Profile and Career

The MSc programme provides students with knowledge about Anthropological theories within the context of the history of anthropology and scientific theory. Furthermore, it addresses the theories' potential practical applications in empirical research. In addition, the MSc programme covers Anthropological methodology, with a particular focus on the ability to adopt critical and reflective positions on the ethical and academic implications of the methodological choices within a field of study.

Students may select specific regional and/or thematic courses that provide in-depth knowledge of Anthropological fields of research, the ethnography of particular regions and regional issues.

The coursework is designed to ensure that students gain in-depth knowledge of Anthropological project planning, with particular focus on Anthropological fieldwork that will form the basis for his/her master's thesis. Particular emphasis is placed upon acquiring ethnographic knowledge about the specific area in which the fieldwork takes place, selecting relevant methodology and gaining theoretical insight related to the thesis.

The MSc programme endows students with comprehensive regional, methodological, theoretical and analytical competencies. An MSc graduate is able to formulate field and research questions, select relevant Anthropological methods for the collation of data, conduct empirical research, and select and incorporate relevant theory in the analysis of empirical material. They are able to structure the collected material and communicate their analytical results clearly and precisely. Having honed their ability to plan, conduct and communicate research, an MSc graduate is able to contribute to research and/or all kinds of professional work that deals with the social and cultural aspects of human life.

The MSc programme provides students with the competencies to interpret local, regional and global cultural practices. When faced with complex and unpredictable situations, an MSc graduate has the ability to analyze different parties' perspectives and the rationales behind their actions. These competencies make it possible for graduates to shed new light on chronic or intractable problems, leading to new and more sustainable approaches within a given field.

Career Opportunities

The anthropological labour market is very dynamic and anthropologists are constantly breaking new ground.

Research and teaching are still important areas of employment, but today the vast majority of anthropologists are employed outside of universities.

The public sector (municipalities, regions, the state and international bodies) has absorbed many anthropologists for both operational and development tasks, but the private labour market is growing rapidly. Here, it is not least the consulting industry and self-employed entrepreneurs who employ anthropologists.

If you look at it thematically, these areas are currently the most important:

  • Health
  • Organisational development, HR and management
  • Development, aid and relief
  • User engagement, market analysis and designSocial work and urban development
  • Press and communication
  • Migration and integration

Competence Description

You will:

  • Be equipped with a strong foundation in Anthropology
  • Acquire the knowledge required to apply Anthropological methods
  • Acquire the skills to evaluate the suitability of methods in relation to a given project including its ethical considerations
  • Develop the ability to independently plan and carry out a major Anthropological research project, and to collate and analyse complex empirical material.
  • Develop the ability to relate critically to your methodological and theoretical choices and are able to critically evaluate the field-conditions that may influence data-generation.
  • Develop the ability to adopt an open approach to the solution of a given problem, and can adapt formulations of the problem and develop new methods where appropriate.
  • Learn to structure and communicate your research related arguments in a professional and competitive manner.

Read about the programme structure.