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Join a network of African Studies researchers and study taught modules with the freedom to pursue your own research proposal. You'll get to explore the areas of African Studies that interest you the most.
Develop the skills for both doctoral study and a future career. You'll broaden your knowledge of Africa and its diasporas through taught modules and complete a major individual research project supervised by a specialist in the field.
The course runs over 12 months full-time on campus. You can also study this programme on a part-time basis.
September - December (11 weeks)
Two-thirds of your degree is your research thesis. You begin planning and submit a proposal for your research thesis during term one.
You’ll also take three taught modules during the first two terms of the MRes.
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At Birmingham, you'll develop your critical and analytical skills, exploring current ideas in African politics, history and anthropology.
You'll identify, investigate and write up your own research topic, using archival, media and online source materials. Our Department of African Studies and Anthropology is interdisciplinary, meaning we offer expert supervision for a wide range of topics and welcome research that goes beyond subject boundaries.
Deepen your knowledge of Africa with the taught modules while exploring your research interests.
Choose two modules from a range of topics in African Studies, Anthropology, History, Politics and Development.
Learn about the latest research in our regular Africa Talks and Anthro Talks seminar series.
Our MRes lets you pursue original research while expanding your knowledge of Africa through a range of taught modules. There are opportunities for you to choose modules from other subject areas such as history, politics or development studies, depending on module availability. The Independent Study option lets you gain independent research experience in a subject of your choice before you start your thesis.
At Birmingham, research and teaching go hand-in-hand. Lecturers and professors continue to research in their field, offering valuable expertise in African studies and anthropology.
An MRes is a programme that helps you develop the skills for doctoral study and a future career. You’ll complete a major individual research project, supervised by a specialist in the field of study, and a taught component that develops research and analytical skills.
The programme comprises 60 credits of taught modules and a research thesis. Modules run for one term, and you’ll take three modules during the MRes alongside your research thesis.
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
The following must be taken:
Module title | Credits |
---|---|
Research Methods in Anthropology and African Studies | 20 |
Choose 40 credits of optional modules:
Module title | Credits |
---|---|
Advanced Perspectives on Africa | 20 |
African Fiction and its Critics | 20 |
Contemporary Gender Issues in Africa | 20 |
African Oralities in the Digital Age | 20 |
Islam and Muslim societies in Africa | 20 |
Letting them Speak: Ethnographies of marginalisation | 20 |
Modern Ghana | 20 |
The Social Life of the Economy | 20 |
Urban Africa | 20 |
Zimbabwe since the Cold War: Decolonisation, Liberation and the International Community | 20 |
Livelihoods and Development in Africa | 20 |
Media and Popular Culture in Africa | 20 |
West Africa and the Atlantic Slave Trade | 20 |
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
in a relevant subject
You should have, or expect to get, a 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant area.
Relevant equivalent study or professional experience can also be considered for entry.
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.
Full-time
Part-time
We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.
The fees quoted are for one year only. For those studying courses that are longer than one year, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.
Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.
Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.
To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.
Application deadline for UK and non visa requiring applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
Please refer to our six-step process on applying for PhD, MA by Research and MRes opportunities for Arts subject areas, which includes detailed advice on research proposals and how to write them.
We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
By studying a postgraduate degree in African Studies and Anthropology at Birmingham, you’ll develop transferable skills suited to a range of career paths. These skills include verbal and written communication skills, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work independently.
Our African Studies and Anthropology graduates enter many roles, including:
Employers our African Studies and Anthropology graduates have worked for include:
The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits [The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers report].
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.