Get a better understanding of the world
See the world through fresh eyes.
The Massey BA (Social Anthropology) will give you a different perspective on the world, global culture and society.
Studying social anthropology will develop your understanding of other cultures and ethnic groups. It will show you how your way of life is just one of many possible ways of being human. You will learn to challenge your existing beliefs and put yourself in others’ shoes.
At Massey you will study topics such as:
Discover how anthropologists study cultural differences through fieldwork that examines societies across the globe, from hunter-gatherers to industrial nation-states. Massey staff and students are currently researching in Asia, the Pacific, Europe, Africa and New Zealand.
The study of people can take you into almost any career path, anywhere in the world. Popular career destinations for social anthropology graduates include:
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
There are no specific entry requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (Social Anthropology), outside of university admission regulations.
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
If you need to do a course before you start your programme, there may be options for you in Summer School.
From the Schedule to the Degree including:
Core courses
Major courses
Elective courses
Ensure across all your courses you also have:
Attend field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials and laboratories as required.
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.
| 45 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 146101 | Understanding Cultural Difference | 15 |
| 146213 | Anthropological Enquiry | 15 |
| 146303 | Practice of Fieldwork | 15 |
| At least 60 credits from | ||
|---|---|---|
| 146102 | Endangered Cultures | 15 |
| 146206 | Visual Ethnography | 15 |
| 146208 | Political Anthropology | 15 |
| 146209 | Food and Eating | 15 |
| 146210 | Anthropology of Ritual, Religion, and Witchcraft | 15 |
| 146211 | Systems of Healing | 15 |
| 146302 | Regional Ethnography: Asia | 15 |
| 146304 | Culture, Biology and Racism | 15 |
| 146311 | Medical Systems of China, India and the West | 15 |
| 146313 | Issues in South Pacific Anthropology | 15 |
| 146316 | Visual Anthropology: Southasia and Global Issues | 15 |
| 146317 | Urban Anthropology | 15 |
| 146318 | Environmental Anthropology | 15 |
| 131221 | Global Development Issues | 15 |
| 150213 | Tikanga-ā-Iwi: Tribal Development | 15 |
| 176216 | Understanding Globalisation | 15 |
| 176310 | Ethnicity and Ethnic Identity: Contemporary Issues | 15 |
| 230121 | Future State: New Zealand in the 21st Century | 15 |
| 230301 | Social Science at Work | 15 |
If you study full time, in the first year you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.
If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school if you wish. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
A Social Anthropology major consists of 135 credits (nine courses).
Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree. They give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities.
A minor must be in a different subject from your major.
You may choose a minor from any University undergraduate degree that has recognised minors. If the minor is from another undergraduate degree, the regulations of that programme will apply.
If you are not studying towards a BA (Social Anthropology) and wish to complete a minor in social anthropology see the BA regulations for requirements.
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
“
You come to understand not only other cultures, but your own. You also come to better understand yourself.
” David Cranstoun Welch
“
The things I have learnt from studying a Bachelor of Arts are the skills of critical thinking, communication and problem solving. Making decisions makes up a large portion of my job and the ability to analyse every perspective and make a decision based on the evidence given is a very valuable skill.
” Emma Booth
“
Studying anthropology gave me a lot of freedom to explore many varied cultural areas.
” Samantha Russell
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
Electives are courses that are not compulsory. Certain guidelines are usually provided on courses you may take. Elective courses contribute to the programme, but not to your major or specialisation.
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.