint PhD Program in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies fulfill all the  requirements for the PhD in Social Anthropology  in addition to the language and area studies requirements established by the Committee on Middle Eastern Studies.

Language Requirements

Each student must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one of the following European languages: German, French, Italian, or Russian. This requirement may be fulfilled either by a departmental examination or by satisfactory completion of two years of language study. The student must also demonstrate a thorough knowledge of a modern Middle Eastern language: Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. Depending on the student’s specialization, another Middle Eastern or Islamic language (e.g., Kurdish, Urdu) may be substituted with the approval of the Committee on Joint PhD Programs. The expectation is that the student learn the languages necessary to teach and work in his or her chosen field.

Program of Study in Anthropology and MES

The graduate program in social anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies requires a minimum of sixteen half-courses, three of which are in Middle Eastern history, economics, religion, or political science, and twelve of which are in anthropology. The twelve required anthropology half-courses include the proseminar “History and Theory of Social Anthropology” (2650a and b); a half-course on the ethnography of one’s area of specialization is recommended but not required. A half-course in archaeology is recommended but not required. First-year students must attain at least a B+ in each half of the proseminar.

A list of current Middle East–related courses is available on this site at the beginning of each semester ; the Anthropology Department courses are available at my.harvard.edu .

Social anthropology PhD candidates are required to take written and oral examinations toward the end of their third term of study. Candidates must pass these examinations before they may continue their PhD work. More details are available in the Department of Anthropology’s  Program Guidelines for students .

Dissertation

The dissertation prospectus must be read and approved by a committee of three faculty members no later than the end of the third year. The dissertation will normally be based on fieldwork conducted in the Middle East, or in other areas of the world with close cultural ties to the region, and should demonstrate the student’s ability to use source material in one or more relevant Middle Eastern languages. Satisfactory progress of PhD candidates in the writing stage is determined on the basis of the writing schedule the student arranges with his or her advisor.

Timeline for Student Progress and Degree Completion

• Coursework: One to three years.
• Examinations: General exams must be passed by the end of the second year of study.
• Dissertation Prospectus: Must be approved by the end of the third year.
• Dissertation Defense and Approval: The candidate’s dissertation committee decides when the dissertation is ready for defense. The doctorate is awarded when the candidate passes a defense of the dissertation.
• Graduation: The program is ideally completed in six years.

For more details on these guidelines, see the Middle Eastern Studies section  of the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS) Policies site and the Department of Anthropology’s guidelines for PhD students in social anthropology . Admissions information can be found in the Applying to CMES  section of this site and on the Harvard Griffin GSAS website .

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PhD in Social Policy

In this section.

• Current Students
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• Degree Requirements
• What We Look For

The joint PhD Programs in Social Policy combine the disciplinary depth of a PhD in political science or sociology with multidisciplinary perspectives and problem-driven research on questions of social policy.

As a joint venture between the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences'  Government and Sociology departments and Harvard Kennedy School, the program is designed for students like you who have broad interests in social policy problems and solutions, spanning topics such as:

• Economic inequality
• Wealth distribution (including high-end wealth accumulation)
• Race and ethnicity
• Poverty and social mobility
• Family dynamics
• Workplace inequities
• Health disparities
• Crime and criminal punishment
• Immigration
• Local politics, neighborhoods, and segregation
• Educational access and inequality
• Political participation and political inequality  

The “discipline-plus” model

The PhD Programs in Social Policy are grounded by a “discipline-plus” structure. You will build a strong foundation in either political science or sociology before embarking on a sequence of multidisciplinary seminars and advanced research in social policy—all of which will focus primarily on the United States and Western Europe.

Research at the core

The joint PhD Programs in Social Policy are targeted toward producing scholars whose research puts them at the forefront of studying key problems in social policy. The skills and cross-disciplinary insights you develop will allow you to identify important unanswered questions and create research strategies that improve our understanding of social problems.

Graduates of the joint PhD Programs in Social Policy leave the program well equipped to pursue careers in leading political science or sociology departments, public policy schools, law schools, think tanks, nonprofit organizations, and in the public sector. 

Anthropology Degree Requirements

The  Master of Liberal Arts, Anthropology degree field is offered online with 1 on-campus requirement at Harvard University. Weekend on-campus courses are available.

Getting Started

Explore Degree Requirements

• Review the course curriculum .
• Learn about the on-campus experience .
• Determine your initial admissions eligibility .
• Learn about the 3 degree courses required for admission .

Upcoming Term: Summer 2024

Course registration is open March 4 – June 20. Learn how to register →

Fall 2024 courses and registration details will be live in June.

Required Course Curriculum

Online core and elective courses

On-campus Engaging in Scholarly Conversation course

Capstone or thesis

12 Graduate Courses (48 Credits)

Many of our anthropology offerings focus on identity and social justice, making it an ideal option for professionals in the fields of education, community development, public service, public health, NGOs, as well as management and diversity, inclusion and belonging.

As part of the program curriculum, you pursue either a thesis or capstone track. You can further customize the program by choosing the anthropology and elective courses that meet your learning goals.

The primarily synchronous online format ensures real-time engagement with faculty and peers.

Required Core & Elective Courses View More

• SSCI 100A Proseminar: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Anthropology and Psychology
• 4 anthropology courses
• 1 anthropology seminar
• This 4-credit requirement is fulfilled by completing 2 two-credit Active Learning Weekends or 1 three-week summer course.
• EXPO 42b Writing in the Social Sciences is an elective option.

Browse Courses →

Thesis Track View More

The thesis is a 9-month independent research project where you work one-on-one in a tutorial setting with a thesis director.

You enroll in the following additional courses for the thesis track:

• ANTH 497 Crafting the Thesis Proposal in Anthropology Tutorial
• ANTH 499AB ALM Thesis in Anthropology (8 credits)

Recent Thesis Topics:

• Relationship Between Economic Growth and Attitudes Toward Minority Groups
• Fetch to Final Boss: Classifying Quest Motifs and Tale-Types in Western Video Games
• The Dismantling of the Santa Ana Riverbed Homeless Encampment in 2018: A Case Study

Capstone Track View More

The capstone track focuses on a capstone project and includes the following additional courses. You choose between two precapstone and capstone topic areas.

• 1 anthropology elective
• SSCI 597B Identity Precapstone: Theory and Research
• SSCI 599B Identity Capstone: Bridging Research and Practice
• GOVT 597A Precapstone: Strategies to Advance Social Change
• GOVT 599A Social Justice Capstone: Equity and the Struggle for Justice

Capstone experience. First, in the precapstone, you gain foundational preparation through critically analyzing the scholarly literature. Then, in the capstone, you execute a semester-long research project with guidance and support from your instructor and fellow candidates.

Capstone sequencing. You enroll in the precapstone and capstone courses in the same topic, in back-to-back semesters (fall/spring), and in your final academic year. The capstone must be taken alone as your sole remaining degree requirement. Capstone topics are subject to change annually.

Harvard Instructor Requirement View More

For either the thesis or capstone track, 8 courses (32 credits) of the above courses need to be taught by instructors with the Harvard-instructor designation. The thesis courses are taught by a Harvard instructor.

On Campus Experience

Choose between the accelerated or standard on-campus experience.

Learn and network in-person with your classmates.

Nearly all courses can be taken online, but the degree requires an in-person experience here at Harvard University where you enroll in Engaging in Scholarly Conversation (ESC).

Join your fellow degree candidates for this interactive course that highlights the importance of true graduate-level analysis by training you in the skills of critically engaging the scholarly literature in your field of study.

Choose between two on-campus experience options:

• Accelerated on-campus option: ESC is offered in two, 2-credit Active Learning Weekends. We strongly advise you complete the two weekends in the same academic year with same instructor (part one in fall and part two in spring).
• Standard on-campus option: ESC is offered in one 3-week Harvard Summer School session. This option is ideal for those who want a more traditional on-campus experience. HSS offers, for an additional fee, housing, meal plans, and a prolonged on-campus experience here at Harvard University. Learn more about campus life at Harvard .

You register for ESC after completing the proseminar with a grade of B or higher and prior to either the Crafting the Thesis Proposal tutorial or the precapstone to support your final research project. Ordinarily, students wait until they are officially admitted before enrolling in this course, as it does not count as one of the three, 4-credit courses required for admission.

You have two attempts to earn the required grade of B- or higher in ESC. A withdrawal grade (WD) counts as an attempt.

Whether working on a paper at one of the libraries or shopping at the Harvard Coop, I always felt like I belonged.

On attending Engaging in Scholarly Conversation in the active learning weekend format.

International Students Who Need a Visa View More

To meet the on-campus requirement, you choose the Standard on-campus option and study with us in the summer. You can easily request an I-20 for the F-1 student visa for Harvard Summer School’s 3-week session. For more details, see International Student Study Options for important visa information .

In-Person Co-Curricular Events View More

Come to Cambridge for Convocation (fall) to celebrate your hard-earned admission, Harvard career fairs offered throughout the year, HES alumni networking events (here at Harvard and around the world), and, of course, Harvard University Commencement (May).

Confirm your initial eligibility with a 4-year bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent.

Take three courses in our unique “earn your way in” admissions process that count toward your degree.

In the semester of your third course, submit the official application for admission to the program.

Below are our initial eligibility requirements and an overview of our unique admissions process to help get you started. Visit the Degree Program Admissions page for more details.

Initial Eligibility View More

• Prior to enrolling in any degree-applicable courses, you must possess a 4-year regionally accredited US bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent. Foreign bachelor’s degrees must be evaluated for equivalency.
• You cannot already have or be in the process of earning a master’s degree in anthropology or a related field. Check your eligibility .
• If English is your second language, you’ll need to prove English proficiency before registering for a course. We have multiple proficiency options .

Earning Your Way In — Courses for Admission View More

To begin the admission process, you simply register — no application required — for the following three, 4-credit, graduate-level degree courses (available online).

These prerequisite courses are investments in your studies and help ensure success in the program. They count toward your degree once you’re admitted; they are not additional courses.

• Before registering, you’ll need to pass our online test of critical reading and writing skills or earn a B or higher in EXPO 42b Writing in the Social Sciences.
• You have 2 attempts to earn the minimum grade of B in the proseminar (a withdrawal grade counts as an attempt). The proseminar cannot be more than 2 years old at the time of application.
• 1 Anthropology course
• 1 Anthropology course or elective (e.g., EXPO 42b)

While the three courses don’t need to be taken in a particular order or in the same semester, we highly recommend that you start with the proseminar (or the prerequisite EXPO 42b). All three courses must be completed with a grade of B or higher, without letting your overall Harvard cumulative GPA dip below 3.0.

Applying to the Degree Program View More

During the semester of your third degree course, submit the official application to the program.

Don’t delay! You must prioritize the three degree courses for admission and apply before completing subsequent courses. By doing so, you’ll:

• Avoid the loss of credit due to expired course work or changes to admission and degree requirements.
• Ensure your enrollment in critical and timely degree-candidate-only courses.
• Avoid the delayed application fee.
• Gain access to exclusive benefits.

Eligible students who submit a complete and timely application will have 9 more courses after admission to earn the degree. Applicants can register for courses in the upcoming semester before they receive their grades and while they await their admission decision.

The Office of Predegree Advising & Admissions makes all final determinations about program eligibility.

Search and Register for Courses

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) offers degree courses all year round to accelerate degree completion.

• You can study in fall, January, and spring terms through Harvard Extension School (HES) and during the summer through Harvard Summer School (HSS).
• You can enroll full or part time. After qualifying for admission, many of our degree candidates study part time, taking 2 courses per semester (fall/spring) and 1 in the January and summer sessions.
• Most fall and spring courses meet once a week for two hours, while January and summer courses meet more frequently in a condensed format.

To Complete Your Degree

Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Complete your courses in five years.

Earn your Harvard degree and enjoy Harvard Alumni Association benefits upon graduation.

Required GPA, Withdrawal Grades, and Repeat Courses View More

GPA. You need to earn a B or higher in each of the three degree courses required for admission and a B– or higher in each of the subsequent courses. In addition, your cumulative GPA cannot dip below 3.0.

Withdrawal Grades. You are allowed to receive two withdrawal (WD) grades without them affecting your GPA. Any additional WD grades count as zero in your cumulative GPA. See Academic Standing .

Repeat Courses. We advise you to review the ALM program’s strict policies about repeating courses . Generally speaking, you may not repeat a course to improve your GPA or to fulfill a degree requirement (if the minimum grade was not initially achieved). Nor can you repeat a course for graduate credit that you’ve previously completed at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School at the undergraduate level.

Courses Expire: Finish Your Coursework in Under Five Years View More

Courses over five years old at the point of admission will not count toward the degree. As stated above, the proseminar cannot be more than two years old at the time of application.

Further, you have five years to complete your degree requirements. The five-year timeline begins at the end of the term in which you complete any three degree-applicable courses, regardless of whether or not you have been admitted to a degree program.

Potential degree candidates must plan accordingly and submit their applications to comply with the five-year course expiration policy or they risk losing degree credit for completed course work. Additionally, admission eligibility will be jeopardized if, at the point of application to the program, the five-year degree completion policy cannot be satisfied (i.e., too many courses to complete in the time remaining).

Graduate with Your Harvard Degree View More

When you have fulfilled all degree requirements, you will earn your Harvard University degree: Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Anthropology. Degrees are awarded in November, March, and May, with the annual Harvard Commencement ceremony in May.

Degree Candidate Exclusive Benefits View More

When you become an officially admitted degree candidate, you have access to a rich variety of exclusive benefits to support your academic journey. To learn more, visit degree candidate academic opportunities and privileges .

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) at Harvard University is dedicated to bringing rigorous academics and innovative teaching capabilities to those seeking to improve their lives through education. We make Harvard education accessible to lifelong learners from high school to retirement.

FAS Humanities and Social Sciences Support

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This section provides information about the requirements and policies associated with financial support. Financial support is the shared responsibility of Harvard Griffin GSAS, the academic program, and the student. Your financial aid officer can help you navigate the many options available.

• Fellowships
• Financial Obligations
• External Awards
• Dissertation Completion Fellowships
• Financial Support via Guaranteed Teaching
• Summer Research Awards
• Year 5 Funding
• Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS)
• The GSAS Professional Development Fund for PhD Students
• Tuition and Health Fee Grants
• Hardship Funding
• Paying Your Student Account
• Regulations Regarding Employment
• Non-Resident Students
• Registration

Humanities and Social Sciences Programs in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

• Celtic Literatures and Languages
• Comparative Literature
• East Asian Languages and Civilizations
• Film and Visual Studies
• Germanic Languages and Literatures
• History of Art and Architecture
• Inner Asian and Altaic Studies
• Linguistics
• Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
• Romance Languages and Literatures
• Slavic Languages and Literatures
• South Asian Studies

Social Sciences

• African and African American Studies
• American Studies
• Anthropology
• History of Science
• Human Evolutionary Biology
• Middle Eastern Studies
• Social Policy

PhD students in the humanities and social sciences programs housed in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences benefit from a comprehensive program of financial support that includes a combination of tuition grants, stipends, teaching fellowships, and a dissertation completion fellowship.

In addition to the general Harvard Griffin GSAS financial aid policies, specific policies apply to the following components of the funding package:

• Summer research awards in Year 1 through Year 4
• Financial support via guaranteed teaching in Year 3 and Year 4
• Year 5 tuition and health fee grants
• Dissertation completion fellowships

Deferring Support

The initial Notice of Financial Support provided to students at the time of admission assumes continuous enrollment as a full-time resident student. Students may find that their actual enrollment patterns necessitate adjustments to the timing of their G3, G4, and G5 funding. Students wishing to defer funding indicate this in the Student Aid Portal during the annual financial aid acceptance process. Students who are considering deferring funding are strongly encouraged to contact their financial aid officers to review how such actions may impact their funding in future years.

There are limits on how long each component of the G3, G4, and G5 funding packages can be deferred. For more information, please refer to the policies on summer research awards , guaranteed teaching , and Year 5 tuition and health fee grants .

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PhD in Social Anthropology

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The PhD in Social Anthropology is intended for students who already have full training at undergraduate and/or Master's level in the methods and perspectives of Social/Cultural Anthropology. A first class Honours degree or strong High Pass in a Master's degree in Social Anthropology is normally required. The course includes intensive fieldwork training in the first year, a research period of 12 to 18 months, and a further year for writing the thesis (a maximum of four years is allowed in total). The part-time course proceeds in a similar sequence but over a longer duration, with a maximum allowed length of seven years.  Students work under the guidance of a Principal Supervisor and a Faculty Advisor, and are supported also by a general research training curriculum and extensive programme of department seminars and workshops. Students beginning their training through the PhD Pre-Fieldwork Course can expect to leave for field research at the end of their third term (June-July).  Part-time students can expect to leave for field research at the end of their second year.  Those beginning through the closely-related MRes course, who then hope to proceed directly to PhD, can expect to leave for their PhD fieldwork in their fourth term (October-December). 

A Cambridge PhD in Social Anthropology is very highly regarded, both in the UK and overseas. We have some extremely distinguished alumni who have been enormously influential in academic Anthropology globally. The majority of our PhD graduates go on to jobs in academia, while others build very successful careers in the media, civil service, and the development sector, among others. The Cambridge University Department of Social Anthropology is unparalleled as a place to study for a PhD, combining world-class teaching and resources with a friendly but intellectually challenging atmosphere. 

MPhil students at Cambridge wishing to continue to the PhD in Social Anthropology are required to achieve a mark of at least 73 overall in the MPhil in Social Anthropology. 

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of social anthropology, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, michaelmas 2024.

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Funding Deadlines

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

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• Social Anthropology MRes
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Context and Care vs Isolate and Control - An Interview with Arthur Kleinman Mad in America: Rethinking Mental Health

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Arthur Kleinman is a towering figure in psychiatry and medical anthropology. He has made substantial contributions to both fields over his illustrious career spanning more than five decades. As a Professor of Medical Anthropology at Harvard University's Department of Global Health and Social Medicine and a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Kleinman has profoundly influenced how medical professionals understand the interplay between culture, illness, and healing. His extensive body of work includes seminal books and numerous articles that have become foundational texts in medical anthropology. These writings explore the crucial role of personal and cultural narratives in shaping medical practices and patient care. In recent years, Kleinman has increasingly focused on critiquing the prevailing practices within psychiatry, particularly the over-medicalization of mental health issues and the neglect of broader social and personal contexts that significantly impact patient care. His critiques advocate for a more nuanced and compassionate approach to psychiatry, one that recognizes the importance of individual patient stories and the socio-cultural dimensions of mental health. In this interview, Kleinman explores critical issues facing modern healthcare. He discusses the often-overlooked narrative of patient experiences, critiques the mechanistic approaches that dominate U.S. healthcare, and offers insightful reflections on the global mental health movement. *** Thank you for being with us to listen to the podcast and read our articles this year. MIA is funded entirely by reader donations. If you value MIA, please help us continue to survive and grow. To find the Mad in America podcast on your preferred podcast player, click here

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