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In anthropology, you consider what it means to be human by exploring culture, history, arts, biology and evolution. Our comprehensive programme gives you a new perspective on the human world, providing a depth of insight into social and cultural difference and giving you an understanding of the history and behaviour of your species – invaluable to any employer.
Overview
The School of Anthropology and Conservation uses a stimulating mix of teaching methods, including lectures, small seminar groups, field visits and laboratory sessions. You are taught by research academics at the forefront of their fields while our excellent student-to-staff ratio ensures a high level of academic support.
We are one of the largest and long established group of anthropologists in the UK. Our expertise spans the full breadth of the discipline and includes an innovative group of primatologists, a team who excel in paleoanthropology and a centre for human ecology pushing the boundaries of environmental change research.
Our degree programme
In your first year, you are introduced to anthropology, its foundations and its leading thinkers. Optional modules allow you to expand on areas of particular interest, which may include Violence and Conflict, Animals, People and Plants, or Human Physiology and Disease. You can also benefit from practical learning through lab-based sessions and a number of visits away from campus.
In your second and final years, you take compulsory modules that further your understanding of the key areas of biological and social anthropology, such as Power and Economy; Religion and Cosmological Imagination; and Biology and Human Identity.
You also enjoy a wide and varied choice of modules enabling you to expand your perspective or develop a specialism. You can study the anthropology of gender, business, health or creativity; take modules in visual anthropology or discover more about primate communication. In your final year, you undertake a research project in anthropological science, choosing your topic with your project supervisor.
You will benefit from the intellectual breadth of our programme, and the high degree of flexibility in shaping it to your interests as they grow and develop. Whether your background is in arts, humanities or sciences, you will find our BSc in Anthropology an exciting, stimulating and rewarding opportunity.
Field trips
A number of our modules include opportunities for learning and experiences outside of the classroom through field trips in the UK and abroad. Potential excursions are:
- Paris, the Musee du Quai Branly and Musee de L'Homme
- Howletts Wild Animal Park
- St Leonard's Ossuary
- London Chinese temple
- Impact Hub Westminster
- London financial district
- Canterbury Cathedral and Canterbury Tales Experience.
These may change from year to year and may incur additional costs. See the funding tab for more information.
Year abroad
A year abroad allows an immersive experience of living and studying in a different culture. Typically you spend a year studying at one of our partner institutions in Japan or Europe between the second and final years. You don’t have to make a decision before you enrol at Kent, but certain conditions apply.
Year in professional practice
If you want to stand out from other graduates in today's global job market, spending time in the work place as part of your degree is invaluable. It demonstrates your ability to adapt to new situations, your sensitivity to other cultures (intercultural competence) and your desire to stretch yourself.
You can extend your degree into a four-year programme by adding a work placement between the second and final years. You don’t have to make a decision before you enrol at Kent, but certain conditions apply.
Study resources
The School of Anthropology and Conservation has excellent teaching resources including dedicated computing facilities. Other resources include:
- climate controlled human osteology lab housing an exceptional collection of Anglo-Saxon and medieval skeletons (>1000) and related radiographs
- a visual anthropology room
- an ethnobiology lab for studying human-related plant material
- a dedicated teaching laboratory with first-rate equipment
- an excellent fossil cast collection with hundreds of casts, including multiple entire skeletons of extant and extinct primates and hominins
- 3D imaging paleoanthropology lab with state-of-the-art equipment and expert academic support
- refurbished computer suite with 32 PCs with HD screens
- an integrated audio-visual system to help provide stimulating lectures
- student social spaces
Extra activities
The Anthropology Society is run by Kent students and is a good way to meet other students on your course in an informal way. There are also many national societies, which are a great way to meet people from around the world and discover more about their countries and cultures.
The School of Anthropology and Conservation puts on many events that you are welcome to attend. We host two public lectures a year, the Stirling Lecture and the DICE Lecture, which bring current ideas in anthropology and conservation to a wider audience. We are delighted that these events attract leading anthropological figures from around the world; in 2017 we hosted paleoanthropologist Professor Lee Berger, one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people.
Each term, there are also seminars and workshops discussing current research in anthropology, conservation and human ecology.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2016, Anthropology at Kent was ranked 7th for overall satisfaction. Anthropology at Kent was ranked 9th for teaching quality in The Times Good University Guide 2017.
Anthropology and Conservation students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE). Anthropology at Kent was ranked 14th in The Complete University Guide 2018.
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Teaching and assessment
In our most recent national Teaching Excellence Framework, teaching at Kent was judged to be Gold rated. Based on the evidence available, the TEF Panel judged that the University of Kent delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality found in the UK.
Our teaching is research-led as all our staff are active in their fields. Social and biological anthropology staff have been awarded national teaching awards, reflecting the quality of the undergraduate programmes.
Anthropology at Kent uses a stimulating mix of teaching methods, including lectures, small seminar groups, field trips and laboratory sessions. For project work, you are assigned to a supervisor with whom you meet regularly. You also have access to a wide range of learning resources, including the Templeman Library, research laboratories and computer-based learning packages.
Many of the core modules have an end-of-year examination which counts for 50% to 100% of your final mark for that module. The remaining percentage comes from practical or coursework marks. However, others, such as the Project in Anthropological Science are assessed entirely on coursework. Both Stage 2 and 3 marks and, where appropriate, the marks from your year abroad, count towards your final degree result.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- develop critical, analytical problem-based learning skills
- provide students with the skills to adapt and respond positively to changes in the discipline
- acquaint students with theoretical and methodological issues relevant to understanding anthropology
- demonstrate the relevance of anthropological knowledge to an understanding of local, national and international biological and social phenomena arising from the changing nature of human organisation in the distant past and in the contemporary world
- provide a broad range of knowledge in the discipline of anthropology, stressing the need for a biological approach, and showing how it is closely linked to other academic disciplines
- provide a grounding in human and primate biological variation and demonstrate the links between biological and sociocultural processes
- ensure that the research of staff informs the design of modules, their content and delivery in a manner that is efficient, reliable, and enjoyable to students
- prepare graduates for employment and/or further study in their chosen careers through developing students’ transferable skills.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You will develop knowledge and understanding of:
- the principles relevant to the study of human biology, evolution and sociality
- human diversity and an appreciation of its scope
- the fossil evidence of human evolution
- the similarities and differences between humans and other primates
- biological perspectives on human ecology
- the ethical implications of human biological diversity
- the principles of Mendelian and population genetics, as well as molecular biology
- the relevance of anthropology to understanding everyday processes of social life
- social anthropology as the comparative study of human societies
- specific themes in social anthropology such as religion, politics, kinship and religion
- several ethnographic regions of the world.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- general learning and study skills
- critical and analytical skills
- the ability to express ideas orally and in writing
- communication and IT skills
- statistical analysis
- practical skills specific to the scientific study of anthropology
- hypothesis testing.
Subject-specific skills
You gain specific skills in the following:
- the ability to describe and analyse aspects of biological diversity
- to identify the relationship between environmental and cultural influences in human ecology
- the ability to engage in intelligent debate on the process of human evolution
- to design and carry out a research project in the field of scientific anthropology
- an understanding of the processes involved in the development of human variation, including a working knowledge of the principles of classical genetics and molecular biology
- a general knowledge of human biology, and an appreciation of how biological processes interact with behaviour and culture in humans
- the ability to compare and contrast the morphology and behaviour of humans to that of other animals, specifically primates
- the ability to understand how people are shaped by their social, cultural and physical environments
- to perceive the way in which cultural assumptions may affect the opinions of oneself and others
- to be able to make rational sense of cultural and social phenomena, which may appear at first sight incomprehensible.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- the ability to make a structured argument
- to make appropriate reference to scholarly data
- time-management
- familiarity working with equipment in a scientific laboratory
- knowledge of IT
- oral presentations and other methods of communication including poster and PowerPoint presentations
- working in a team.
Careers
Studying anthropology gives you an exciting range of career opportunities. We work with you to help direct your module choices to the career paths you are considering. Through your studies you learn how to work independently, analyse complex data and present your work with clarity and flair.
Graduate destinations
A wide range of career paths are open to anthropology graduates. Recent graduates have found work in:
- education
- social work
- town and country planning
- advertising
- journalism
- film production
- research for radio and TV
- overseas development
- relief agencies
- international consultancy firms
- the civil service.
Help finding a job
The University’s friendly Careers and Employability Service offers advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
Career-enhancing skills
As an anthropology student, you develop expertise in understanding, interpreting and responding to human behaviour. Alongside such specialist skills, you also develop the transferable skills graduate employers look for, including the ability to:
- think critically
- communicate your ideas and opinions
- work independently and as part of a team.
You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
Independent rankings
Anthropology and Conservation students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
Anthropology at Kent was ranked 5th for graduate prospects in The Guardian University Guide 2017.
According to Which? University (2017), the average starting salary for graduates of this degree is £17,300.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| GCSE | Mathematics grade C, single or double science grade B. |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need 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) | The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL including 4 in mathematics at HL or SL (Mathematics Studies 5 at SL) plus science 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
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. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 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.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
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.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
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. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.