Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in any discipline, with a genuine interest in anthropology and development, and areas of overlap between the two.
Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.
Search for a country English language requirements
The English language requirement for this programme is Higher . Read more about our English language requirements .
Competition for places at LSE is strong. So, even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, this doesn't guarantee you an offer of a place.
However, please don’t feel deterred from applying – we want to hear from all suitably qualified students. Think carefully about how you can put together the strongest possible application to help you stand out.
This MSc in Anthropology and Development provides a unique perspective on the complex challenges facing our world today. The programme offers you a comprehensive study of how anthropologists evaluate, criticise and contribute to development (whether "planned" or "unplanned"), and how they understand globalisation and other economic transformations.
Studying this programme will provide you with anthropological insights into these phenomena, as well as their historical backdrop and wider context. You'll gain a knowledge of how cutting-edge policy is formed and critiqued, and learn about the processes involved in overcoming poverty and creating healthy, wealthy and sustainable social change.
The MSc is offered by the Department of Anthropology with the assistance of the Department of International Development. It focuses on both "Big D" development (schemes of planned intervention or improvement, projects) and "little d" development (change that happens as the result of economic growth or modernisation).
You’ll have the flexibility to choose courses that reflect your interests, including the option to specialise in Humanitarian Emergencies by taking two specialist electives and completing a humanitarian consultancy project. Students who complete these courses graduate with the specialism MSc Anthropology and Development (with Humanitarian Emergencies), which is recognised on both their degree certificate and transcript.
The programme provides ideal preparation for research work in anthropology, international development and related fields.
Discover more about our students and department.
The Department of Anthropology is world-leading and internationally renowned – rated the top anthropology department in London and second in the UK ( Good University Guide 2027 ).
Our work is rooted in ethnographic research: we explore how different societies and communities work. We ask big questions about what people have in common and what makes us different – challenging traditional assumptions and ideas.
Anthropology has been taught at LSE since 1904. The department rose to prominence under Malinowski – the founder of British social anthropology. Many of the leading figures in the field have taught and/or studied at LSE. Today, we strive to work in the best radical traditions of the discipline while constantly pushing our thinking in new directions.
The department offers a mix of undergraduate and postgraduate study opportunities, including a single honours degree in Social Anthropology and a joint undergraduate Anthropology and Law programme.
We have a dynamic and active research community. Long-term anthropological fieldwork is a key strength of our department. Most staff are involved in ongoing field research, in both well-established and emerging fields. Our academics also work at the intersections with other disciplines, including history, cognitive psychology and religious studies.