MRes Visual Anthropology

The MRes Visual Anthropology offers advanced-level training to students who normally already have an undergraduate degree or an MA. Alternative practical experiences will be considered and assessed on a case-to-case basis. The programme offers training to students who intend to undertake a doctorate in Anthropology and/or it presents a research degree in and of itself.

• Students applying for the MRes in Visual Anthropology need to hold a BA or an MA and need to provide a written research proposal the department can assess. However, alternative practical experiences will be considered on a case-to-case basis
• The MRes Visual Anthropology is the only programme of its kind in the UK and has a worldwide reputation
• It is a taught degree that provides training through classes and close supervision which will enable you to develop your own research proposal and complete training modules that will support your intended project
• The MRes Visual Anthropology provides you with in depth and a wide range of training in social science research methods, and in-depth training in anthropological methods and issues around anthropological research, including ethics and practicalities of undertaking fieldwork and has a visual theory component that enable students to critically engage with visual-based research methods
• The MRes Visual Anthropology is a stand-alone degree, and some students chose it as a basis to develop professional research skills. However, most of our MRes students use this is a training year for the MPhil/PhD in Visual Anthropology programme in order to sharpen their proposal and to acquire necessary critical skills, as well as acquainting themselves with relevant bodies of scholarship as part of writing the dissertation
• The taught elements of the program include modules on research design; ethnographic methods, and visual theory/methods and opportunities to audit a wide range of courses in the department, including modules on Visual Anthropology and practice, as well as modules engaging with visual cultures the university provides and available across the University of London
• Many students use this year to acquire optional language training
• The taught modules are assessed individually and the final assessment for the MRes in Visual Anthropology consists of a dissertation and a portfolio, which prepares the ground for rewriting a viable fieldwork proposal at MPhil level
• The dissertation includes a detailed account of your proposed research and an analysis of relevant theoretical and regional literatures that contributes to refining your original proposal

How to choose between MRes and MPhil/PhD

Normally all research students are encouraged to register for the MRes in order to complete the requisite training for carrying out a doctoral research project in Anthropology regardless of whether they hold a degree in Anthropology.

Students who complete the MRes successfully will transfer to MPhil status after completing the dissertation (usually in September) and register for the MPhil/PhD degree afterwards.

However, if you hold an MA in Anthropology with a substantial methods training component or substantial training in visual methodologies it is possible to register directly for the full-time MPhil/PhD in Visual Anthropology, provided the Department and your future supervisor(s) agree after interviewing you.

MPhil-registered students are expected to audit the courses available to the MRes students and present assessed material similar to the MRes dissertation and portfolio during their first year to be upgraded to PhD status.

Only after they have been upgraded successfully they can start fieldwork or other forms of data-collection.

Students cannot be registered as PhD students without having gone through this process.

Many direct entrants to the MRes already have a first degree or an MA in Social Anthropology but this is not a condition. If you don't have this the MRes acts as a conversion course that allows you to apply for the MPhil/PhD in (Visual) Anthropology. The MRes is a qualification in itself and if you achieve the required standard, you can apply to register for the MPhil/PhD.