Physical Activity, Health and Society

The MSc combines flexibility and choice with academic rigour. It is delivered through a combination of interactive extended seminars, lectures, laboratory practical sessions, workshops, field-based learning and tutorials totalling an indicative 18-20 contact hours per core module. This is supported by a further indicative 130 hours of directed reading, independent study and research per module. Optional modules may vary in length, with contact hours and independent study time worked out on a pro rata basis.

The dissertation is supported by lectures, workshops and supervised tutorials which are spread across the academic year. The lectures and workshops create links between learning and the research process, while the tutorials provide tailored guidance and support as you research and write your dissertation.  

Assessment

Methods of assessment are tailored to module objectives and vary across the course. Core modules and the majority of optional modules include written coursework, reflective work and presentations. Depending on the optional modules selected you may also sit an end-of-module exam.

Finally, you will complete an 8,000 – 10,000-word dissertation. This will be an independent piece of research into a specialist topic in the field of physical activity, health and society, agreed by the Department and supported by a dedicated dissertation supervisor.

Normally a minimum 2:1 Honours degree from a UK institution (or the overseas equivalent) in a relevant subject is required. As an accessible and inclusive programme, this requirement may be waived for applicants with particularly high levels of relevant practical or professional experience.  This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the DSES Programme Director and/or Admissions and Recruitment officer in collaboration with Anthropology, as appropriate.

We welcome international students to this programme of study and support for non-home students is well established at Durham University. English language requirements stipulate Band C, IELTS of at least 7.0 overall and with no component under 6.0 or equivalent scores in an alternative accepted English language test. Pre-sessional programmes are open to students who hold an offer for a Durham University degree programme. Programmes are suitable for both those who have narrowly missed their language condition and those with unconditional offers for their main programme. The Durham Centre for Academic Development currently offers both online and on-campus options for postgraduate taught students.

English language requirements

Full Time Fees

Part Time Fees

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

Our anthropology postgraduates are well-placed to build on the research-led teaching the department offers. Many continue their academic careers by carrying out further research into the complex and diverse nature of humanity.

Durham courses develop a depth of practical skills and knowledge about understanding behaviour and society that are hugely applicable to the workplace environment and are highly sought after by employers in the UK and internationally.

Such attributes and qualities are easily transferable to a range of stimulating and rewarding professional careers. Our postgraduates have secured roles in development, health, government, policy, social research, culture, heritage, consultancy, education and media.

Recent postgraduates have moved into roles with employers that include Save the Children, HM Prison Service, Civil Service, Durham University, VSO, Office for National Statistics, National Graduate Development Programme (the local authority graduate scheme) and non-governmental organisations such as Concern Universal and Kenwa.

For further information on career options and employability, student and employer testimonials and details of work experience and study abroad opportunities, please visit our employability pages.

We have an outstanding track record of supporting our postgraduate students to progress into careers of their choice. Tailored support includes access to Durham’s award-winning Researcher Development Programme; specialised skills and methods training (e.g., data visualisation, project management) and opportunities for embedded research placements.

The varied nature of our postgraduate programmes opens the door to a wide range of careers from academic roles and industry-based research and development to health service practitioners, roles in applied sport science support, and in national and international health policy and governance.

Our PhD students have graduated into a range of UK and internationally based roles, including academic, policy and governance, and industry-based positions. Our taught and research Masters programmes provide a springboard to PhD scholarships, or to employment within a range of industries including sport development, management and public health.

The Department of Anthropology is one of the largest among UK universities and one of only a handful covering Social Anthropology, Evolutionary Anthropology and Anthropology of Health.

This broad subject range is reflected in the flexibility of the Masters learning structure that makes it possible to choose advanced specialist courses to suit career or research aspirations. A research-led approach to teaching means that course content is as relevant and contemporary as it is informed by the latest developments in the subject area. 

Learning is delivered by subject specialists who are world experts in their particular field, be it energy use, sustainable development, the evolution of brain and cognition, aesthetics, primatology, global health and sleep. 

At Durham, the essential skills and knowledge in anthropology that we nurture are also developed through practical learning. We offer you the opportunity to join an active research group and, supported by expert staff, undertake world-class research that will ultimately prepare you for your future career.

We are proud to say that we produce some of the most innovative research taking place in contemporary anthropology. We are equally proud of the inclusive and supportive community that you will join in the Department, offering a stimulating and rewarding environment in which to work.

Rankings  

• Top 30 in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2023
• Top 10 in The Complete University Guide 2024 and The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
• 6th in The Guardian University Guide 2024

Staff

For a current list of staff, please see the Anthropology pages.

Research Excellence Framework

• 45% of our research was rated as world-leading (REF 2021)

Facilities

In keeping with our vision to offer research-led teaching, the Department provides a wide range of state-of-the-art facilities to support postgraduate research projects and programmes.

These include the Behavioural and Ecological Physiology Laboratory, the Physical Activity Laboratory and the South Africa Field Station as well as the award-winning Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre Laboratory.

We are the location for one of the country’s best collections for palaeoanthropological and morphometric research in biological anthropology and have a material culture collection of over 2,000 objects from around the world.

The Department of Anthropology is housed in the Dawson Building, which is conveniently located next to the main library, and close to lots of other departments and university services.

More information on our facilities and equipment.

The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences is a welcoming and vibrant community with an outstanding reputation for excellence in research, teaching and employability. Our students, staff and researchers share a passion for the benefits of sport and physical activity at all levels of participation.

We offer PhD and Masters by Research options, as well as a taught MSc in Physical Activity, Health and Society. The interdisciplinary nature of our Department is reflected in the wide range of projects undertaken by all of of postgraduate students, either through research or taught dissertations. Postgraduates play an important role in our community working in and across sport and exercise science disciplines and related areas such as sociology, psychology, physiology, nutrition, policy, and political sciences. Projects span theory and practice, with students working closely with academic supervisors to better understand how sport and physical activity relate to wellbeing, health, and contribute to building a just and fair society.

Academic development and networking opportunities are built into the Durham experience. We support students to lead seminars and host conferences, publish academic and public-facing outputs, and gain teaching, leadership, and strategic committee experience where appropriate.

Our supervisors have a strong track-record of supporting research students to identify and secure funded scholarships from a variety of sources, including research council funding (ESRC, AHRC), National Institute for Health Research scholarships, global and national charities, and with industry partners.

Rankings:

• 5th for Sports Science in The Complete University Guide 2024
• Ranked World Top 100 in The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
• Top Ten in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

Research Excellence Framework

• 10th in the UK overall
• 100% of our submission was world-leading or internationally excellent

Facilities

At Durham, the academic study of sport and exercise is closely linked to sport and exercise in practice. Our specialist facilities include the Human Performance Laboratory which houses a range of exercise and monitoring facilities that analyse our physiological and metabolic responses to exercise and nutrition in health and disease.

The brand-new Green Lane Research and Nutrition Laboratories opened in 2023. The Nutrition Laboratory allows for the precise preparation of nutritional interventions while the Research Laboratory supports the assessment of these interventions through both performance and biomarker responses.

These facilities support students and researchers alike, while providing further opportunities for collaboration within the University and with external partners.

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