COURSE CURRICULUM

The Social Anthropology MRes at Brunel University provides comprehensive training in ethnographic research and advanced anthropological methods, preparing students for high-level independent research and potential PhD study. The program is structured around core modules in ethnographic research and dissertation work, where students apply taught methodologies to conduct primary fieldwork using participant observation, interviews, and other ethnographic techniques. The dissertation enables students to critically analyse issues arising from their fieldwork and relate their findings to relevant literature, demonstrating methodological rigor and theoretical insight. Optional modules allow students to tailor their learning to specific interests, including global development, global health, medical anthropology, migration, citizenship and identity, South Asian societies, childhood and youth studies, kinship, sex and gender, war and humanitarian assistance, and the interplay between culture, education, and learning. These modules offer theoretical and ethnographic perspectives on contemporary social, political, and cultural issues, providing students with a nuanced understanding of complex global phenomena. Guided study modules and region-specific courses such as Global South Asia further enhance the flexibility and depth of the program. Overall, the Social Anthropology MRes equips students with practical fieldwork experience, critical analytical skills, and advanced theoretical knowledge, fostering the ability to conduct independent research, engage with diverse anthropological debates, and contribute meaningfully to academic and applied social research contexts.