Academic CentreDegree to be achieved: Master of Social Sciences in Anthropology
Duration of studies: 2 years (Full time)
Amount of credits: 80 credit points or 120 ECTS
European Qualifications Framework (EQF) level: Level 7
International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) level: Level 7
Language of instruction: English
Accreditation: the program is accredited until 16.11.2029.
Director of the Programme: Assoc. Prof. Aivita Putniņa, aivita.putnina@lu.lv
Tuition fee
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and their family members; Long Term Resident EU - 2700 EUR per Year
Other сountry citizens - 3000 EUR per Year
Please note that the tuition fee may change in 2025.
The programme offers an outstanding opportunity to acquire analytical tools with which to approach contemporary global and local social processes and trends. These include issues such as migration with its corollaries of increasing cross-cultural contact and new diaspora politics, financial crises and advancement of neo-liberal (and other) policies, both internationally and locally, transformation of political subjectivities in the context of shifting ideas about development, state-building and nation.
The programme provides students with a solid theoretical and methodological basis with which to critically explore a variety of pressing issues in (post)modern society. Through lectures, seminars and independent reading, students gain knowledge in social, and specifically anthropological, theory. A variety of compulsory and optional courses help students to develop a thoroughly anthropological approach to the themes of self and agency, gender, state and power, borders/migration, consumerism, art/performance. Working with texts is accompanied by ethnographic fieldwork whereby students not only advance their skills of data gathering but also learn to test and creatively develop their theoretical frameworks.
The programme builds upon the 3-year programme in Cultural and Social Anthropology, but it is open to graduates from other fields, seeing their previous academic and professional experience as a potential for productive interdisciplinary work. Our programme staff hold doctoral degrees from world’s best ranking universities. They apply high standards both in teaching and public discussions, thus encouraging critical analysis beyond the academic realm. The programme is mostly orientated towards public anthropology and the Baltic region, but students are encouraged to develop and explore their own research topics with the support of experienced supervisors within our department.
The programme uses its ERASMUS exchange agreements to send students to other European universities and welcomes students from abroad to Latvia.
Career opportunities
The programme graduates can pursue academic career in Latvia and abroad (several graduates teach at the University of Latvia) or continue professional career in public, business or NGO sectors.
More information about study programme and Study plan
ERASMUS+ exchange possibilities
UL full-time students, regardless of their citizenship, have the opportunity to apply for the ERASMUS + exchange program for studies or/and traineeship.
More information:
ERASMUS + study mobility
ERASMUS + traineeship moblity
Admission requirements
- Version 1 of previous education: first-cycle higher education or second-cycle higher education*, or equivalent higher education in social sciences or humanities.
- Version 2 of previous education: first-cycle higher education or second-cycle higher education*, or equivalent higher education in other thematic groups of education and work experience (at least 1 year) in socio-economic, political processes, health care, technology, culture, language, folklore and other fields related to human research.
- The average grade in study courses must be 60% of the maximum.
- English language proficiency.
- Pass of entrance examination by submitting a written 1 page essay/motivation letter on the topic "Anthropology Studies: My Motivation and Research Interests" and participating in an entrance interview via Zoom.
- All grades must be passing (at least 4 on a 10-point scale).
*Bachelor’s degree or a diploma proving equivalent level of education
Enrolment criteria (for students competing for the state-financed study place)
1. The grade obtained in final Bachelor’s exam (20%);
2. The grade point average of undergraduate studies (20%);
3. Entrance examination (60%)
Please note! Only EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and EU long-term resident status holders can compete for a state-financed study place.
Autumn Intake (application start: 19 Nov 2024; studies start in Sept 2025)
Full-time
More information:
www.antropologija.lu.lv
https://www.facebook.com/antropologijaLU
Contact person for questions about the programme structure:
Director of the Programme
Assoc. Prof. Aivita Putniņa
E-mail: aivita.putnina@lu.lv
Contact person for questions about the admission process:
International student advisor for degree studies
Gunita Ēķe: gunita.eke@lu.lv