Anthropology

Pursue your passion for cross-cultural understanding around the world with a Master of Anthropology.

And there's no better place for it than ANU. We are one of the world's leading centres for anthropological teaching and research, with more than 35 anthropologists working in the University.

Your master's degree will draw on their world-renowned expertise in the anthropology of Australia, the Pacific and Asia, covering diverse topics in the areas of cultural, social medical, development and many other fields of anthropology.

Employment Opportunities

A Master of Anthropology will advance your career working in cultural institutions, the public service, non-government organisations, academia, or any professional area requiring an understanding of anthropology.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the skills and knowledge to:

1. Use anthropological theory in relation to diverse social and cultural phenomena;
2. Locate anthropological theories within the history of anthropological thought;
3. Recognise and analyse cultural difference;
4. Identify and analyse diversity among people and societies in terms of every day experience; and
5. Select from a range of anthropological methods those most suitable to a particular research problem.

The Master of Anthropology requires completion of 96 units, which must include:

24 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:

ANTH8034 Advanced Issues in Anthropology

ANTH8035 Topics in the History of Anthropology

48 units from the completion of courses on the following list:

ANTH6004 Religion, Ritual and Cosmology

ANTH6005 Indigenous Australian Societies and Culture

ANTH6006 Anthropology of New Guinea and Melanesia

ANTH6009 Culture and Development

ANTH6010 Anthropology of Art

ANTH6017 Indigenous Australians and Australian Society Today

ANTH6025 Gender and Cross-Cultural Perspective

ANTH6026 Medical Anthropology

ANTH6056 Belonging, Identity and Nationalism

ANTH6057 Culture and Person

ANTH6064 Anthropology of Environmental Disasters

ANTH6514 Anthropology of Media

ANTH6515 Crossing Borders: Diasporas and Transnationalism

ANTH6516 Violence and Terror

ANTH6518 Food for Thought: Anthropological theories of food and eating

ANTH6519 Social Animals: anthropological perspectives on animal-human relationships

ANTH8001 Graduate Reading Course (Anthropology)

ANTH8007 Key Concepts in Anthropology of Development

ANTH8008 Social Impact Studies in Project Cycle

ANTH8009 Development in Practice

ANTH8014 Mining Projects and Indigenous Peoples

ANTH8019 Practical Studies in Social Analysis

ANTH8029 Introduction to Australian Indigenous Policy

ANTH8030 Critically Assessing Contemporary Development Practice

ANTH8032 Law, Order and Conflict in the Pacific

ANTH8034 Advanced Issues in Anthropology

ANTH8035 Topics in the History of Anthropology

ANTH8038 Critical Issues in Gender and Development

ANTH8041 Photography in Social Context

ANTH8042 Migration, Refugees and Development

ANTH8055 Key issues in native title anthropology

ANTH8056 Introduction to Humanitarian Action

CHMD8006 Global Health and Development

24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

A Bachelor degree or international equivalent with an average mark of at least 65%.

All applicants must meet the University's English Language Admission Requirements for Students

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 24 units (one semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 48 units (one year) of credit.

Cognate disciplines

Development Studies, History, Human Ecology, Human Geography, Indigenous Studies, International Relations, Linguistics, Literary Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology.

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to current and future students to assist with the cost of their studies. The University is committed to enabling all students, regardless of their background, to achieve their best at ANU and realise their potential. 

Eligibility for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.