PhD in Social Anthropology

Class Profile

Class Size

25

Average Age

27

Average Work Experience

2 Years

Diversity

North America:

5%

Africa:

2%

Others:

6%

UK:

60%

Asia:

10%

South America:

2%

EU:

15%

Career Outcomes

Median Earnings After Graduation

$1,10,000 / year

Graduation Rate

81%

Job Placement

91%

Top recruiters

American Historical Association

American Association for State and Local History

Wellcome Trust

British Museum

National Trust for Historic Preservation

American Museum of Natural History

UNESCO

Oxfam

Save the Children

The National Trust

University College London

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

$27,600 / year

Overall Cost

$42,600 / year

FAQs

• How do I apply?
  
  Select your programme and preferred start date Submit your application online with all required documents by the application deadline (for September 2025 entry, the deadline is 30 June 2025)
• What training and support are available?
  
  Research training seminars and workshops Doctoral Seminar in Social Anthropology (weekly during semester) Access to the School’s Research Training Centre and the Institute for Academic Development for methodological and career development training Dedicated study facilities and access to extensive library and archive resources.
• What is the structure of the programme?
  
  Year 1: Probationary year, with required attendance at doctoral seminars and completion of a full research proposal (“Upgrade Paper”) for progression. Fieldwork: Usually undertaken after the first year, following successful upgrade. Post-fieldwork: Participation in “Work in Progress” seminars and continued writing under supervisor guidance.
• What are the main research areas?
  
  Research themes include, but are not limited to: Political violence, law, and peace Migration and displacement Arts, media, and cultural heritage Health, diagnostics, and wellbeing Infrastructures, social justice, and sustainability Kinship, gender, generations, and inheritance Religion and public life
• What are the study modes and duration?
  
  Full-time: 3 years Part-time: 6 years
• What is the PhD in Social Anthropology at Edinburgh?
  
  The PhD in Social Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh is a research degree designed to make an original contribution to the field through an extended piece of research, typically involving long-term ethnographic fieldwork. The programme is internationally recognized and is one of the largest and most diverse in the UK, with research spanning a wide range of contemporary global issues