Anthropology, Art and Perception (MRes) 2025 entry

The MRes in Anthropology, Art and Perception provides a unique training framework for postgraduate researchers in the anthropology of human creativity, art, material culture and visual expression. We encourage applications from those coming from art practice, science and or social science backgrounds.

The programme takes perception and sensory experience as its starting point and draws on theories and methods that extend across the disciplinary boundaries between audiovisual art and anthropology. You will be encouraged to expand your understanding of anthropological theory and methodology beyond the written text, exploring multiple modes of sensing, analysing, evoking and representing human social and cultural phenomena. 

Start date
September 2025
End date
September 2026
Duration
One year full time
School
School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies

Application deadline

Thursday 7 August 2025

Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships.

“The course taught us how to conduct research in an embodied way, asking us to think deeply about the role of our senses when collecting data in the field and to become attuned to varied ways in which people perceive and experience their world. As I was interested in creatively telling the stories of disadvantaged groups, it felt imperative that I made work with people not about them.”
dark haired female
Ashley
- Glasgow, Scotland

Entry requirements

The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.

Application requirements

  • CV 
  • personal statement
  • sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words) 
  • two original signed academic references 
  • academic transcripts and degree certificates

For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.

English language proficiency

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.

Course details

The MRes in Anthropology, Art and Perception is led by the Department of Social Anthropology within the School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies. 

Highlights

  • The course benefits from small class sizes and an interdisciplinary approach.
  • The course includes a project-based module that allows you to experiment with audio-visual and other creative anthropological research methods.
  • Students have the option to write a library-based dissertation or a dissertation with a practical component.

The programme takes art as its starting point and draws on themes extending across the subject boundaries between art and anthropology. These themes include:

  • the senses and perception in anthropology
  • the role of community and cooperation in practice-based research
  • experimental methodologies, audio and audio-visual practices
  • representation
  • a practical sensory project
  • commonalities between anthropological fieldwork and contemporary arts practice

The MRes provides an excellent grounding in contemporary research themes and innovative research methods for students aiming to do a PhD in anthropology, visual culture, design anthropology, and related subjects. It also provides important training for students interested in a career in the heritage sector, development, the creative industries, workplace management and design.

Modules

The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.

Each module typically comprises:

  • 22 contact hours for lectures and seminars, plus additional practical time
  • 100% coursework assessment
  • Anthropology, Art and Perception 1: centres on the role of the sensory in visual and material culture covering haptic, visual, sonic and gustatory themes in anthropology, and addresses the role of aesthetics from ethnographic and anthropological perspectives.
  • Anthropology, Art and Perception 2: explores anthropology's potential for contributing to and critiquing image production in film, art and photography, and develops new sensory approaches to observation and engagement.

Students can choose to complete a 15,000-word research dissertation or a 7,500-word dissertation with a practical and or multi-modal element. Student dissertations will be supervised by a member of teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation must be submitted by a specified date in August.

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MRes, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MRes.

Teaching

Over two semesters, students take four compulsory modules. Teaching methods include:

  • formal lectures combined with seminar-style teaching
  • one-off practical workshops
  • preparing and mounting an exhibition of project-based work
  • small group lectures

Over the course of the year, with particular focus during the summer months, you will devise a research project culminating in either a 15,000-word dissertation or 7,500-word dissertation with a practical element.

Modules are assessed through coursework which includes essays and independent research-led assignments.

Every taught postgraduate student is assigned an individual supervisor from among the Social Anthropology staff who will work with them closely to develop a topic and direction for the dissertation.

The Department of Social Anthropology provides postgraduates with access to a museum collection of ethnographic material and a common room that includes a general anthropological library, providing a space that is shared by both staff and postgraduates. The departmental libraries, together with the main University library which holds a fine anthropology collection, include resources covering nearly all regions of the world.

Events

The Scottish Training in Anthropological Research (STAR) consortium brings together social anthropologists from the universities of St Andrews, Aberdeen and Edinburgh to support innovation in research and teaching.

In addition to co-hosting international conferences and workshops, the consortium runs two free week-long residential training courses each year in anthropology for postgraduate students and early career researchers. The first course is for students at the pre-fieldwork level and the second is for those at an advanced stage of research writing.

Fees

Home
£12,030

Overseas
£25,900

Application fee

Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.

15% Recent Graduate Discount

If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.

Taught postgraduate scholarships    Postgraduate loans

After your degree

Careers

Graduates in social anthropology from St Andrews will gain key practical skills in analysing social and cultural dynamics and how they shape relations, attitudes and experiences. They will learn how to communicate cross-culturally and to examine problems reflexively and holistically, revealing and questioning taken-for-granted assumptions.

These skills are transferable to many different careers, and are particularly sought after in development, the non-profit sector, the civil service, human resources, museums and curation, environmental conservation, business, and education.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.

Further study

Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere. The department of Social Anthropology supports PhD supervision across a diverse range of theoretical interests and topics. 

Postgraduate research

Contact us

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 2977
Email
pgpafs@st-andrews.ac.uk
Address
Department of Social Anthropology
71 North Street
St Andrews
KY16 9AL

Department of Social Anthropology website