Is the MA Anthropology a UX research qualification?

Not exclusively — the MA Anthropology is a social-anthropology master's with strong applied-anthropology content. UX research is one of the applied strands; the qualification also supports academic, heritage, development and policy careers. UX-focused students should also build a portfolio of project work alongside the MA.

Does the MA Anthropology include real fieldwork?

Yes. The fieldwork project requires students to design, conduct and analyse a short ethnographic study under supervision. Topics and locations are agreed with tutors and reviewed for ethics. Distance learners complete fieldwork in their own location with remote tutor supervision.

Can the MA Anthropology be studied online or part-time?

Yes. The MA Anthropology can be taken over 24 months part-time or fully online. Online students join the same seminars by video, complete the same fieldwork project, and write the same dissertation under remote supervision.

Will the MA Anthropology prepare me for a PhD?

Yes. The dissertation, methods and theoretical-grounding modules are designed to prepare strong candidates for doctoral study. Students considering a PhD work with their dissertation supervisor on PhD applications during the final term of the MA Anthropology.

Is the MA Anthropology useful for international development careers?

Yes. The course's ethnographic methods, decolonising scholarship and applied-anthropology strand are directly relevant to INGO research and programme-design roles. Several recent graduates have moved into international development roles after the MA Anthropology.

MA Anthropology in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Anthropology at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree in social anthropology for graduates and working professionals who want to apply ethnographic methods rigorously across academic, commercial, public and third-sector contexts. You will study contemporary anthropological theory, learn ethnographic and mixed methods at master's level, and produce a 12,000-to-15,000 word dissertation grounded in original fieldwork.

The MA Anthropology is built around the assumption that anthropology is a working discipline — its methods are used by UX researchers, heritage curators, development analysts and journalists as much as by university academics. The course covers both the academic tradition and the applied contexts where ethnographic literacy is increasingly in demand.

Key Features

UK-recognised master's degree aligned with Royal Anthropological Institute and Association of Social Anthropologists frameworks.
Core social anthropology grounding — kinship, ritual, exchange, identity, current critical and decolonial scholarship.
Ethnographic methods at master's level — participant observation, qualitative interviewing, fieldnotes, analytic writing.
Applied anthropology strand — UX research, heritage, development, public-policy applications.
Fieldwork project with ethics review and supervision.
12,000–15,000 word dissertation on an anthropological topic of your choice.

What You Will Learn

The MA Anthropology is structured around the working competencies of an applied or academic anthropologist — theoretical literacy, ethnographic method at master's level, ethical practice and clear analytical writing. You leave able to design and run ethnographic research, analyse and write up findings, and locate your work in current scholarship.

Contemporary social anthropology — kinship, ritual, exchange, identity, current debates.
Decolonising anthropology — current critical scholarship, reflexivity, positionality.
Ethnographic methods — participant observation, qualitative interviewing, fieldnote writing.
Mixed methods — combining ethnographic and quantitative approaches.
Applied anthropology — UX research, heritage practice, development, public policy.
Research ethics — informed consent, anonymisation, working with vulnerable communities.
Visual and digital ethnography — methods for online and visual research.
Analytical writing for academic and applied audiences.

Who This MA Is For

Graduates in anthropology, sociology, geography or related fields progressing to master's level.
Working professionals in UX research, heritage, development or policy adding rigorous ethnographic literacy.
Journalists, editors and writers wanting research-grade ethnographic competence.
Career-changers planning applied anthropological work in public, private or third sectors.

Career Pathways

MA Anthropology graduates move into academic, applied research and policy-adjacent roles. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Social Anthropologist (university research, post-PhD)
Ethnographer (UX research team, design consultancy)
UX Researcher (technology, design, gaming)
Heritage Officer (museum, heritage organisation)
International Development Researcher (INGO, donor agency, think tank)
Applied Researcher (consultancy, public-sector body)

The MA Anthropology supports doctoral study, applied research careers or senior practitioner roles.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.