Entry Year
Academic Year 2025/26
Entry Requirements
2.1
Overview
Anthropology at Queen's is internationally renowned and a long established and rapidly expanding centre for postgraduate teaching and research training.
Examine human behaviour and relationships under expert research supervision and join a vibrant interdisciplinary postgraduate research community that includes students from all over the world.
Our programme, collaborations with other departments and institutions, and excellent resources mean that whatever your area of interest, there is the anthropological expertise to match. We offer supervision in a wide range of topics, including aspects of social and economic change, borders and migration, conflict transformation and human rights, emotions and the senses, gender, kinship and marriage, environmentalism, tourism, new religions and political movements, ethnomusicology, and performance, art and culture.
A flourishing programme of events, seminars, and research groups complements our postgraduate courses and doctoral supervision.
Our world-class academics provide research students with excellent supervision. Learn more about our expertise and click here to find a PhD supervisor and explore research areas.
About the Programme:
This programme involves substantial original research, normally including ethnographic fieldwork of 12 months and leading to the production of a thesis of up to 80,000 words.
The PhD programme is designed to provide training in the methods of independent research and will provide the student with a professional credential at the highest level. The research normally will be based upon an analysis of original field research materials.
Normally, PhD students during the first year, after about 10 months (or 20 in part-time study) will be examined in the differentiation. In order to progress on the PhD pathway, successful completion of differentiation, and, if required, approval of an Ethical Review application, are conditions for students to proceed to field research for a year (anywhere in the world including the UK). It is expected that students commence the fieldwork from July onwards.
The School will provide training for the fieldwork, a risk assessment will be conducted and students will discuss with their supervisory team about the resources that will be required. Supervisors offer support throughout the year at the field site.
The location of the field is your choice, but this is judged and agreed on the merit of the research at the differentiation. After fieldwork, students return to the University and start writing their thesis under the guidance of their supervisors.
Research Areas:
Our regional interests include Ireland, the British Isles, Europe, Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, Japan, Latin America and Australia. We offer supervision in a wide range of topics, including:
•Aspects of Social and Economic Change
•Borders, Migration and Transnationalism
•Conflict Transformation and Human Rights
•Emotions and The Senses
•Ethnomusicology
•Gender, Kinship and Marriage
•Human/Animal Relations and Environmentalism
•Identity, Ethnicity and Nationalism
•Symbols and Rituals
•Music, Popular Culture and Tourism
•New Religions and Political Movements
•Performance, Art and Material Culture
•Public Policy
Mode of study/duration:
Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the School. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD.
Research Seminars:
Anthropology postgraduate life centres around the weekly Anthropology seminar, and a regular postgraduate seminar, as well as regular events within the School, in the Institute for Cognition and Culture and the Institute of Irish Studies.
Community:
The postgraduate community within the School is lively, energetic and diverse and, contribute enormously to the research culture of the school. It includes many of our own graduates, as well as graduates of British and Irish universities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oxford, and UCD, and international institutions such as Princeton, Georgetown and Minzu University Beijing.
Careers:
We are proud of the students who have graduated with their doctorates. Where possible we stay in touch so that the link and relationships remain long after a student has left the School. View our alumni here.
Recent doctoral graduates in Anthropology have gone on to postdoctoral positions in a range of institutions, including the University of Stirling, University of Oxford, Minzu University, University of Waterloo, Masaryk University, University of Sydney and University College Cork; PhD graduates also find employment with a very wide range of employers, including the Council for International Educational Exchange, Handelsbanken Bank, the Institute for Conflict Research, US News and World Report and the Bangladesh Civil Service.
Subject Summary
The PhD programme is designed to provide training in the methods of independent research and will provide the student with a professional credential at the highest level. The research normally will be based upon an analysis of original field research materials.
Anthropological Studies Highlights
Career Development
- Queen’s is ranked in the top 170 in the world for graduate prospects (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022).
World Class Facilities
- Queen’s was ranked 1st out of 8 UK universities for our Graduate School.
Student Experience
- Anthropology provides each research student with a first and second supervisor and supplies additional training through postgraduate and qualitative research methods seminars.
- Research students discuss and present ongoing work in the weekly postgraduate seminar. They are encouraged to publish an article in an academic journal and present work at national and international conferences.
- Research students can gain teaching experience as tutors in modules taught in the School.
- Overall monitoring and evaluation of progress of research students is carried out by the School Postgraduate Research Committee, which also supports with all issues arising from postgraduate admissions and changes of enrolment.
- Queen’s ranked 18 in the world for international outlook (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023).
- 16% of the Queen’s student population are international students (Queen’s Planning Office, 2023).
Course content
Research Information
Research Success
Our regional interests include Ireland, the British Isles, Europe, Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, Japan, Latin America and Australia. We offer supervision in a wide range of topics, including:
•Anthropology and Philosophy
•Aspects of Social and Economic Change
•Borders, Migration and Transnationalism
•Conflict Transformation and Human Rights
•Emotions and The Senses
•Gender, Kinship and Marriage
•Human/Animal Relations and Environmentalism
•Identity, Ethnicity and Nationalism
•Symbols and Rituals
•Music, Popular Culture and Tourism
•New Religions and Political Movements
•Performance, Art and Material Culture
•Public Policy
Career Prospects
Introduction
Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.
For further information on career development opportunities at PhD level please contact the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Career Development Team on ahssdevoffice@qub.ac.uk / +44 28 9097 5175
Development Officer Aileen Carson will be happy to provide further information on your research area career prospects.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/careers/
People teaching you
View all of our Anthropology Staff profiles here
https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/happ/subject-area/anthropology/people/
Email: happresearch@qub.ac.uk
Course structure
The PhD programme is designed to provide training in the methods of independent research and will provide the student with a professional credential at the highest level. The research normally will be based upon an analysis of original field research materials.
Learning and Teaching
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No Opportunities Currently Available
Entrance requirements
Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics.
International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
Tuition Fees
| Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | TBC |
| Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | TBC |
| England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | TBC |
| EU Other 3 | £20,500 |
| International | £20,500 |
1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.
2 It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. All fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
More information on postgraduate tuition fees.
Anthropological Studies costs
There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.
Additional course costs
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £100 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, and library fines. In undertaking a research project students may incur costs associated with transport and/or materials, and there will also be additional costs for printing and binding the thesis. There may also be individually tailored research project expenses and students should consult directly with the School for further information.
Bench fees
Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place.
How do I fund my study?
1.PhD OpportunitiesFind PhD opportunities and funded studentships by subject area.
2.Funded Doctoral Training ProgrammesWe offer numerous opportunities for funded doctoral study in a world-class research environment. Our centres and partnerships, aim to seek out and nurture outstanding postgraduate research students, and provide targeted training and skills development.
3.PhD loansThe Government offers doctoral loans of up to £26,445 for PhDs and equivalent postgraduate research programmes for English- or Welsh-resident UK and EU students.
4.International ScholarshipsInformation on Postgraduate Research scholarships for international students.
Funding and Scholarships
The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study related expenses.
How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.
Find a supervisor
If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.
To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.
You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.