Social and Cultural Anthropology

Program overview

This research-oriented MA provides advanced training in sociocultural anthropology with a strong emphasis on ethnographic inquiry. You will engage with both long-standing and contemporary anthropological questions and learn to apply ethnography as a reflective method for investigating specific social and cultural problems. The curriculum foregrounds the diversity of human experience and the global connections that shape it.

A central feature of the degree is the “guided research” component: you design and carry out an independent research project in ongoing dialogue with academic staff and your cohort. Fieldwork—frequently organised in cooperation with partner institutions abroad—typically lasts at least six weeks and can be conducted individually or as part of a group. Field research for each guided project is co-sponsored by the university. Small-group teaching and strong staff–student interaction are complemented by the university’s strengths in African Studies, and the programme’s international student body fosters debates shaped by diverse perspectives on anthropological practice.

Who this is for

The MA is internationally oriented and intended for students who already have BA-level training in anthropology or closely related fields and who want to deepen their skills in ethnographic research and analysis.

Admission and programme requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (BA-level) in anthropology or a related discipline
• Programme language: English
• Willingness and ability to undertake fieldwork, which usually lasts at least six weeks and may take place abroad (individual or group arrangements)
• Capacity to develop and carry out an independent, guided ethnographic research project in close collaboration with faculty and peers (fieldwork co-sponsored by the university)

Curriculum overview

The programme begins with a set of advanced introductory courses taken in the early semesters (Module A). These core classes build a solid theoretical and methodological foundation and explicitly include Social and Cultural Theory, World Anthropologies, and an ethnographic-methods course titled "Doing Ethnography." Following this, students work through Contemporary Themes in Anthropology (Module B), engaging with central, up-to-date concepts in the discipline that directly inform and shape their own research questions.

At the heart of the master’s is the scaffolded research project (Module C). This sequence takes students from project preparation through supervised fieldwork and on to analysis; field research is carried out in the third semester and may be combined with a study-abroad placement. Senior teaching staff provide close supervision, allowing students to pursue individual research topics with expert mentorship. Alongside these elements, Module D offers electives so students can tailor the programme to their interests—this includes the option to take a foreign language (other than English or German).

Program components (requirements)

• Module A: foundational courses — Social and Cultural Theory, World Anthropologies, "Doing Ethnography" (ethnographic methodology)
• Module B: Contemporary Themes in Anthropology — advanced topical courses linked to students’ research
• Module C: research project — staged sequence including preparation, fieldwork (third semester), and analysis; supervised by senior faculty
• Module D: electives — a range of courses to customise the study programme, including the option to learn a foreign language other than English or German
• Fieldwork can be integrated with a study-abroad experience

Key learning outcomes

• Advanced understanding of major theoretical currents in social and cultural anthropology
• Practical competence in ethnographic methods and research design
• Ability to plan, conduct and analyse an independent research project under academic supervision
• Capacity to situate specific research findings within broader contemporary anthropological debates and to communicate results effectively across academic and public audiences

Graduates gain advanced training in ethnographic methods and sociocultural theory, preparing them for research roles and doctoral study in anthropology and related social sciences. The programme's emphasis on independent fieldwork and guided research equips students for academic careers and competitive PhD applications.

Outside academia, graduates are suited for roles in NGOs, international organisations, cultural institutions, development and policy consultancies, education, and research departments of public and private organisations. Practical field experience, methodological skills, intercultural competence and language abilities developed in the programme are valued in applied research, project management and advisory roles internationally.