Medical Anthropology MSc
Brunel University
Key Course Facts
Course Description
If you work in medicine or allied fields and want to learn more about how illness and wellness are considered in difference cultures, anthropology is an ideal route to greater understanding.
Medical anthropology is the study of cultural beliefs and practices associated with the origin, recognition and management of health and illness in different social and cultural groups.
Brunel was the first university in Europe to establish a master's degree in medical anthropology and since then has continued to develop the course to reflect the changing world in which we live.
The Medical Anthropology MSc will equip you with a broad, general understanding of anthropology and how it might be applied to medical and health-related problems.
You will develop a deeper understanding of how people’s ideas about the world, as well as the structural constraints within which they find themselves, have an impact on their understanding and experience of health, sickness and disease.
You’ll achieve this through close study of key texts in medical anthropology, the original fieldwork experiences of your lecturers, and through designing and undertaking your own research project.
The course will address questions such as:
- How does poverty contribute to the profiles of diseases such as diabetes and tuberculosis?
- Why are some diseases, such as leprosy or AIDS/HIV, feared and stigmatized?
- Why do some biomedical interventions seeking to control infectious and non-infectious diseases work, and others fail?
- What might stop some patients seeking conventional treatments for cancers and other conditions – even when they are offered for free – despite the apparent efficacy of the medicines available?
Students take the opportunity of fieldwork to travel to a wide variety of locations across the world that have included India, Mexico, Bolivia, Papua New Guinea, China, Nepal, Peru, Morocco, and New Zealand as well as in the UK and the rest of Europe.
In additional, Brunel offers an exclusive scholarship to help fund a student’s medical anthropology fieldwork in memory of pioneering Brunel Medical Anthropologist, Professor Cecil Helman (1944-2009).
A 30 month part-time option of the course is also available. If you wish to be considered for the part-time 30 month version, please make your application for the 24 month part-time route and then contact the Admissions team to request the change to the 30 month duration.
Entry Requirements / Admissions
Requirements for international students / English requirements
IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)
-
- 6.5
- All other courses
-
- 6.5
- Graduate Degrees Arts, Social Sciences, Education and Social Work
-
- 7.0
- Graduate Degrees Law
-
- 6.0
- Graduate Degrees Science, Technology and IT
-
- 6.5
- Undergraduate Degrees Arts, Social Sciences, Education and Social Work
-
- 6.5
- Undergraduate Degrees Law
-
- 6.0
- Undergraduate Degrees Science, Technology and IT
A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree, or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification in a Humanities, Social Science or Health-related Science with a personal statement demonstrating knowledge of interest in the subject area .
Applicants with other degrees will be considered on an individual basis.
Costs
Average student cost of living in the UK
Rent | £518 |
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
Supermarket shopping | £81 |
Clothing | £35 |
Eating out | £33 |
Alcohol | £27 |
Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
Transport within city | £17 |
Self-care / sports | £20 |
Stationary / books | £13 |
Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
Insurance | £51 |
Other | £95 |
Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
University Rankings
Positions of Brunel University in top UK and global rankings.
See all 32 university rankings of Brunel University
About Brunel University
Established in 1957, Brunel University is located in the large town of Uxbridge, in suburban London. Thanks to its location, Brunel University has numerous public transport connections to London, which students make use of for expanding their options when it comes to work experience placements. The admission rate is lower than in many universities, so applicants should prepare their personal statements and interviews well when applying to enrol here.
List of 270 Bachelor and Master Courses from Brunel University - Course Catalogue
Student composition of Brunel University
-
Total number of students enrolled at Brunel University by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 11215
- postgraduates:
- 4730
- Total:
- 15945
Where is this programme taught
Similar courses
Program | University | Student satisfaction | Unemployed | Dropout | Tuition (UK) | Tuition (International) | UCAS Tariff | City | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anthropology and German (5yrs) MA (Hons) | University of Aberdeen | 93% | 0% | 0% | £9250 | £21900 £20800 | 171 | Aberdeen | On campus Full-time | |
Anthropology and International Relations MA (Hons) | University of Aberdeen | 93% | 0% | 0% | £9250 | £21900 £20800 | 178 | Aberdeen | On campus Full-time | |
Anthropology and Gaelic Studies MA (Hons) | University of Aberdeen | 93% | 0% | 0% | £9250 | £21900 £20800 | 171 | Aberdeen | On campus Full-time | |
Anthropology and Politics MA (Hons) | University of Aberdeen | 93% | 0% | 0% | £9250 | £21900 £20800 | 178 | Aberdeen | On campus Full-time | |
Anthropology and Archaeology MA (Hons) | University of Aberdeen | 92% | 0% | 0% | £9250 | £21900 £20800 | 171 | Aberdeen | On campus Full-time | |
Social Anthropology and Politics MA (Hons) | The University of Edinburgh | 73% | 5% | 0% | £9250 | £26500 | 186 | Edinburgh | On campus Full-time | |
Anthropology and Philosophy MA (Hons) | University of Aberdeen | 93% | 0% | 0% | £9250 | £21900 £20800 | 180 | Aberdeen | On campus Full-time | |
Anthropology and Psychology MA (Hons) | University of Aberdeen | 96% | 1% | 3% | £9250 | £21900 £20800 | 174 | Aberdeen | On campus Full-time | |
Anthropology and Film & Visual Culture MA (Hons) | University of Aberdeen | 93% | 0% | 0% | £9250 | £21900 £20800 | 183 | Aberdeen | On campus Full-time | |
Anthropology and Sociology MA (Hons) | University of Aberdeen | 86% | 5% | 5% | £9250 | £21900 £20800 | 176 | Aberdeen | On campus Full-time |