Why study this program?

The Department of Anthropology offers the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts (thesis-based). Students contemplating graduate work in Anthropology should direct their inquiries to the Graduate Program Advisor/Research Coordinator of the Department.

Departmental Graduate Program Guidelines can be found on our Graduate Student Information website linked to the Department of Anthropology Website.

Entrance Requirements

For the MA program (thesis-based), the Department’s minimum admission requirements are an undergraduate degree in Anthropology or a closely related discipline with an admission GPA of at least 3.3 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.

For the PhD program, the Department’s minimum admission requirements are a thesis-based master’s degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.3 on the 4- point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.

Applicants to the PhD program must successfully defend their MA thesis to meet the Fall convocation deadline of their university. Failure to provide the University of Alberta with notification of the MA thesis defense by August 1 of the admission year can negate the offer of admission.

Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (refer to English Language Requirement ).  Any one of the following is acceptable:

• TOEFL score of 90 with no band less than 21 (internet-based) or equivalent;
• IELTS (academic) overall band score of 6.5;
• CAEL overall score of 70 with at least 70 on each subtest;
• PTE overall score of 61.

All applicants are also required to submit the following:

• A statement of intent – this should specify the area of interest and the plans for study in the graduate program
• A detailed curriculum vitae
• Three original academic letters of reference
• A writing sample – this can include a marked paper, published article, article manuscript, MA thesis or part thereof.

In addition, applicants are encouraged to identify potential supervisors in advance of the review of their application. See the Department website for further information.

In exceptional cases, the department may grant admission to the PhD program directly from a bachelor’s program in Anthropology.

Students with degrees in a concentration other than Anthropology are encouraged to consult with the Associate Chair (Graduate Programs) about their eligibility to apply.

Deadline for receipt of completed applications, including all supporting documentation and letters of reference, for admission is January 1.