Anthropology is an excellent study option for students like you, who are interested in the development, behaviour, and structures of our society.
But is it still worth it to study a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Anthropology in 2023? What factors should you consider before you make a decision?
Here are a few Anthropology programmes we recommend:
- M.A. at Wichita State University, the US
- M.A. at University of Bristol, the UK
- M.A. at T251904inn University, Estonia
- M.Sc. at Radboud University, the Netherlands
- Master's at Aarhus University, Denmark
1. You can choose from different Anthropology subdisciplines
Anthropology is a broad field, but it offers various subdisciplines to interested students:
These subdisciplines are usually available both at undergraduate (Bachelor’s) and postgraduate (Master’s) level.
2. You can study at the best Anthropology universities
According to the latest QS ranking created by TopUniversities, the following are the best Anthropology schools in the world:
- University of Cambridge, the UK
- University of Oxford, the UK
- Harvard University, the US
- University of California, Berkeley (UCB), the US
- The Australian National University, Australia
- University College London (UCL), the UK
- University of Chicago, the US
- The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the UK
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the US
- University of Toronto, Canada
Check out other similar rankings:
- Anthropology ranking in the US by Niche
- Anthropology ranking in the UK by The Complete University Guide
3. Satisfy your curiosity about the human race
Anthropologists have a unique opportunity to examine all the factors that make us who we are. Their insights help us to better understand the history of our development and to make predictions about our future.
During your studies or work, you can make remarkable discoveries such as these:
- The earliest known human burial is dated to around 78,000 years ago
- The oldest fossils of homo sapiens date back to 300,000 years ago
- Some Neanderthals were redheads
4. Anthropologists enjoy hands-on experiences and fieldwork
As an expert in Anthropology, you’ll often find yourself in direct contact with the object of your research. For example:
- As an archaeologist, you’ll spend time on sites digging up artefacts or human remains.
- As an evolutionary anthropologist, you’ll travel around the world, examining orangutans, collecting samples and understanding their social structures.
- As a cultural anthropologist you may live with isolated tribes or farmers in order to better grasp their values and way of life.
5. Anthropology opens the doors to a wide range of jobs
Anthropology students develop a wide range of skills that are essential in today’s world. Perhaps the most important are critical thinking, advanced research skills, and cultural awareness. Of course, there are other abilities and knowledge that qualify Anthropology graduates as great employees.
If we take the United States as an example, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals the job outlook for anthropologists and archaeologists looks great, with a 5% predicted increase by 2029.
Now, let’s have a quick look at some of the most popular Anthropology jobs and average salaries in the US based on PayScale and Glassdoor data:
- Social Researcher – 64,200 USD/year
- Government Affairs Manager – 75,100 USD/year
- Higher Education Professor – 87,900 USD/year
- Human Resources (HR) Specialist – 51,800 USD/year
- Diversity Manager – 81,500 USD/year
6. Anthropologists can travel around the world
Depending on your Anthropology specialisation and what you want to do further on, we foresee a lot of travelling in your future. In fact, it’s almost inevitable.
Examining the traditions or lifestyle of an African tribe, studying primates in their natural environment or getting your hands dirty as an archaeologist — all involve moving from one country to another, or at least from one region to another. That’s because experiential learning is often the cornerstone of Anthropology.
Of course, travelling won’t help you avoid writing the important reports detailing your findings and data, but it’s a great perk you should keep in mind.