Anthropology and Sociology

Anthropology and sociology are kindred disciplines that examine human social life from complementary angles. Social anthropology traditionally focuses on small-scale societies and the comparative study of cultures, using fieldwork and participant observation to understand kinship, religion, economy, and ritual in their own terms. Sociology has tended to focus on larger-scale social structures and institutions in modern societies, examining class, race, gender, and the workings of states, markets, and media through theory and empirical research.

Studying them together gives you the full breadth of the social sciences' approach to understanding what it means to be human and how societies organise themselves.

At the University of Aberdeen, this four-year full-time degree provides a thorough grounding in both disciplines, developing a sociological imagination alongside a deep understanding of human cultural diversity. You will explore how society shapes us as individuals, how we construct meaning in our lives, and how we can understand the relationships and challenges that define contemporary experience. A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the opportunity to study at an international partner institution, which adds a directly comparative and international dimension to your social scientific education.

Aberdeen has a strong tradition in both anthropology and sociology, and the degree benefits from faculty with research expertise across a wide range of cultural and social settings.

Graduates from Anthropology and Sociology programmes bring distinctive analytical skills and cultural understanding to a wide range of careers. International development, humanitarian work, policy research, community development, social work, education, journalism, and NGO management are all common destinations. The combination of ethnographic sensitivity and sociological analysis is particularly valued in organisations working across cultural boundaries.

Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in anthropology, sociology, development studies, or social policy. The typical entry tariff is 168 points.