Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Anthropology

The Master of Arts in Anthropology is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced training in the study of human societies, cultures, and biological variation. Offered at the University of Nairobi and Moi University, the programme prepares graduates for careers in research, academia, development, cultural resource management, and applied anthropology.

The curriculum covers core anthropological theory, research methodology, and specialised thematic areas including medical anthropology, development anthropology, anthropology of children and childhood, physical anthropology, archaeology and prehistory, language culture and society, and anthropology of conservation. Students choose a thematic area of specialisation reflected in their certificate.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree with at least an Upper Second Class Honours in anthropology or a related discipline from a recognised university. Applicants with a Lower Second Class Honours and a postgraduate diploma, or those with a pass degree and three years of relevant work experience, may also be considered. The programme is delivered through coursework, examinations, and either a thesis or research project.

Both institutions are accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme at the University of Nairobi is housed in the Department of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, while Moi University offers it through its School of Arts and Social Sciences. The programme duration is a minimum of four semesters and a maximum of twelve semesters.

Career prospects include roles in academia, research institutions, cultural resource management, heritage organisations, development agencies, public health, and non-governmental organisations. Graduates work as researchers, lecturers, development consultants, cultural analysts, and heritage managers.

The programme addresses the growing need for anthropological expertise in addressing complex social, cultural, and developmental challenges in Kenya and Africa. Anthropological perspectives are increasingly valued in policy formulation, public health interventions, conservation, and community engagement, making graduates relevant across multiple sectors.

Skills Required

Ethnographic research methods
Qualitative data analysis
Anthropological theory and critique
Cultural analysis and interpretation
Social impact assessment
Research design and proposal writing
Academic writing and scholarly publishing
Cross-cultural communication
Participatory research methods
Heritage and cultural resource management

Key Subjects

Anthropological Theory
Research Methods in Anthropology
Medical Anthropology
Development Anthropology
Physical Anthropology
Archaeology and Prehistory
Anthropology of Children and Childhood
Language, Culture and Society
Anthropology of Conservation
Ethnographic Methods

Certifications

Kenya Institute of Anthropology Research Certification
National Museums of Kenya Heritage Management Certification
IUAES Professional Membership
PAAA Professional Membership

Specializations

Medical Anthropology

Examines the cultural, social, and biological dimensions of health, illness, and healing practices in diverse societies, with emphasis on African health systems.

Development Anthropology

Applies anthropological perspectives to development processes, examining the socio-cultural impacts of development interventions and community engagement strategies.

Language, Culture and Society

Explores the relationship between language, culture, and social organisation, including linguistic anthropology and sociolinguistic analysis.

Physical Anthropology

Studies human biological variation, evolution, primatology, and forensic anthropology, examining the biological dimensions of human diversity.

Archaeology and Prehistory

Focuses on archaeological methods, material culture analysis, and the study of prehistoric societies in Africa and beyond.

Anthropology of Children and Childhood

Examines children's experiences, socialisation processes, and children's rights from cross-cultural and anthropological perspectives.

Anthropology of Conservation

Studies the social and cultural dimensions of conservation, environmental management, and human-environment interactions in African contexts.

Anthropology of Gender

Explores gender relations, identities, and inequalities from cross-cultural anthropological perspectives, including feminist anthropology.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Anthropological Theory
Research Methods in Anthropology
Medical Anthropology
Development Anthropology
Physical Anthropology
Archaeology and Prehistory
Anthropology of Children and Childhood
Language, Culture and Society
Anthropology of Conservation
Ethnographic Methods

Modules

11 in the programme

Anthropological Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of anthropological theories including functionalism, structuralism, postmodernism, and contemporary theoretical debates in the discipline.
Research Methods in Anthropology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for anthropological research, including ethnographic fieldwork, participant observation, and data analysis techniques.
Medical Anthropology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Cultural and social dimensions of health, illness, and healing, examining traditional and biomedical systems in African contexts.
Development Anthropology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Anthropological perspectives on development processes, socio-cultural impacts of development interventions, and community engagement strategies.
Physical Anthropology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Human biological variation, evolution, primatology, and forensic anthropology, examining biological dimensions of human diversity.
Archaeology and Prehistory
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Archaeological methods, material culture analysis, and study of prehistoric societies with emphasis on African archaeological contexts.
Anthropology of Children and Childhood
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Cross-cultural study of children's experiences, socialisation processes, and children's rights from anthropological perspectives.
Language, Culture and Society
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Relationship between language, culture, and social organisation, including linguistic anthropology and sociolinguistic analysis.
Anthropology of Conservation
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Social and cultural dimensions of conservation, environmental management, and human-environment interactions in African contexts.
Ethnographic Methods
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced ethnographic fieldwork techniques, including participant observation, interviewing, field notes, and ethnographic writing.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis or project in the student's chosen thematic area of specialisation, conducted under faculty supervision.

Specialisations

Medical Anthropology
Examines the cultural, social, and biological dimensions of health, illness, and healing practices in diverse societies, with emphasis on African health systems.
Development Anthropology
Applies anthropological perspectives to development processes, examining the socio-cultural impacts of development interventions and community engagement strategies.
Language, Culture and Society
Explores the relationship between language, culture, and social organisation, including linguistic anthropology and sociolinguistic analysis.
Physical Anthropology
Studies human biological variation, evolution, primatology, and forensic anthropology, examining the biological dimensions of human diversity.
Archaeology and Prehistory
Focuses on archaeological methods, material culture analysis, and the study of prehistoric societies in Africa and beyond.
Anthropology of Children and Childhood
Examines children's experiences, socialisation processes, and children's rights from cross-cultural and anthropological perspectives.
Anthropology of Conservation
Studies the social and cultural dimensions of conservation, environmental management, and human-environment interactions in African contexts.
Anthropology of Gender
Explores gender relations, identities, and inequalities from cross-cultural anthropological perspectives, including feminist anthropology.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on anthropological theory or ethnographic methods, followed by a seminar discussion on contemporary debates in the discipline. Afternoons involve fieldwork planning, data analysis sessions, or library research for thesis preparation. Students regularly engage with guest researchers from national museums and research institutes. Those in the medical anthropology specialisation may visit health facilities for ethnographic observation, while archaeology students participate in site surveys and material culture analysis. Independent reading and thesis writing occupy significant portions of the schedule, with regular consultations with academic supervisors.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offers diverse specialisation areas including medical, development, and conservation anthropology, allowing tailored career pathways.
Offered at two well-established public universities with strong anthropology departments and research traditions.
Both thesis and project options accommodate different career goals in academia or applied anthropology.
Anthropological skills are increasingly valued in development, public health, conservation, and policy sectors in Kenya.

Against it

Relatively niche field with fewer direct job openings compared to more applied social science programmes.
Requires significant independent fieldwork for thesis, which can be logistically challenging and time-consuming.
Limited scholarship opportunities specifically for anthropology compared to STEM or business fields.
Programme duration can extend beyond two years if fieldwork or thesis writing encounters delays.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public187k to 221k

187k at Moi University221k at University of Nairobi

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Moi 187,200/yr(worldscholarforum). UoN 441K/2yr(uonbi.ac.ke). Private unverified.

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students pursuing master's degrees at public universities. The University of Nairobi and Moi University may offer institution-specific financial support. External funding from organisations such as the Ford Foundation and the Aga Khan Foundation may support anthropology research, particularly for development-focused studies.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University of Nairobi Graduate Scholarships
Moi University Postgraduate Financial Aid

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities. Applicants must meet HELB eligibility criteria.
Ford Foundation Fellowship
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
Postgraduate students pursuing degrees that contribute to social justice, cultural understanding, and democratic governance.
Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 500,000
Outstanding students from developing countries pursuing postgraduate studies in development-related fields.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Applicants with a pass degree and three years of work experience in a museum or heritage institution may be considered. The programme is open to graduates from anthropology, social sciences, humanities, and related disciplines. Candidates may be required to appear for an interview to determine suitability.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Ongoing assessment through seminar presentations, essays, fieldwork reports, and assignments throughout each semester.
End-of-Semester Examination
Examination60% of the mark
Three-hour written examination conducted at the end of each semester for each course unit.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis or project assessed through written submission and oral defence, constituting a major component of the programme.
Fieldwork Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of ethnographic fieldwork skills, including field notes quality, observation techniques, and ethical research conduct.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university quality assurance. Both the University of Nairobi and Moi University are CUE-accredited public universities.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. Both the University of Nairobi and Moi University are CUE-accredited public universities.
National Council for Science and Technology (NACOSTI)
Research clearance
Kenyan government body that issues research permits for anthropological fieldwork. Relevant for graduates conducting research in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

University Lecturer in Anthropology
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches anthropology courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student fieldwork and thesis projects.
Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 220,000
Conducts anthropological and social research for research institutions, NGOs, or government agencies, designing studies and analysing data.
Heritage Manager
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages cultural heritage sites, museums, and conservation programmes, applying anthropological knowledge to heritage preservation.
Development Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 300,000
Provides anthropological expertise to development organisations, conducting social impact assessments and community engagement strategies.
Public Health Researcher
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000
Applies medical anthropology perspectives to public health research, examining cultural factors in health behaviour and intervention design.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in academia, research, cultural resource management, development consultancy, public health, and heritage organisations across public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

NVivo
Research softwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for coding and analysing ethnographic data, interview transcripts, and field notes.
SPSS
Research softwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for quantitative anthropological research and survey data analysis.
Atlas.ti
Research software
Qualitative data analysis tool for visualising and interpreting complex qualitative data in ethnographic research.
EndNote
Reference management
Reference management software for organising citations and bibliographies in academic writing and thesis preparation.
Google Earth Pro
Mapping tools
Geospatial visualisation tool useful for archaeological site mapping and ethnographic fieldwork documentation.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Anthropology is only about studying ancient cultures and has no modern relevance.
Contemporary anthropology addresses pressing issues including public health, migration, conservation, development, and social inequality, making it highly relevant to modern policy and practice.
Anthropology graduates can only work in academia.
Graduates work in diverse fields including development consultancy, public health, heritage management, cultural resource management, policy research, and non-governmental organisations.
You need an undergraduate degree in anthropology to apply.
While a degree in anthropology or a related discipline is preferred, applicants with degrees in social sciences, humanities, or related fields may be considered, particularly those with relevant work experience.
Anthropology is not a practical degree for the Kenyan job market.
Kenya's growing heritage sector, development industry, public health initiatives, and conservation efforts create demand for anthropological expertise in understanding community dynamics and cultural contexts.
The programme only involves theoretical study with no fieldwork.
Both coursework and thesis options require practical fieldwork, ethnographic research, and data collection in real community settings.
Specialisation limits career options.
Specialisation enhances expertise in a specific area while the core anthropological skills remain transferable across sectors, making graduates versatile professionals.