phd anthropology in australia

• Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs
• Crawford School of Public Policy
• School of Culture, History and Language
• School of Regulation and Global Governance
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The School of Culture, History & Language (CHL) is a community of research experts and academics dedicated to investigating and learning with, and about, the people, languages, and lands of Asia & the Pacific.

• Anthropology
• Archaeology and Natural History
• Gender, Media and Cultural Studies
• Pacific and Asian History
• Linguistics
• Pacific and Oceania
• Traditional China
• Modern China
• Chinese Southern Diaspora Studies
• Less Commonly Taught Languages
• Southeast Asia
• Learning and Engagement Spaces
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At CHL, there are plenty of study options to suit your needs. Do a straight degree, or customise your studies to your strengths, passions and goals.

• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Higher Degree Research/PhD
• Fieldwork, Micro-credentials and Mobility Programs
• Literary Chinese
• Chinese (Mandarin)

As an integral component of the University’s research focus, CHL prides itself in its strong and versatile research presence across disciplines.

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CHL Anthropology

Meet our experts, useful references, related resources, anthropology stories, digital resources.

#8 in the world in the QS Rankings

#1 in Australia in the QS World Rankings

Research leader on South, East & Southeast Asia and Oceania

Strong emphasis on long-term ethnographic fieldwork

One of the largest communities of experts anywhere

Professor Assa Doron

Professor Matt Tomlinson

Associate Professor Tanya Jakimow

Associate Professor Jane Ferguson

Senior Lecturer Eva F Nisa

Dr Tom Cliff

Future Fellow, Dr Natasha Fijn

ARC DECRA Fellow (from June 2023) Dr Muhammad Kavesh

Emeritus Professor Alan Rumsey

Emeritus Professor Kirin Narayan (India)

Emeritus Professor Ken George

Emeritus Professor Kathryn Robinson

Professor Mark Mosko

Professor Andrew McWilliam (Indonesia)

Professor Kalpana Ram

Dr Justine Chambers (Burma)

Dr Thiruppugazh Venkatachalam

Dr Anthea Snowsill

Anthropology is the study of human diversity. 

It brings rich insights to the most critical questions of our time. The kind of knowledge that anthropology teaches is invaluable, especially in the turbulent, volatile and globalised world in which we live today.

As a field of study, it is uniquely placed to interpret the widest range of social phenomena — from migration to religious fundamentalism, online communities, social movements, contemporary indigenous cultural expression and identity politics, consumption and commodification, and the changing forms of social identity.

Ranked number 6 in the world for anthropological study and research, ANU is Australia’s centre for research and training in this versatile and relevant discipline. We prepare our students to address key global issues and build better understandings of different people and different cultures, gaining insights into the complex processes facing all of humanity such as migration, globalisation and climate change.

Dr Natasha Fijn's documentary on Mongolian herds

ANU Anthropology Cross-campus Seminar Series

CHL Anthropology co-hosts public seminars with our colleagues in the College of Arts and Social Sciences. Come join us on Monday afternoons during the regular semester teaching periods!

Monographs in Anthropology

Monographs in Anthropology is an Open Access series with ANU Press. Our titles join theory and ethnography with a sharp focus on societies in Asia and Oceania.

The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology (TAPJA)

The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology publishes social and cultural anthropological research with a focus on the Asia Pacific region, including Australia.  

The Familiar Strange

ANU Anthropology

The cruise ship professor.

Hairdressing, Maggi Noodles, E-waste and More

Dr Eva Nisa awarded DECRA 2020

CHL Facebook

Chl x (formerly twitter), chl youtube, chl instagram, chl linkedin.

• Faculty of Arts
• School of Social and Political Sciences
• Disciplines

Anthropology and Development Studies

Our programs investigate the diverse ways that people today interact, organise and find meaning in their lives. We analyse the processes of social, economic, political and cultural change that underlie poverty, inequality and insecurity in the contemporary world.

Anthropology and Development Studies at Melbourne

Anthropology.

Anthropology is the study of the many societies and cultures of the world and their complex interaction. Anthropology’s global scope is complemented by a local focus and this unique perspective is made possible by participating in the daily life and language of the communities we study. Contemporary social anthropology asks broad and detailed questions about what it means to be human in a globalising world, as well as providing a critical vantage point from which to reflect on ourselves and others.

Development Studies

Development Studies is an interdisciplinary field of research and teaching that addresses processes of social, economic, political, ecological, and cultural change. It critically examines the actors, institutions, practices, and ideologies that are involved in those processes of change and is oriented towards both improving and critiquing the tools, practices and policies of development. Through our research and teaching, we engage with and advance ongoing global debates on poverty, inequality and insecurity in the contemporary world.

View our staff

Family members video a shadow performance at a school in Lucknow, India. Amanda Gilbertson.

A construction worker repairing a Macedonian-flag coloured scaffolding net without protection harness. Fabio Mattioli.

Researching Transnationalism Online. Andrew Dawson.

Local cultural research at the Kulu Language Institute, Solomon Islands. Debra McDougall

Activities in a coal mining site along the foothills of Nagaland, Northeast India. Dolly Kikon

Explore our research

Research projects undertaken by our academic staff are diverse and multi-disciplinary.

Towards Planning and Designing an African Migrant Wellbeing Framework in Australia

This project aims to explore and analyse the wellbeing of African migrants and develop a sustainable settlement and wellbeing framework in Australia.

Economic, Political and Cultural Brokers at a Resource Frontier in Papua New Guinea

How local brokers emerge, mediate flows of resources and manage (or exacerbate) contradictions, conflict and inequities.

Risk, responsibility and experience: Exploring complex relations with alcohol

This project explores how risk and responsibility towards alcohol are understood and enacted.

New Regional Labour Circuits in the South Pacific: Gender, Culture and Transnationalism

This project investigates the transforming contemporary Pacific.

Women’s collective action and the village law in Indonesia

How women are driving change and shaping pathways for gender-inclusive development in rural Indonesia.

Class troubles: Tackling social inequality in Indian schools

This project aims to investigate whether affirmative action education policies can assist in breaking down social inequality.

Explore more of our research

Study with us

Our Anthropology and Development Studies courses teach the diverse ways that people today interact, organise and find meaning in their lives. You’ll explore the processes of social, economic, political and cultural change that underlie poverty, inequality and insecurity in the contemporary world.

Undergraduate

• Bachelor of Arts Anthropology Major
• Bachelor of Arts Development Studies Minor
• Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)

Graduate coursework

• Master of Development Studies
• Master of Develoment Studies (Specialisation in Gender and Development)
• Master of Leadership for Development

Graduate research

• Doctor of Philosophy – Arts

Meet our Anthropology and Development Studies staff

Our Anthropology and Development Studies staff are leading researchers and teachers in a range of areas including power, inequality, poverty, governance, identity, health, education, globalisation, conflict and security, migration and displacement, urbanisation, technology, environmental issues, leadership, and the relationship between citizens and the state.

A/Prof Erin Fitz-Henry

A/Prof Kalissa Alexeyeff

Dr Alex D'Aloia

Prof Andrew Dawson

Dr Anne Decobert

A/Prof Rachael Diprose

A/Prof Bina Fernandez

Dr Jeff Garmany

Dr Amanda Gilbertson

Dr Paul Green

Dr Hannah Harewood Gould

Prof Ghassan Hage

Prof Lan Anh Hoang

Dr Orhan Karagoz

Prof Tamara Kohn

Dr Matthew Mabefam

Dr Nadeem Malik

Dr Fabio Mattioli

A/Prof Debra McDougall

A/Prof Monica Minnegal

Dr Rebekah Plueckhahn

Dr Lesley Pruitt Wolf

Dr Denisse Rodriguez Quinonez

Dr Violeta Schubert

Dr Cynthia Sear

Dr Adrian Watts

Dr Sarah Webb

Anthropology and Development Studies honorary staff

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About this major

Social and cultural anthropology is the holistic study of humankind, both what we share in common and what is particular to different cultural groups. The discipline emphasises humans' innate capacity to create culture, and the need for individuals to become part of a culture in order to thrive.

Anthropology allows you to develop discerning views on major issues in the world today. You will learn how to participate in larger debates in the social sciences by contributing cross-cultural comparisons and generalisations. You will discover that a genuine understanding of another culture requires an awareness that your own culture is only one possibility in a field of human diversity.

Your studies will explore core methods and theories of cultural analysis and develop an appreciation of how our own culture shapes our understanding of others and ourselves.

Key research and teaching areas include: area studies (China, Indigenous Australia, Latin America, Melanesia, Southeast Asia); the study of key issues in the world today across different cultures and societies, including economic inequality, health outcomes and healing systems, religious traditions and movements, gender relations, and forms of families; critique of racism, multiculturalism, development, the environment; and the history, theories and methods of anthropology.

As a graduate you will have a sophisticated understanding of cultural difference in a globalised world, and the capacity to analyse cross-cultural settings wherever they occur. These are important skills for employment in a wide range of public, private, and non-profit organisations.

For more information on the program structure and content including unit of study information, please refer to the  Arts and Social Sciences Handbook.

This major is offered by the  Department of Anthropology.

Graduate opportunities

Our graduates enter a wide range of careers. Examples include:

• Anthropologist - in academic, professional or community organisations
• Business and government consultant
• Community outreach coordinator
• Development officer
• Cultural adviser
• Human resource manager
• Multicultural liaison officer
• Policy developer
• NFP and NGO advisor/coordinator

Career pathways

Courses that offer this major.

To commence study in the year

The course information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

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39 Best universities for Anthropology in Australia

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in Australia ranked based on their research performance in Anthropology. A graph of 2.81M citations received by 140K academic papers made by 39 universities in Australia was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Sydney

For Anthropology

2. University of Melbourne

3. Monash University

4. University of Queensland

5. University of New South Wales

6. Griffith University

7. Australian National University

8. Deakin University

9. Queensland University of Technology

10. La Trobe University

11. University of South Australia

12. Curtin University

13. University of Technology Sydney

14. Western Sydney University

15. Flinders University

16. University of Western Australia

17. Macquarie University

18. University of Adelaide

19. University of Wollongong

20. University of Newcastle

21. RMIT University

22. University of Tasmania

23. James Cook University

24. Charles Sturt University

25. Edith Cowan University

26. Australian Catholic University

27. University of New England, Australia

28. University of Canberra

29. Murdoch University

30. Swinburne University of Technology

31. Victoria University

32. Central Queensland University

33. University of Southern Queensland

34. Southern Cross University

35. University of the Sunshine Coast

36. Bond University

37. Federation University Australia

38. Charles Darwin University

39. University of Notre Dame Australia

The best cities to study Anthropology in Australia based on the number of universities and their ranks are Sydney , Melbourne , Clayton , and St Lucia .

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Australia

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Students can undertake a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Masters of Philosophy (MPhil) through RSPH in research areas of anthropology, biostatistics, demography, epidemiology, sociology, or any combination of these.

Doctor of Philosophy »

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Master of Philosophy (Applied Epidemiology)  »

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Identify a potential supervisor for your research degree.

Summer research »

A Summer Research Scholarship at ANU is an exceptional opportunity for undergraduate students, providing insight into what studying for an Honours or a graduate research degree is all about.

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+61 2 6125 5111 The Australian National University, Canberra TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) CRICOS Provider : 00120C ABN : 52 234 063 906

AUSTRALIAN ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY

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Anthropology

Study anthropology, studying anthropology in australia, undergraduate study, postgraduate study, careers in anthropology, international.

School of Archaeology & Anthropology

SCHOOL OF ARCHAEOLOGY & ANTHROPOLOGY

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• Centre for Native Title Anthropology

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• ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
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Welcome to the School of Archaeology and Anthropology

The School of Archaeology and Anthropology combines four streams of social research and teaching: anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology and the interdisciplinary field of development studies. Collectively we are engaged with understanding past and present human experience in diverse and transforming social contexts.

Our school offers an innovative range of programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with particular strengths in archaeological science,  biological anthropology, forensic anthropology, Australian Indigenous studies, medical anthropology, visual anthropology, and applied and participatory development.

ANU is the most research-intensive university in Australia and our staff are energetic teachers as well as active researchers working on projects across remote and metropolitan Australia, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, South America and India.

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Updated:   15 June 2024 / Responsible Officer:   Head of School / Page Contact:   CASS Marketing & Communications

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+61 2 6125 5111 The Australian National University, Canberra TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) CRICOS Provider : 00120C ABN : 52 234 063 906

School of Social Sciences

Department of Anthropology and Development Studies

The Department of Anthropology and Development Studies is concerned with issues of social and cultural difference, inequality, vulnerability, risk, exclusion and social justice.

The study of Anthropology is concerned with fostering a better understanding social and cultural difference. Development Studies, as well as Peace and Conflict Studies, have emerged out of a concern to examine why some countries are less socially and economically developed than others or suffer from protracted periods of conflict and instability.

Our teaching

The Department of Anthropology and Development Studies offer a range of programs, including a Bachelor of International Development as well as majors in Anthropology and International Development, as well as postgraduate and honours degree options.

Anthropology   can be studied as a  major, minor, or individual elective course .

International Development   can be studied as an undergraduate degree , a  major, minor or individual elective course.

Study Anthropology    Study International Development

Our research

The Department of Anthropology and Development Studies work across a range of themes of relevance to our concern for highlighting social and cultural difference, as well as aspects of inequality, vulnerability and risk.

We are actively engaged in teaching and research that promotes greater understanding of the complex social and cultural worlds in which we engage.

Our research has been undertaken in a wide range of countries, including: Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu and Vietnam. We work with a wide range of national and international organisations, including: AusAID/DFAT, Australian Civil-Military Centre, Cardno Emerging Markets, Coffey International, European Union, Mott MacDonald, MTV EXIT, Nike Foundation, OECD, South Australian Government, UK Department for International Development, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNRISD, World Bank.

Our Publications

Barlow, M., & Drew, G . (2021). Slow infrastructures in times of crisis: unworking speed and convenience. Postcolonial Studies, 24 (2), 212-233.

Drew, G. (2021). Coca-Cola and the Moral Economy of Rural Development in India. South Asia: Journal of South Asia Studies, 44 (3), 1-21.

Drew, G. (2021). Nature can heal itself: Divine encounter, lived experience, and individual interpretations of climatic change. In D. L. Haberman (Ed.), Understanding Climate Change Through Religious Lifeworlds (pp. 72-90). Indiana University Press.

Drew, G . (2021). Will the water revolution be centralized? investigating the "downscale" and "upscale challenges of urban rainwater harvesting. In B. Thakur, R. R. Thakur, S. Chattopadhyay, & R. K. Abhay (Eds.), Resource Management, Sustainable Development and Governance Indian and International Perspectives (1st ed., pp. 143-158). Springer.

Drew, G. , M. G., D., Jyotishi, A., & Suripeddi, S. (2021). Water insecurity and patchwork adaptability in Bangalore’s low-income neighbourhoods. Water International, 46 (6), 900-918.

Dundon, A. (2021). Online dating profiles, shifting intimacies and the language of love in Papua New Guinea, The Australian Journal of Anthropology, 32 (3), 229-242.

Hemer, S. (2021). Global health, tuberculosis and local health campaigns: Reinforcing and reshaping gender and health inequalities in Lihir, Papua New Guinea. In N. Bainton, D. McDougall, K. Alexeyeff, & J. Cox (Eds.), Unequal Lives: Gender, Race and Class in the Western Pacific (pp. 131-156). ANU Press.

Hoogenraad. H. & A. Dundon . (2021). Shifting states of love & intimacy, The Australian Journal of Anthropology, 32 (3), 219-228.

Skinner, W. (2021). Making homemade wine, online. Ethnologie française , Vol. 51 (3), 577-587.

Skuse, A. and Dowling, M. (2021) 'Refugees, Media Representation and Counter-Narrative: An Analysis of TEDxKakumaCamp'. In S. Borden (Ed.) The Routledge Companion to Media and Poverty. Routledge.

Skuse, A., Rodger, D. , Wilmore, M., Humphreys, S., Dalton, J., & Clifton, V. (2021). Solving 'wicked problems' in the app co-design process. Convergence, 27 (2), 539-553.

Wanner, T. (2021). Foreign aid, the soft power of sport, and the Sustainable Development Goals: An analysis of Australia's sport for development in the Pacific program. In Siefken, K., Varela, A.R., Waquanivalu, T. & Schulenkorf, N. (Eds.). Physical Activity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (Chapter 7). Routledge.

Wanner, T. , Palmer, E., & Palmer, D. (2021). Flexible assessment and student empowerment: advantages and disadvantages–research from an Australian university. Teaching in Higher Education , 1-17.

Drew, G. R. (2020). Political ecologies of water capture in an Indian 'smart city'. Ethnos, 85 (3), 435-153.

Dundon, A. (2020). Introduction. In A. Dundon, & R. Vokes (Eds.), Shifting States: New Perspectives on Security, Infrastructure and Political Affect . Routledge.

Dundon, A . (2020). 'Looking for a nice face': Shifting states of marriage and intimate citizenship in Papua New Guinea. In A. Dundon, & R. Vokes (Eds.), Shifting States: New Perspectives on Security, Infrastructure and Political Affect. Routledge.

Dundon, A. (2020). 'Looking for a nice face': Shifting states of marriage and intimate citizenship in Papua New Guinea. In A. Dundon, & R. Vokes (Eds.), Shifting States: New Perspectives on Security, Infrastructure and Political Affect . Routledge.

Dundon, A ., & Vokes, R. (Eds.) (2020). Shifting States New Perspectives on Security, Infrastructure, and Political Affect . Routledge.

Fratini, A., & Hemer, S. R. (2020). Broadcasting Your Death Through Livestreaming: Understanding Cybersuicide Through Concepts of Performance. Cult Med Psychiatry, 44 (4), 524-543.

Harris, C., Hemer, S. R., & Chur-Hansen, A. (2020). Emotion as Motivator: Parents, Professionals and Diagnosing Childhood Deafness. Medical Anthropology, 40 (3), 1-14.

Harris, C., Hemer, S ., & Chur-Hansen, A. (2020). "It's an emotional rollercoaster" the spatial and temporal structuring of affect in diagnosing childhood hearing loss. Emotion, Space and Society, 37 , 7 pages.

Hemer, S. (2020). Crouch, Elizabeth (Betty) 1917-1996. In M. Allbrook (Ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography . Australian National University.

Hemer, S. R . (2020). Shock, anger and bad deaths in Lihir: A reanalysis of grieving in Papua New Guinea. Death Studies, 45 (1), 1-23.

Hutchings, S., & Rodger, D. L. (2020). A.B.Original, Reclaim Australia. In J. Stratton, J. Dale, & T. Mitchell (Eds.), An Anthology of Australian Albums: Critical Engagements (1 ed., pp. 211-223). Bloomsbury Academic.

Lord, A., Drew, G ., & Gergan, M. D. (2020). Timescapes of Himalayan hydropower: promises, project life cycles, and precarities. WIREs Water, 7 (6), e1469-1-e1469-15.

Rodger, D. L . (2020). Defining Authenticity in the Mid-2000s Australian Hip-Hop Scene: Constructing and Maintaining ‘Underground’ Status at a Time of Increasing Popularity. The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology , 21 (2), 159-177.

Silverman, G. S., Baroiller, A., & Hemer, S. R . (2020). Culture and grief: Ethnographic perspectives on ritual, relationships and remembering. Death Studies, 45 (1), 1-7.

Skinner, W. W. (2020). Liberty and order: wine and the South Australian project. In P. Howland, & J. Dutton (Eds.), Wine, Terroir, Utopia: Making New Worlds (pp. 58-74). Routledge.

Skinner, W. W. (2020). Wine, geology mapping and the value of place in McLaren Vale. The Australian Journal of Anthropology , 31 (1), 85-100.

Skuse, A. J. (2020). Claiming the State: the political economy of social welfare access in rural South Africa. In H. Ware, & J. I. Lahai (Eds.), Governance and Societal Adaptation in Fragile States (pp. 189-209). Palgrave MacMillan.

Tually, S., Skinner, W ., Faulkner, D., & Goodwin-Smith, I. (2020). (Re)building home and community within and through the social housing sector: lessons from a South Australian approach. Social Inclusion, 8 (3), 88-101.

Vokes, R., & Dundon, A. (2020). A Thrice-Told Crisis: Rethinking the Anthropology of the State. In A. Dundon, & R. Vokes (Eds.), Shifting States: New Perspectives on Security, Infrastructure and Political Affect (4-37). Routledge.

Williams, S., & Drew, G . (2020). ‘Co-creating meeting spaces’: feminist ethnographic fieldwork in Bangladesh. Gender, Place and Culture, 27 (6), 831-853.

Cattelino, J., Drew, G. R. , & Morgan, R. A. (2019). Water flourishing in the Anthropocene. Cultural Studies Review, 25 (2), 135-152.

Drew, G. (2019) Magnesium. In 'An Anthropogenic Table of Elements'. Cultural Anthropology .

Drew, G. (2019). Pushing back Delhi’s ‘day zero’ centralised efforts needed for rainwater harvesting. Economic and Political Weekly, 54 (43), 41-48.

Hemer, S. R . (2019). Sexuality, family planning and religion in Papua New Guinea: Reproductive Governance and Catholicism in the Lihir Islands. The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology , 20 (4), 295-311.

Nursey-Bray, M., Palmer, R., Meyer-Mclean, B., Wanner, T. , & Birzer, C. (2019). The fear of not flying: Achieving sustainable academic plane travel in higher education based on insights from South Australia. Sustainability (Switzerland) , 11 (9), 22 pages.

Rodger, D. (2019). Forging Traditions: Continuity and Change in the Mid 2000s Australian Hip-Hop Scene. Ethnomusicology Forum , 217-240.

Skinner, W. W. (2019). ‘A gift from God’: autochthonous grapes and wine heritage on the island of Hvar, Croatia. Journal of Wine Research , 30 (4), 294-311.

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• Australian Council for International Development
• Royal Anthropological Institute
• Australian Anthropological Society

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Sociology & anthropology

Connect lived experience to broad social issues

Studying sociology and anthropology at UNSW develops your capacity to connect lived experience with broad societal issues. Renowned as the first sociology program in Australia, we have a strong international reputation for theoretical innovation, teaching excellence and training. You’ll examine the realities, conflicts and challenges of social life in its many cultural forms.  

Combining sociology and anthropology in our program ensures that cultural diversity is central to our teaching. We provide you with a deep appreciation of the complexity and the possibilities of lived experience in a fast-changing world. The combined nature of our program creates a unique space that generates new perspectives on the diversity of social and cultural experiences.

Cutting-edge research that addresses big questions

What makes life meaningful? Why do we disagree and why do we care? What constitutes social change? The study of sociology and anthropology addresses these fundamental questions with conceptual rigour and the application of practical insights. Together, our academics and students seek to understand the differences in how we live our lives and the way cultural assumptions are enacted, challenged and transformed in everyday life. This approach underpins how we communicate and interact in the world and equips you in your studies, future work and research prospects. 

We teach and research a variety of topics such as:

• cultural and social theory
• Indigenous Australia and identity
• media sociology
• work and technology
• ecology and post-humanism
• visual sociology
• Asia Pacific region and Australia
• place, ethnicity, citizenship and globalisation
• applied cultural anthropology and sociology
• health, quality of life and life cycle.

Critical perspectives to broaden your worldview

The study of sociology and anthropology addresses the tensions and interactions between different social and cultural groups. This makes your training as a sociology and anthropology Major increasingly valuable in our highly globalised and interconnected world. 

Our graduates pursue a wide variety of careers in fields such as:

• public sector
• policy work
• not-for-profit organisations
• media industries
• arts practice
• international and multilateral organisations.

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Sociology and anthropology at UNSW is unique among New South Wales universities. We integrate both subject areas through innovative curriculum design and advanced teaching techniques. We also offer a diverse program of study in related subject areas such as social theory, cultural studies, feminist theory, social anthropology, sociological approaches to communication and public media, political sociology, ethnic studies and policy-related studies.

We offer the below undergraduate courses with a specialisation in sociology and anthropology:

• Bachelor of Arts 
• Bachelor of Social Sciences
• Bachelor of Arts/Law
• Bachelor of Arts/Education (Secondary)
• Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)/Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce/Arts 
• Bachelor of Computer Science/Arts
• Bachelor of Economics/Arts
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Arts
• Bachelor of Environmental Management/Arts
• Bachelor of Fine Arts/Arts
• Bachelor of Media/Arts
• Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine/Arts
• Bachelor of Science/Arts
• Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics)(Honours)/Arts
• Bachelor of Media/Arts 
• Bachelor of Media/Social Sciences 
• Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)/Social Sciences
• Bachelor of Media/Social Sciences
• Bachelor of Science/Social Sciences
• Bachelor of Social Work/Social Sciences

In addition to the above courses, we offer the below undergraduate single degrees with a minor in sociology and anthropology:

• Bachelor of Design
• Bachelor of Fine Arts
• Bachelor of Media
• Bachelor of Economics

Studying honours in the School of Social Sciences offers a chance to develop your research and professional skills guided by staff passionate about research and the development of new researchers. The research produced as an honours student will set you apart from other graduates because of the skills developed and the extended engagement in a relevant field of study.

As a postgraduate research student, you’ll produce an original body of work supervised by our leading academics. In sociology and anthropology, you can choose from a  Doctor of Philosophy  or a  Masters by Research .

Our higher degree research students produce original research that may involve the following topics:

• Indigenous Australia
• political communication and media sociology
• ontological ground of the ‘social’ and the ‘human’
• human rights and citizenship
• cinema and cultural sociology.

Find a research supervisor

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Anthropology

Anthropology is understanding cultural diversity in a globalised world.

Our major in Anthropology introduces students to the cultural dynamics that surround us. It examines behaviour, relationships and meaning within and between different societies and cultures. Our units explore aspects of Indigenous self-determination, anticolonial frameworks, land rights, social politics, migration, material culture practices, ecology and the environment. We do so in a way that examines local experiences while addressing the ‘big questions’ that face human societies across the world. Our course also incorporates the study of key anthropological theories and the history of the discipline. Anthropology seeks to understand cultural differences and similarities and we welcome students to explore the world around us. 

Students are provided with a comprehensive overview of Anthropology’s research methodologies. These include real-world experiences at the undergraduate level including critical thinking, ethnographic writing, participant observation, record-keeping, oral and multi-media interviewing, and material culture and archival research. An emphasis is placed on active learning and assessment which allows students to develop the key skills needed to undertake anthropological projects

Anthropology provides students with valuable skills for living and working across Australia by exposing them to different systems of beliefs, values and practices. At a personal level, it offers a perspective on challenges in your everyday life and encourages you to question your taken-for-granted beliefs. The ultimate goal for anthropology and anthropologists is to be the cross-cultural bridge that helps make the world a better place.  

As a discipline, anthropology is uniquely positioned to interpret the widest possible range of social phenomenon – from culturally conditioned responses to disasters such as COVID-19 to online communities and new social movements, consumption and materiality, and Indigenous cultural expression and cultural rights. Anthropology studies all of these things both in Australia and on a global scale.

For more information, please contact the lead for the Discipline of Anthropology, Nimi’ipuu scholar Dr Gretchen Stolte .

Dr Gretchen Stolte

Professor Richard Vokes

Mr Adam Keen

Our courses

The Ethnography Lab of Western Australia

The Ethnography Lab of Western Australia is housed in the School of Social Sciences.

For over a century, ethnography has been foundational for anthropology. While it once revolved primarily around writing, today ethnography includes art, photography, film, comic books and theatrical performance. 

For anthropologists working in the heritage sector, ethnography also requires knowledge of GIS, aerial mapping (via drones), and other technical and digital competencies.

The Lab is using digital technologies to support co-designed, multi-modal, ethnographic research. Its projects are looking at: the digitisation and activation of culturally sensitive archives; digital storytelling and truth-telling, and the use of digital technologies within traditional fieldwork settings.

The Lab’s facilities are open to students taking ANTH3001: Ethnography, to Honours and PhD students, and anyone else exploring the frontiers of ethnography.

Find out more

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Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of what makes us human. Discover how humans from diverse cultures understand, live in and shape the world. Using anthropological theories, you’ll examine cultural differences such as social change, inequality, the body and mind, animals, globalisation and the environment.

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Why study anthropology at La Trobe?

Hands-on experience.

Build anthropological research skills and fieldwork experience.

Find out more out about work-integrated learning and placements

Top 300 globally

We’re ranked in the world’s top 300 for arts and humanities.

Times Higher Education (THE), 2023,  World University Rankings 2024 by subject: arts and humanities

1st in Victoria

We’re the best in Victoria and third in Australia for employer satisfaction, with a rating of 88.1 per cent.

Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), 2023, 2022 Employer Satisfaction Survey [PDF, 812 KB]

Looking to study anthropology ? It's available as a major or minor in our Bachelor of Arts and as a major in many of our Bachelor of Business courses or explore the range of courses below.

• Franklin Street
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Bachelor of arts (honours), bachelor of arts/bachelor of health sciences, bachelor of arts/bachelor of science, bachelor of business/bachelor of arts, bachelor of laws (honours)/bachelor of arts, doctor of philosophy, master of philosophy, career opportunities in anthropology, career pathways.

Anthropology builds skills in research, community development and communication to prepare you for a range of careers.

Possible roles include:

• Anthropologist
• Cultural heritage adviser
• Environmental planner
• Native title anthropologist
• Research manager
• Communications and engagement officer

Future employers

Potential employers of anthropology graduates include:

• Central Land Council
• Ecology and Heritage Partners
• Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
• Unison Housing
• Australian Government
• Brotherhood of St Lawrence

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Anthropology

What does it mean to be human? Anthropologists ask and hope to answer this question by studying humanity in the broadest sense. Analyse the lives of people in a range of societies and gain insights into the science behind human existence.

Explore your study options

Study anthropology and explore contemporary issues facing the human population including warfare, overpopulation and poverty, as well as investigate complex issues in social and cultural life such as religion, family and political systems. You'll gain a well-rounded set of skills to take you into a range of industries where you can put your knowledge into action. With professional work experience opportunities and overseas learning and exchange programs, you'll be well prepared for an exciting career.

Undergraduate

Undergraduate (your first degree).

An undergraduate degree is generally completed between two to four years, depending on the pattern of study and any recognition of prior learning you may have. Associate degrees, bachelor and bachelor with honours are all undergraduate degrees.

Higher Degrees by Research (supervised research)

Research degrees are research based master’s or PhD programs that focus on a single area of expertise. They provide students the opportunity to carry out highly specialised research under expert supervision.

Career opportunities

As a graduate of anthropology you can find work in many different settings, from large corporations through to fieldwork in communities and on archaeological sites. Other graduates of anthropology who'd like to find broader types of employment can do so in:

• community relations
• government departments
• media corporations
• research consultancies
• welfare organisations.

Professional recognition

If you’re looking to extend your studies with an anthropology honours course at Deakin, you’ll be eligible for membership to the Australian Anthropological Society. This recognises your sound understanding of issues, theories and methods associated with anthropology as a social science discipline.

Studying anthropology at Deakin

Dr Tanya King, Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, introduces you to the study of anthropology.

Research with us

If you're interested in further studies in anthropology, then a higher degree by research could be for you.

Learn more about researching with us

Latest articles

If you're dreaming of an exciting and rewarding career in anthropology, we'll help get you there.

What’s the difference between sociology and anthropology?

Want to learn about what makes people tick? Can’t decide what to study? Read and discover the differences between sociology and anthropology.

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Anthropology.

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Major overview

Available in these courses

Anthropology studies what it means to be human in a globalising world, providing a critical vantage point from which to reflect on ourselves and others. Its distinctive methodology, based on intense, long-term participation in people's daily lives, allows for ideas to develop out of local experience and knowledge.

This major explores the extraordinary variety of cultural and social forms found around the globe, focusing on the diverse ways people interact, organise their relationships, and find meaning in their lives.

A major in Anthropology will expand your horizons by challenging the assumptions behind what we take for granted in society, and enhance your empathy for the perspectives of others. You’ll apply these lessons not just in theoretical inquiry but in designing your own ethnographic projects.

Through self-reflection, and a heightened appreciation of cultural diversity, this major will enhance your ability to meet goals and challenges - both in the workplace and personal life.

Related study areas

• Arts, humanities and social sciences
• Social and political science

• Study with UniSQ
• Arts and Humanities degrees
• Anthropology

Anthropology degrees

Anthropologists are specialists in what it means to be human. They examine and investigate the similarities and differences across diverse human societies. Their skills and knowledge help inform and provide solutions for a diverse range of areas in government, non-government and the private sectors. 

UniSQ’s Anthropology major will introduce you to diverse global cultures, and provide you with the opportunity to develop knowledge of the social and cultural experiences of our own lives. You will delve into critical questions about some of society’s most pressing issues, such as religious and cultural conflict, gender discrimination, racism, food security and other social inequalities.

Anthropology is an ideal area of study for those who work in culturally diverse environments. It equips students to effectively tackle new, community-driven approaches to heritage and culture. Your studies in Anthropology include opportunities to practice key methods of ethnography, and to undertake specialised courses in religion, medical anthropology, and food and culture. It also provides an opportunity to experience hands-on and applied work in museum and heritage studies. Through all courses you will develop your skills in cultural analysis, critical thinking, and verbal and written communication skills.

Anthropology students often combine their studies with Archaeology, History, International Relations, and Social Justice.

Explore UniSQ's Anthropology degrees

• Springfield

Studying for an anthropology degree at UniSQ will provide you with the perfect stepping stone to a rewarding career in anthropology and related fields. You’ll open up numerous professional avenues, including:

• Social and cultural policy and planning
• Community development
• Overseas aid and development
• Health advocacy
• Cultural heritage and land management agencies.

By combining anthropology and archaeology you can explore further opportunities, including: 

• Archaeological and heritage management consulting firms
• University archaeological departments.

UniSQ will provide you with the necessary tools, resources and training to prepare you for a rewarding career of your choice. You’ll have the opportunity to study an undergraduate or postgraduate anthropology degree online in Australia as well as on-campus, giving you the flexibility you need as a student. 

At UniSQ, you will have access to everything you need to begin and broaden the scope of your anthropological knowledge and interest. Whether you’re looking to study online or on-campus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn in a supportive and communal educational environment that cares about your academic development and career goals.

• UniSQ’s anthropology and archaeology courses are based on research-led teaching, offers hands-on fieldwork and are led by some of the most prominent archaeologists in Australia.
• Combine multiple areas of interest to develop your unique set of skills and broaden your career prospects.
• UniSQ is rated 5/5 stars for graduate starting salary (Good Universities Guide 2024). 

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Advertisement

Ancient artefacts suggest Australian ritual endured for 12,000 years

Wooden sticks found in an Australian cave appear to match the accounts of a 19 th -century anthropologist, suggesting the GurnaiKurnai people practised the same ritual at the end of the last glacial period

By James Woodford

1 July 2024

Ancient ritual stick discovered in Cloggs cave, Australia

Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation

Wooden artefacts found in an Australian cave suggest that an Indigenous ceremony documented in the 19 th century may have been practised 12,000 years ago, making it possibly the oldest known cultural ritual anywhere in the world.

Between 2019 and 2020, a team of archaeologists and members of a local Indigenous community called the GunaiKurnai from south-eastern Australia conducted an excavation at Cloggs cave, near the Snowy river in Victoria.

Our human ancestors often ate each other, and for surprising reasons

The site had been partly dug in the 1970s, but during the new work the team discovered two preserved fireplaces, which contained mostly unburnt artefacts made of wood from local Casuarina trees. Chemical analysis revealed these artefacts were smeared with animal or human fat and dated to between 11,000 and 12,000 years ago, making them among the oldest wooden artefacts found in Australia.

On its own, this would have been a major but mysterious discovery. However, the researchers and community members were at the same time examining an ethnographic report by 19 th -century anthropologist Alfred Howitt, who researched the customs and traditions of tribes in south-eastern Australia in the 1880s.

In 1887, very close to Cloggs cave, he recorded the practices of Indigenous “wizards”, now referred to as “mulla-mullung”, who are powerful GunaiKurnai medicine men and women. He wrote a detailed account of one ceremony that involved smearing animal or human fat on throwing sticks made of Casuarina wood and placing them in small ceremonial fires as a magic charm or curse. He understood the ritual to be used against an enemy or someone whom those conducting the ritual wished to harm.

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“The wizard has during this time been singing his charm; as it is usually expressed, he ‘sings the man’s name,’ and when the stick falls the charm is complete. The practice still exists,” wrote Howitt.

Bruno David at Monash University in Melbourne and Russell Mullett , a GunaiKurnai elder, say the similarities between the archaeological discoveries and the ethnographic account have convinced them that the same ritual was used for up to 12,000 years.

Mullett says he was convinced of the connection because Howitt’s account so closely matched what they had found in the cave – the type of wood and the fats smeared on the stick, positioned exactly as Howitt had described.

“This cements the longevity of our oral traditions and knowledge and the transferral of that knowledge from generation to generation,” says Mullett.

David says the conclusions grew slowly following the discovery of such rare timber artefacts.

“Archaeologists never get to see the performances behind such ancient deposits,” he says. “To me, it’s absolutely remarkable the physical evidence that corresponds so closely to the cultural knowledge has survived virtually intact, and for so long. It exactly matches the practices described by Howitt.”

“The team’s methods are meticulous and remarkable,” says Paul Taçon at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia.

There were lots of changes to these communities over time, says Taçon, but this ritual seems to have stayed the same. “What strikes me about this case is that this same form of ritual practice must have been considered to have been important and effective to have been perpetuated over such a long period of time.”

Journal reference:

Nature Human Behaviour DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01912-w

• archaeology /
• anthropology

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