Medical Anthropology MSc
Awards: MSc
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Medical Anthropology
This programme studies health, illness and healing from a cross-cultural perspective.
With a focus on the understanding of health, illness and medicine in a globalised world, this programme allows you to engage with contemporary debates about old ills and emerging diseases, and explore both traditional forms of healing and modern medical technologies.
You’ll examine key questions in current medical anthropology from the perspective of both medical and social sciences, and address relevant issues, such as:
- the way encounters between patients and professional healers are negotiated in varied cultural settings
- the importance of political, economic and historical analysis to an understanding of the body
- the health-related effects of globalisation
Who this programme is for
Intended for a diverse range of students, this distinctive and interdisciplinary programme will complement your background in anthropology or health sciences
This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Health Academy and Global Development Academy:
Teaching combines lectures, seminars and tutorials, and you will produce essays and assessed coursework.
The programme works in close collaboration with the Global Public Health Unit and other subjects in the School of Social & Political Science.
You will complete two compulsory courses and four option courses. You are also encouraged to take the Development Research Methods course.
After the taught courses, you will work towards your independently researched dissertation.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2020/21 | |
MSc | 2 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2020/21 |
You will gain the conceptual and methodological skills to understand contemporary health practices in a wider context of social, political, and economic problems, and be able to work in academic and applied health research.
The programme also acts as a conversion MSc for those without training in anthropology who wish to progress to a research career.
In addition, you will develop a range of highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied to roles in any field.
A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
English language tests
For 2021 entry we will accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.0 in each module)
- TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 20 in each module). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 169 in each module)
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSc | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees | |
MSc | 2 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Postgraduate Admissions Team
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 3064
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Director, Dr Ayaz Qureshi
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5361
- Contact: ayaz.qureshi@ed.ac.uk
- Graduate School of Social & Political Science
- Chrystal Macmillan Building
- 15A George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LD
- Programme: Medical Anthropology
- School: Social & Political Science
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- Prospectus: Social & Political Science (PDF)
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc Medical Anthropology - 1 Year (Full-time)
MSc Medical Anthropology - 2 Years (Part-time)
Programme start date | Application deadline |
---|---|
13 September 2021 | 5 July 2021 |
We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
References are not usually required for applications to this programme.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Postgraduate Admissions Team
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 3064
- Contact: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
- Postgraduate Director, Dr Ayaz Qureshi
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5361
- Contact: ayaz.qureshi@ed.ac.uk
- Graduate School of Social & Political Science
- Chrystal Macmillan Building
- 15A George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LD
- Programme: Medical Anthropology
- School: Social & Political Science
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- Prospectus: Social & Political Science (PDF)