MA Anthropology: Admission 2025, Eligibility, Entrance Exam, Salary, Career Scope

Master of Arts in Anthropology is a two-year postgraduate program that helps students gain knowledge about human societies, cultures, and biological aspects. It covers topics like Social and Cultural Anthropology, Archaeological Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, and Applied Anthropology.

The candidates who hold a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks in Anthropology or relevant fields can apply for the MA in Anthropology. Admission is merit-based or through entrance exams such as CUET PG, UGC NET, etc. Some institutions that teach courses in Anthropology are the University of Mysore, Banaras Hindu University, and Pondicherry University.

MA in Anthropology graduates can work in research organisations, cultural resource management, and public health. Forensic Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Cultural Resource Manager, and Social Researcher are some of the career options that an Anthropology degree holder can opt for. The package offered to freshers is between INR 4.5 LPA and INR 8 LPA.

MA Anthropology Course Highlights

The table below shows the Master of Arts Anthropology course highlights:

What is MA Anthropology?

Master of Arts in Anthropology is a professional degree that focuses on the study of human societies and behaviours. The course curriculum focuses on subjects such as cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, etc. Aspirants pursuing an anthropology master's program acquire practical skills to analyse and understand cultural diversity across different societies.

Masters in Anthropology professionals are in high demand due to the growing significance of global culture. The graduates have adequate theoretical and practical knowledge that helps them work in research, education, and international organisations.

Why Study MA Anthropology?

An MA in Anthropology opens diverse career options for candidates. The graduates can explore careers in universities, research institutions, museums, government agencies, international organisations, etc. A few reasons to pursue a Master of Arts in Anthropology are listed below:

• The professionals have the opportunity to work in reputed organisations like UNESCO, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and cultural preservation institutes.
• A Master's in Anthropology helps candidates enhance their skills in cultural anthropology, archaeology, ethnography, and human evolution, which enables them to analyse human behaviours across different societies.

Who Should Study MA Anthropology?

MA Anthropology is best suited to those people who are deeply interested in critically comprehending human societies, cultures, biological, and language facets in their past, present, and toy future outlooks. The potential Candidates for MA Anthropology are:

• Individuals who already hold an undergraduate degree in anthropology or a related field and seek to develop their expertise with the aim of working in research, teaching, cultural resource management, or pursuing another doctoral degree.
• Students with interests in cultural diversity, social justice, human behavior, language development, and historical human evolution, who wish to examine complex problems in society using interdisciplinary approaches.
• Individuals interested in careers in the field of community development, anthropology, care industries, business consultancy, environmental sustainability, urban planning, or museum and heritage practice where anthropological knowledge translates to real-world changes.
• Professionals already working in the same field who wish to refine their analytical, research, and communication skills to work in more senior positions in cultural resource management, policy analysis, or cross-cultural communication.

MA Anthropology Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for the MA in Anthropology can vary for different institutions. Aspirants with a graduate degree are eligible for the PG program. The eligibility criteria for the Master of Arts in Anthropology are mentioned below:

• Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree (10+2+3 pattern) from a recognized university, preferably in Anthropology or a related discipline. However, many institutions accept graduates from any field.
• A minimum aggregate score of around 50% in the undergraduate degree is typically required. Some universities may provide relaxation in marks for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS).
• Admission can be based on merit (undergraduate performance) or through entrance examinations e.g., CUET PG. Some institutions require a valid entrance exam score for selection.
• Generally, there is no upper age limit for admission to the MA Anthropology program.

MA Anthropology Entrance Exam

The table below shows the list of entrance exams accepted for admission to the MA in Anthropology course:

MA Anthropology Top Colleges in India

The table below shows the list of top MA Anthropology colleges along with their annual course fee:

Students with science background can also pursue M.Sc Anthropology

MA Anthropology Admission Process

Master of Arts in Anthropology admission is based on merit/ entrance examination. The admission is mostly the same for all institutions; for reference, the admission process of Andhra University is mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the official website of Andhra University

Step 2: Fill out the application form, upload the necessary documents and pay the application fee, and submit the form.

Step 3: The candidates will be evaluated based on their merit in academics or through their scores in the national entrance examination.

Step 4: The list of selected candidates will be released on the university website.

Step 5: The selected candidates will have to appear for in-person admission and get their documents verified, and pay the admission fee.

Documents Required:

• UG marksheet and pass certificate
• Government ID Proof
• Passport-sized photographs
• Photocopy of Application form and payment receipt
• TC and Migration

MA Anthropology Syllabus

The syllabus for the MA in Anthropology is similar across colleges in India. However, the semester-wise syllabus of Andhra University is mentioned below:

Also read about MA Ancient Indian History and Archaeology

MA Anthropology Jobs

After completing the Master of Arts in Anthropology, graduates can explore a variety of job prospects such as Compliance Officer, Market Research Analyst, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Anthropologist, and much more. Some of the job roles, along with the average package, are mentioned below:

MA Anthropology Future Scopes

Candidates with an MA in Anthropology have diverse job opportunities in education, social services, research, and cultural organisations. A Master of Arts in Anthropology Graduate can work as a cultural analyst, social researcher, museum curator, or policy advisor. The other options that are available to these graduates are mentioned below:

• Entrepreneurship: The professionals can begin their entrepreneurial journey by establishing a cultural preservation business for heritage conservation.
• Short-term Courses: The graduates can pursue short-term online courses in Forensic Anthropology, Archaeological Excavation, or Museum Management.
• Higher Education: Candidates with an MA in Anthropology can opt for higher education, such as a PhD in Anthropology.

MA Anthropology vs. MA Archaeology

This table summarizes the key differences between MA Anthropology and MA Archaeology:

MA Anthropology FAQ