Anthropology asks what being and becoming human means across different social, cultural and historical contexts. It asks: How do people inhabit the global order through particular local worlds? This requires anthropologists to exercise their imagination and decenter common understandings of social relations, economic livelihoods and political power, among other things. They must thus strive to broaden the possible ways of perceiving and conceiving key challenges of our times.
The regional focus of Anthropology at the University of Basel is on Africa, Eastern Europe, Oceania and the Afro-Atlantic.
Our research and teaching focus thematically on general anthropology; the global economy; migration, mobility and belonging; gender, sexuality and kinship; medicine, health and the body; and the politics of knowledge production.
From a methodological perspective the Institute of Social Anthropology represents primarily qualitative and interpretive approaches. In particular, it nurtures the development of methods that can detect current changes under globalization.
At Master level, the students deepen their knowledge of theories and topics in Anthropology and deal with research methods. Applied ethnographic research is at the heart of the Master's program. In a two-semester project course that includes six weeks of fieldwork, students pursue their own project on a specific topic.
| Degree | MA in Anthropology |
| Type | Degree subject |
| Start date | February, September |
| Credit points | 120 |
| Program structure | The Master's degree is the second degree after the Bachelor's degree and comprises a total of 120 credit points (CP). In addition to Anthropology, students choose a second, independent subject, whereby both subjects are studied for 35 CP each. The subject in which the master's thesis (30 CP) is written becomes a major, the other a minor. In addition, there are free electives (20 CP). One ECTS credit point corresponds to approximately 30 hours of work. |
| Subject combination | Students may choose a subject from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences or an extra-faculty subject as their second Master's degree subject. Students can choose it according to their interests and appointments. Anthropology can be usefully combined with disciplines that deal with societies and their cultures or cultural sub-areas (such as art or language), with human behavior, their norms (law), their history, or their natural environment. The free electives pass freely selectable courses that can be used to deepen knowledge in the degree subjects, to gain insight into other degree subjects offered by the University of Basel or to acquire language skills. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Subject area | Anthropology |
Courses are taught in English. Although no certificate is required, advanced English skills (level B2 or better) are needed for successful completion of the degree.
Admission to master’s programs is regulated by the university student regulations and the stipulations of the individual degree program descriptions. More details of the general master’s admission requirements are provided here.
For students to be admitted with no additional requirements, they must hold a bachelor’s degree worth 180 CP from a higher education institution recognized by the University of Basel.
Subject-related requirements are defined in the admission requirements (section 3) of the study program for the relevant subject. The guidelines may also contain further useful information that is key to successful studies.
Students must register for their bachelor’s or master’s degree program within a specified timeframe – even in cases of delayed registration.
The University of Basel organizes regular information events for bachelor’s and master’s programs. Details can be found on the <link de/fakultaet/aktuelles/ - external-link-new-window "Öffnet internen Link im aktuellen Fenster">events page</link> of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Some subject areas also offer their own separate information or welcome events. Please consult the page for the relevant subject area for event dates and locations.
| Semester Übernahme, Abgabe | Übernahme HS 2023, Abgabe HS 2024 | Übernahme FS 2024, Abgabe FS 2025 | Übernahme HS 2024, Abgabe HS 2025 | Übernahme FS 2025, Abgabe FS 2026 | Übernahme HS 2025, Abgabe HS 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anmeldeformular verfügbar ab | abgelaufen | 08.04.24 | 30.09.24 | 07.04.25 | 29.09.25 |
| Anmeldung Masterarbeit | abgelaufen | 06.05. - 24.05.24 | 28.10. - 15.11.24 | 05.05. - 23.05.25 | 27.10. - 14.11.25 |
| Übernahmedatum | abgelaufen | 24.05.24 | 15.11.24 | 23.05.25 | 14.11.25 |
| Abgabedatum | abgelaufen | 24.02.25 | 14.08.25 | 23.02.26 | 13.08.26 |
| Abgabe Bestätigungsformular Masterarbeit | abgelaufen | spätestens bis 03.03.25 | spätestens bis 21.08.25 | spätestens bis 02.03.26 | spätestens bis 20.08.26 |
| Gutachten Abgabe durch Dozierende | abgelaufen | 20.06.25 | 19.12.25 | 19.06.26 | 18.12.26 |
| Notenmitteilung und Gutachtenversand | 31.01.25 | 31.07.25 | 31.01.26 | 31.07.26 | 31.01.27 |
| Semester | HS 2024 | FS 2025 | HS 2025 | FS 2026 | HS 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anmeldeformulare (Studienfach / Studiengang) verfügbar ab | abgelaufen | 27.01.25 | 18.08.25 | 26.01.26 | 17.08.26 |
| Frist Anmeldung Prüfungen (WICHTIG: ab FS 2025 Anmeldung per Phil Web App) | abgelaufen | 24.02. - 07.03.25 | 15.09. - 26.09.25 | 23.02. - 06.03.26 | 14.09. - 25.09.26 |
| Prüfungswoche | 16.12. - 20.12.24 | 22.05. - 28.05.25 | 15.12. - 19.12.25 | 22.05. - 29.05.26 | 14.12. - 18.12.26 |
| Notenmitteilung | 10.01.25 | 13.06.25 | 16.01.26 | 12.06.26 | 15.01.27 |
| Semester | HS 2024 | FS 2025 | HS 2025 | FS 2026 | HS 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frist Antrag auf Abschluss (WICHTIG: ab FS 2025 Anmeldung per Phil Web App) | 13.01. - 14.02.25 | 16.06. - 08.08.25 | 19.01. - 13.02.26 | 22.06. - 07.08.26 | 18.01. - 12.02.27 |
| Diplomfeier / Zeugnisvergabe | 22.03.25 | 27.09.25 | 28.03.26 | 19.09.26 | 20.03.27 |
Alle Daten vorbehaltlich nachträglicher Änderungen.
Graduates in anthropology are characterized by a high degree of sensitivity to cultures and societies, and their ability to respond to different situations and individuals. Key qualifications arise in particular from the practice of field research, where methods such as participation, observation, recognition, understanding and communication play a crucial role. This qualifies them in particular for professional activity in development cooperation, migration and refugee assistance, NGOs (e.g. in integration work and intercultural communication), but also assignments to international organizations, e.g. as delegates or administrators of the International Committee of the Red Cross. In addition, our alumni find employment in tourism, art trade, cultural management, teaching and research, or museums. As humanities and social science graduates, further career opportunities are available to them in the areas of media, PR and marketing, fundraising or adult education.