Anthropology (Bachelor's Degree Subject)Exploring the global in the local
Anthropology is the study of human beings in their full diversity. Its goal is to understand social action in different societies, and explain it in terms of its natural, social, political, economic and cultural contexts. In pursuit of this goal, anthropologists deal with both rural and urban spaces. They examine everyday practice, social and religious movements, the functioning of legal systems, conflicts, or the activities of state and international organizations, and explore how local cultures are embedded in regional, national, and global spaces.
Focal areas of teaching and research
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 Bachelor level, students learn to reimagine and understand society and culture. They are taught the history, theoretical and methodological approaches of Anthropology and gain insights into specific fields of research and topics.
Short profile
| Degree | BA in Anthropology |
| Type | Degree subject |
| Start date | February, September |
| Credit points | 180 |
| Program structure | The bachelor's degree is the first degree. It comprises a total of 180 credit points (CP). Anthropology is studied as one of two degree subjects, each worth 75 CP. In addition, there are free electives (30 CP). One ECTS credit point corresponds to approximately 30 hours of work. |
| Subject combination | In addition to subjects from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, a second bachelor's degree subject can also be an extra-faculty subject. Students can choose according to their specific interests. Anthropology can be combined particularly well with disciplines that deal with societies and their cultures or cultural sub-areas (such as art or language), with human behavior, their norms (law), with their history or their natural environment. The free electives are at the free provision of all students. It is generally used to acquire general skills (foreign languages, IT, rhetoric, etc.), interdisciplinary learning (non-subject or interdisciplinary courses), further deepening of one's own subject studies or the acquisition of a certificate. |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Subject area | Anthropology |
Bachelor’s admission requirements
The Student Administration Office at the University of Basel is responsible for admitting students to bachelor’s programs in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This is based on the admission regulations of the President’s Office:
- with Swiss educational qualifications,
- foreign educational qualifications, or
- as a visiting student (not working toward a degree at the University of Basel)
Holders of a Swiss federal Maturität certificate will be admitted to all bachelor’s degree programs.
If you have any further questions, please consult the information provided here.
Registration dates
Students must register for their bachelor’s or master’s degree program within a specified timeframe – even in cases of delayed registration.
Information events
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.
Bachelor Prüfung & Abschluss
Fristen und Termine Bachelorstudium (siehe Merkblätter unter Dokumente und Merkblätter)
Zur Bachelorprüfung können sich Studierende anmelden, die im zu prüfenden Fach 60 KP bzw. im Studiengang 120 KP erbracht und die für den Abschluss zählenden Seminararbeiten im zu prüfenden Fach oder im Studiengang absolviert haben. Der Nachweis erfolgt durch Vorlegen der Modulzuordnung.
Es kann neu auch nur ein Fach pro Session geprüft werden. Das bedeutet, die beiden Bachelorprüfungen können auf zwei Sessionen verteilt werden (Achtung: nur bei Studienfächern – bei Studiengängen ist eine Trennung der beiden Prüfungen nicht möglich).
BA-Prüfungen: Auf Grund der freien Verfügbarkeit von KI-Textgeneratoren (wie bspw. ChatGPT) hat die Phil.-Hist. Fakultät beschlossen, die Durchführungsart der BA-Prüfung anzupassen. Mit dieser Anpassung soll die Eigenleistung der Studierenden sichergestellt werden. Neu werden ab FS23 die BA-Prüfungen wieder in den Räumen der Universität unter Aufsicht geschrieben. Dabei handelt es sich um digitale «bring-your-own-device» Prüfungen. Die Prüfungstermine bleiben unverändert bestehen. Prüfungskandidat*innen beachten bitte unbedingt das aktualisierte Merkblatt zum Ablauf der BA-Prüfungen sowie das neue Anmeldeformular (Studienfach, Studiengang). Bei Rückfragen wenden Sie sich an die Studienadministration.
| HS 2024 | FS 2025 | HS 2025 | FS 2026 | HS 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anmeldeformulare (Studienfach / Studiengang) verfügbar ab | abgelaufen | 20.01.25 | 01.09.25 | 26.01.26 | 31.08.26 |
| Anmeldezeitraum | abgelaufen | 03.03. - 21.03.25 | 29.09. - 17.10.25 | 09.03. - 27.03.26 | 28.09. - 16.10.26 |
| Schriftliche Prüfungen | abgelaufen | 05.05. (NEU) & 09.05.25 | 05.12. - 12.12.25 | 11.05. - 18.05.26 | 04.12. - 11.12.26 |
| Notenmitteilungen | abgelaufen | 01.07.25 | 23.01.26 | 01.07.26 | 15.01.27 |
| Abschlussantragformulare spätestens verfügbar ab | abgelaufen | 02.06.25 | 05.01.26 | 01.06.26 | 04.01.27 |
| Prüfungseinsicht und Antrag auf Abschluss | abgelaufen | 04.08. - 22.08.25 | 26.01. - 13.02.26 | 03.08. - 21.08.26 | 18.01. - 05.02.27 |
| Diplomfeier | 26.04.25 | 18.10.25 | 18.04.26 | 17.10.26 | 17.04.27 |
Unter Vorbehalt nachträglicher Änderungen.
Continuing on to a master’s degree
Academic advice
Teaching committee
Quick Links