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What do we mean by ‘culture’ and why are its many forms so hotly contested? Why is it so important to our sense of identity and belonging? Cultural Studies at Kent is an innovative subject with distinctive perspectives on all forms of present day culture. We explore connections between popular culture, the arts and everyday life by crossing social sciences/humanities boundaries.
Overview
Analysing culture
You cannot be part of contemporary society without being affected by the stream of ads and images of all kinds, in various media. We are all caught up the network of communications, whether in face-to-face encounters, on Facebook or by way of email. All this is both 'modern' and 'cultural' and it is something we all do, cope with, and make sense of. Cultural Studies addresses culture in more theoretical, analytical and critical ways seeing it in a broader context and evaluating its impact on the way we experience our lives and organise and govern our societies.
Social Anthropology
Anthropology addresses the big question – what makes us human?
Within the Social Anthropology element of your degree, you will study how and why we do the things we do, for example, how we work, use technologies, and negotiate conflicts, relationships and change.
The programme reflects staff research interests, which include: political struggle and resistance, post-conflict reconstruction, mental illness, environmental politics, rural social transformation, science and technology, public anthropology and advocacy.
An anthropology degree gives you a thorough understanding of the history and behaviour of our species and a different perspective on the world. Our anthropology department offers an integration between social and biological anthropology, an excellent student-to-staff ratio and state-of-the-art computing facilities.
Think Kent video series
In this lecture, Professor Julia Twigg, Professor of Social Policy and Sociology at the University of Kent, explores how clothing and dress are highly relevant to the analysis of age, and how they intersect with some central issues in relation to later life and its cultural formation, opening up the complex ways in which ageing is both a bodily and a cultural phenomenon.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, Sociology* was ranked 10th in the UK for student satisfaction while Anthropology was ranked 6th.
*BA Cultural Studies is included in Sociology for the purposes of the National Student Survey.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Teaching and assessment
Cultural Studies
We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, case study analysis, group projects and presentations, and individual and group tutorials. Many module convenors also offer additional ‘clinic’ hours to help with the preparation of coursework and for exams.
Social Anthropology
Teaching is through seminars and lectures and, where appropriate, lab and field work. Assessment varies from 100% coursework to a combination of examinations and coursework.
For assessment details for individual modules click the 'read more' link within each module listed in the course structure.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide students with a broad range of knowledge in the major sub-divisions of anthropology, showing how it is closely linked to other academic disciplines
- acquaint students with theoretical and methodological issues relevant to understanding the discipline
- demonstrate to students the relevance of anthropological knowledge to an understanding of a variety of local, national and international issues
- facilitate the educational experience of students through the provision of appropriate pedagogical opportunities for learning
- develop students’ transferable skills and prepare graduates for employment and/or further study in their chosen careers
- ensure that the research of the School staff informs the design of modules, and their content and delivery in ways which are conducive to achieving the national benchmarks of the discipline in a manner which is efficient and reliable, and enjoyable to students.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- social anthropology as the comparative study of human societies
- specific themes in social anthropology, for example, religion, politics, kinship, nationalism and ethnicity
- human diversity and an appreciation of its scope
- several ethnographic regions of the world including Central Asia, the Mediterranean, Amazonia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific
- the history of the development of anthropology as a discipline
- the variety of theoretical approaches contained within the discipline
- the process of historical and social change
- the application of anthropology to understanding issues of social and economic development throughout the world
- the relevance of anthropology to understanding everyday processes of social life anywhere in the world.
Intellectual skills
You develop the following intellectual skills:
- general learning and study skills
- the ability to think critically and analytically
- the ability to express ideas in writing and orally
- communication
- group work
- computing
- the ability to review and summarise information
- data retrieval ability.
Subject-specific skills
You gain the following subject-specific skills:
- understanding how people are shaped by their social, cultural and physical environments while nonetheless possessing a capacity for individual agency which can allow them to transcend environmental constraints
- the recognition of the pertinence of an anthropological perspective to understanding major national and international events
- the ability to interpret texts and performance by locating them within appropriate cultural and historical contexts
- competence in using anthropological theories and perspectives in the presentation of information and argument
- the ability to identify and analyse the significance of the social and cultural contexts of language use
- the ability to devise questions for research and study which are anthropologically informed
- the ability to perceive the way in which cultural assumptions may affect the opinions of others and oneself.
- an openness to trying to make rational sense of cultural and social phenomena which may appear at first sight incomprehensible.
Transferable skills
You gain the following transferable skills:
- communication: organising and summarising information; responding critically to written information; making a structured argument in written and oral form
- Problem-solving: identifying problems; formulating ways of problem-solving; evaluating alternative solutions
- Improving own learning: management of time available; awareness of strengths and weaknesses; development of personal learning strategies; ability to conduct independent research
- Information technology: accessing information on the internet; producing documents; using databases; using technology for oral presentations and online portfolio development
- Group work: participation in joint learning and communication; sharing ideas and skills; understanding group dynamics.
Careers
Cultural Studies
Cultural Studies provides a useful background for a wide range of careers. The skills you acquire, such as improved communication skills, the ability to work as part of a team and independently, the ability to analyse complex ideas and the confidence to offer your own innovative solutions, are all considered essential attributes by graduate employers. The programmes are especially good preparation for professional or postgraduate training in the media and cultural industries.
Our graduates take up careers in advertising and design, journalism, broadcasting, teaching, arts administration, publishing, public relations, research, information services, leisure industry management, tourism and heritage, personnel, local government, and the organisation of social and community projects.
Social Anthropology
Anthropology graduates develop expertise in understanding, interpreting and responding to human behaviour and enter a wide range of fields. We ensure that our conservation students gain practical and theoretical knowledge so that they are well-placed to take advantage of this expanding area for employment. Through your studies, you learn how to analyse complex data and work independently, skills valued by employers.
Recent graduates have gone into areas such as overseas development and aid work, further research in social anthropology, social sciences research, media research or production (TV and radio), journalism, advertising, social work, education, international consultancy and work with community groups.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | BTEC National Diploma: Distinction, Distinction, Merit. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.