MA Anthropology Programme

The MA Anthropology programme at University College Cork is an innovative and unique course that provides students with theoretical depth and practical experience in research, along with additional international opportunities.

Course Outline

Anthropology, as a comparative and international discipline, is the most fundamental and encompassing of the Humanities, Arts, and Social Science disciplines. The central premise of our programme is to bring the insights of the anthropological study of culture, society, and politics to bear on contemporary global and local challenges.

Modules

• Part I (Full-time): 60 credits
  • Core modules: 30 credits
    • AY6013: Anthropology: Paradigms & Theories (10 credits)
    • AY6015: Ethnography, Practice and Writing (10 credits)
    • AY6016: Rereading the Anthropological Classics (10 credits)
  • Elective modules: 30 credits
    • AY6017: Atlantic Anthropological Workshop (10 credits)
    • AY6012: Anthropology Research Laboratory (5 credits)
    • AY3002: Dark Heritage: why we remember contested and difficult pasts (5 credits)
    • AY3003: Semiotics and Anthropology (5 credits)
    • AY6018: Anthropology and History: Archives, Materiality and Memory (10 credits)
    • AY6025: Anthropology and Aesthetics of Performance: Ritual and Theatre (10 credits)
    • MU6042: Ethnography of Music (10 credits)
    • MU6043: History and Theory of Ethnomusicology (10 credits)
    • SC6631: Sociology of Sustainable Development (10 credits)
    • SC6639: Feminist Epistemologies: Feminisms, Sexuality and Society (10 credits)
    • SC6642: Social Theory and Climate Justice (10 credits)
    • SC6644: Im/mobilities: forced migration and belonging (10 credits)
    • SC6608: Social and Sociological Theory (10 credits)
    • SC6645: Alcohol and Society: Use, Regulation and Harms (10 credits)
• Part II: 30 credits
  • AY6010: Fieldwork Placement (30 credits)
  • AY6003: Dissertation (30 credits)

Course Practicalities

The MA Anthropology programme employs conventional classroom practice and pedagogy but also transgresses and broadens it through summer and winter schools, and fieldwork placements with partner institutions both nationally and internationally. This affords students the opportunity for firsthand experiences of fieldwork, networking amongst peers at other institutions, and amongst leading scholars from Europe, the USA, and farther afield.

Why Choose This Course

The MA in Anthropology at UCC is well-known for its Atlantic Anthropological Workshop, now going into its 6th edition for 2026. Other universities' faculty and postgraduates participate in this workshop, providing scholars from many countries and institutions a chance to meet, network, and hear from cutting-edge anthropological researchers, ensuring UCC students have a front seat to the latest academic work.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

The fieldwork placement will be designed by the two supervisors in consultation with the student before they depart for fieldwork. Students will go on fieldwork placement for one to three months between the months of April and August. The placement will be monitored by a UCC academic mentor plus a local mentor if the fieldwork is undertaken at a non-European partner university.

Skills and Careers Information

Anthropologists can be universally employed as intercultural competency, socio-cultural reflexivity, and cultural literacy represent key social and educational skills in contemporary societies. Identified career paths include:

• Research
• Education
• Higher Education
• International and national politics
• Journalism
• International Organisations (UN, UNESCO, etc.)
• NGO sector

Requirements

A candidate for this MA programme must normally hold a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent, in Anthropology, or a cognate subject in social/cultural sciences (Sociology, Criminology, Management, Development, Political Science, Languages, Social Sciences, Classics, Comparative Literature, Cultural Studies, Study of Religions) or equivalent international qualification.

Fees and Costs

The EU fee for this course is Full-time: 10,300 Part-time: 6,200. The Non-EU fee for this course is 23,500.

How to Apply

1. Check dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process.
2. Gather documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal.
3. Apply online: Apply online, noting most courses have a non-refundable 50 application fee.

Additional requirements for all applicants include:

• A supporting statement outlining intellectual biography and reasons for pursuing postgraduate studies in Anthropology.
• Prospective applicants may be required to present themselves for an interview.
• Upload your CV.
• Enter the names and email addresses of two referees. At least one referee should be an academic referee.

Bringing together the knowledge & skills of staff at the Marginalized & Endangered Worldviews Study Centre and the Economy & Society Research Centre, the programme is taught through students’ active participation in international summer schools & colloquia, as well as classroom seminars, and with practical fieldwork opportunities in Latin America, India, and several sites throughout Europe including Ireland. We offer our students a unique opportunity to gain intercultural competencies as well as professional and transferable skills. It will appeal to those of you with a strong international and intellectual outlook who seek a deeper understanding of the cultural, political and social challenges of the 21st Century.

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Outline:

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Part I (Full-time) (60 credits)

Students complete core modules to the value of 30 credits and select 30 credits from the elective modules. Our students are strongly encouraged to attend one of the Summer/Winter Schools and can take up to 10 credits from those on offer in a given year.

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Core Modules

• AY6013 Anthropology: Paradigms & Theories (10 credits)
• AY6015 Ethnography, Practice and Writing (10 credits)
• AY6016 Rereading the Anthropological Classics (10 credits)

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Summer School/Winter School Elective Modules

• AY6017 Atlantic Anthropological Workshop (10 credits)
• SC6001 Economy and Society Summer School (5 credits)
• SC6002 Economy and Society Summer School 2 (10 credits)

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Standard Elective Modules

• AY3002 Dark Heritage: Anthropology of Death, War, and Difficult Pasts (5 credits)
• AY3003 Semiotics and Anthropology (5 credits)
• AY6004 Anthropology and Social Control (10 credits)
• AY6014 CyberSocial Futures (10 credits)
• AY6025 Anthropology and Aesthetics of Performance: Ritual and Theatre (10 credits)
• GV6115 European Security (10 credits)
• LW6544 Criminology: Core Theories, Context and Critique (10 credits)
• MU6042 Ethnography of Music (10 credits)
• MU6043 History and Theory of Ethnomusicology (10 credits)
• SC6631 Sociology of Sustainable Development (10 credits)
• SC6636 Social Pathologies of Contemporary Civilisation (10 credits)
• SC6638 Rethinking Borders: Sovereignty, Rights and Justice (10 credits)
• SC6639 Feminist Epistemologies: Feminisms, Sexuality and Society (10 credits)
• SC6642 Social Theory and Climate Justice (10 credits)
• SC6644 Im/mobilities: forced migration and belonging (10 credits)
• SC6645 Alcohol and Society: Use, Regulation and Harms (10 credits)

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Part II (30 credits)

• AY6003 Dissertation (30 credits) or
• AY6010 Fieldwork Placement (30 credits)

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Part-time Option

Students take 90 credits over two parts: 60 credits in Part I and modules to the value of 30 credits in Part II.

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Fieldwork Placement

The Fieldwork Placement takes place in one of our partner universities and will be jointly supervised by a team of two supervisors, one based at UCC and one in the partner university. The supervisor in the partner university will oversee and facilitate the practical aspects of the fieldwork project. Students will be exposed to international perspectives and possibilities facilitated in particular through summer, winter-schools and fieldwork placements. The fieldwork placement will offer a unique opportunity for Irish students to engage in ethnographic practice at a range of institutions in India, Latin America, and Europe, and for international students to conduct ethnographic research in Ireland. The international local and global experience of transcultural learning and communication offers unique academic think-tank and creative spaces which foster global empathy through local engagement.

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Teaching:

The MA Anthropology, on the one hand, employs conventional classroom practice and pedagogy but on the other hand, transgresses and broadens it through our schools, and fieldwork placements with partner institutions globally. Our Summer and Winter Schools, as well as fieldwork placements, offer unique spaces for free and unconventional/alternative thinking and educational practice by means of culturally alienated educational scenarios and contexts.

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Careers:

Anthropologists can be universally employed as intercultural competency, socio-cultural reflexivity and cultural literacy represent key social and educational skills in contemporary societies. Identified career paths are

• Research
• Education
• Higher Education
• International and national politics
• Journalism
• International Organisations (UN, UNESCO etc)
• NGO sector

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Other:

The MA in Anthropology is an innovative and unique programme that fills a large gap in the Irish higher education landscape Such a programme will offer the increasing number of international students with personal lived experience of migration, immigration and globalisation, conflict and war, a vehicle with which to voice their own thoughts and experiences to an academic standard. There is no graduate programme in Ireland and few internationally that address this intersection. The programme will employ conventional classroom pedagogy combined with summer school, winter school and fieldwork placements with partner institutions globally. The already existing summer and winter schools will service not only the students from the MA in Anthropology programme but also students in other Irish Third Level Institutes, and, will also offer a recruitment window for international students. The summer school and winter school plus the fieldwork placement make this a very attractive programme with a unique profile in Ireland. The placement will be designed by the two supervisors in consultation with the student before they depart for fieldwork. Students will go on fieldwork placement for one to two months in Ireland, Europe, or to non-European partner universities between the months of April and August. The placement will be monitored by a UCC academic mentor plus a local mentor if the fieldwork is undertaken at a non-European partner university. Students will be expected to report their experiences at agreed intervals. The fieldwork placement allows you to engage in ethnographic practice at a range of institutions in India, Latin America, and Europe, and for international students to conduct ethnographic research in Ireland. The international local and global experience of transcultural learning and communication offers unique academic think-tank and creative spaces which foster global understanding and empathy through local engagement. Where unsure the Programme Director will consult with the Board of Studies or where conditions are unmet a student may make their case to the Board of Studies. The decision of the Programme Board of Studies is final.

University College Cork

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Overview:

University College Cork (UCC) is a public research university located in Cork, Ireland. It is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland (NUI). UCC offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines.

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Services Offered:

Student Support:

UCC provides a range of support services for students, including academic advising, career counseling, and mental health services.

Library:

The Boole Library offers extensive resources, including books, journals, and online databases.

Campus Life:

UCC offers a vibrant campus life with numerous student clubs, societies, and sports teams.

Accommodation:

UCC provides on-campus accommodation options for students.

International Office:

The International Office supports international students with visa applications, cultural adjustment, and other services.

Adult Continuing Education:

UCC offers a variety of programs for adult learners, including evening classes and online courses.

Continuing Professional Development:

UCC provides professional development opportunities for working professionals.

Micro-credentials:

UCC offers micro-credentials in various fields, allowing students to gain specific skills and knowledge.

Scholarships and Prizes:

UCC offers a range of scholarships and prizes to support students financially.

Transition-In Programme:

UCC provides a transition-in program for students who are new to higher education.

Graduate Attributes:

UCC focuses on developing graduate attributes such as critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills.

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

UCC offers a vibrant campus experience with a strong sense of community. Students can participate in a wide range of activities, including sports, clubs, societies, and events. The campus is located in a beautiful setting, with easy access to the city of Cork.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

World-class Education:

UCC is renowned for its high-quality education and research.

Strong Academic Programs:

UCC offers a wide range of academic programs across various disciplines.

Vibrant Campus Life:

UCC provides a vibrant campus life with numerous opportunities for students to get involved.

Beautiful Location:

UCC is located in a beautiful setting, with easy access to the city of Cork.

International Reputation:

UCC is a globally recognized university with a strong international reputation.

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Academic Programs:

UCC offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including:

• Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
• Business and Law
• Engineering and Science
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Education
• Music

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Other:

• UCC is committed to sustainability and has been recognized as the world's first green campus.
• UCC is a member of the National University of Ireland (NUI).
• UCC has a strong research focus and is home to a number of research centers and institutes.
• UCC is a popular choice for international students, with a large international student population.