Department of Anthropology
By studying Anthropology at Sussex, you are joining a vibrant community of faculty and students who are actively concerned with understanding and making a difference in the world.
About the department
Anthropology at the University of Sussex has been at the forefront of the subject for over 60 years. We have an international reputation for engaging with real-life issues and the global challenges facing societies today.
Studying Anthropology
We are known for our expertise in the anthropology of environment and ecology; global capitalism politics and activism; sexual and reproductive health; gender, conflict and violence; and the politics of human rights.
Anthropology at Sussex is consistently ranked high among UK departments. We are 7th in the UK for our research overall in Anthropology in REF 2021 (Times Higher Education), and in the QS World Rankings by subject 2023 we are equal 12th in the UK and in the top 150 in the world for Anthropology. You’ll join one of the largest departments of Anthropology in the UK with specialists in all the main topics in social and cultural anthropology, as well as almost any region of the world from Peru to West Africa, from Malta to India, and from Oman to China.
You’ll be part of a vibrant academic community and will learn from world leading academics who research contemporary global challenges across the world, advise policymakers, and share their latest field insights on the course.
Undergraduate study
Sussex’s flexible approach allows you to tailor your course to your own interests. You can study Anthropology as a single honours’ degree or as part of a joint degree, for example with International Development, International Relations, History or Geography. In a joint degree you spend half your time studying Anthropology, and half your time studying the other subject.
On your Anthropology course, you can choose from a wide range of optional modules to tailor your course to your personal interests. You can also customise your course to build the sort of degree that will give you the knowledge, skills and experience that could take you in any career direction. This can be done through electives and pathways that complement your main subject, or by enriching your single honours degree with a language.
Our flexible curriculum is explicitly designed to facilitate your aspirations and to support the creation of innovative and distinctive learning paths. We offer pathways in a wide range of academic fields from Business to Education, and the Chinese Language to Cognitive Science.
If you’re keen to study Anthropology but lack the qualifications or grades needed for degree study, our Foundation Year will help you bridge the academic gap between school and university and build your confidence too. If you gain the required pass level in the Foundation Year, you will then be able to stay at Sussex for your chosen degree.
Postgraduate study
We offer Masters courses for postgraduate students interested in studying Anthropology further. With an MA in Social Anthropology for example, you’ll learn to understand the experiences of those most affected by complex global challenges. This MA is for you if you want to deepen your knowledge of Anthropology – but it also offers professional training if you’re new to the field. You’ll gain advanced knowledge of Anthropology’s academic tradition and contemporary application. Putting theory into practice with research skills and an independent dissertation, you’ll learn about how Anthropology makes a difference in the world.
For those with professional experience, or considering a career in the development field, the MA in Anthropology for Global Development Practice focuses on theories and practicalities of anthropological engagement, development policy, and activism. Anthropologists approach development at a human scale. You will be able to pursue your own interests with modules on environment, health, poverty, humanitarianism and rights. You will learn from Anthropology experts who are applying their research to real-world scenarios; put theory into practice through hands-on training, analysing case studies and your independent dissertation; connect with our global network of research partnerships, alumni and professionals; and enjoy guest lectures, career events, and the opportunity to do a research placement.
Global careers
Studying Anthropology at Sussex gives you a pathway into numerous different organisations due to its broad scope, but you will also gain a range of skills and knowledge to both find what you want to do in the world and help you get there.
We will equip you to engage with some of the world’s most pressing contemporary issues such as climate change, migration, inequality, and sustainability. You will develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to change the world for the better, whether you choose to become a policymaker, NGO worker, environmental consultant, or wherever you find yourself in your future career.