BA Anthropology (XD49)

2025 entry

Course summary

Our BA Anthropology course offers a unique opportunity to explore the social, material, linguistic and biological aspects of human experience.

Our programme provides the key skills and knowledge required to apply anthropological theory and research techniques to address the major contemporary challenges facing humanity, for example, the impacts of climate change, technological innovation and deepening health inequalities.

You will receive training in both qualitative and quantitative anthropological methodologies and in descriptive, analytic, interpretative and visual techniques. This will prepare you to undertake fieldwork in communities in Bristol and further afield.

Original research inspires all our teaching and your degree culminates with you producing a substantial final-year dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Whether you are interested in the study of humankind present or past, from Amazonia to Avon, you will be able to explore the topics that inspire you and fire your imagination.

Course structure

In your first year, you will take a series of units introducing you to the fundamental ideas and principles of social, linguistic and biological anthropology and material culture.

Your second and third years allow greater specialisation in key skills, regional foci and current debates in anthropology. You will develop transferable skills in a broad range of research methods and theoretical frameworks employed by anthropologists seeking to inform policy and practice today. The final year dissertation research project provides you with an opportunity to put theory into practice, making a contribution to the discipline, and also to wider society.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

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Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

AAB
DDD in any Applied General BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma

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34 points overall with 17 at Higher Level
31 points overall with 15 at Higher Level

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80% overall
Advanced Higher: AB and Standard Higher AAABB
Access to HE Diploma in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law or History (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include 24 credits at Distinction and 21 at Merit or above.

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Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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