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I love cultures and studying them. What degree fits me?

I have for a very long time, had a deep love and fascination in the many different cultures of the world. I am fascinated in the mythologies, religion, society, history and achievements of the many different ancient civilizations. I used to have a strong liking for the Chinese culture, and planned to do a degree in Chinese studies but withdrew from that because I decided I would prefer to study cultures as a disciplinary thing for degree-level.

I have to choose my degree very soon, and the school wants UCAS drafts in by Easter time. I am pulling my hair out... I have no idea what degree would suit me. I like the Anglo-Saxon, Norse, Celtic, course that Cambridge offers but that's a very competitive University and having my A-level subjects (Biology, Psychology and Sociology) won't do me any good. They want English and History... and the only relevant subject I have is Sociology.

I've looked at Social Anthropology(the only speciality of anthropology that seems to be taught in the UK nowadays) and it seems relevant to what I want to study, but I get the feeling they focus on aboriginal societies to the exclusion of the great ancient civilizations of Egypt, Europe, Arabia, Mesopotamia, India, China, which I find rather dry. Clearly, if I could give you my dream degree it would be Cultural and Social Studies.

Anybody here got experience in the sort of field I'm looking at? Anybody found a degree that you think I would like? I really need somebody to answer as I'm completely lost, and teacher's can't advise well as most people here in my school don't opt for these rarer, and less taken degrees. I've done quite a bit of research on degrees but since there is quite a bit of overlap, I'm unsure what exactly to do.
(edited 10 years ago)
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Avatar for Giulia Z
Giulia Z
7
Anthropology was the first option I had in mind to be honest when I saw your thread but seeing as it didn't fit you...I had a look at this: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=Anthropology and though Cambridge is the best (I agree with you on wanting to go to the best universities), there are several others to consider. As for anthropology as a subject, don't despair! Maybe you'll be interested in Language anthropology? Food anthropology? Clothing? Evolutionary anthropology even, with a bit of genealogy if you're into science? There are so many specifics! I agree that they seem to focus on ancient civilizations more than modern ones and that's the annoying so if you've really not found anything interesting in anthropology check out these:
- Comparative Literature and Culture
- Classical Studies
- European Studies
- Modern Languages & __________ (e.g. French & Philosophy, Italian & Culture, etc.)
Most of such culture courses offer a year abroad, which I think you'll enjoy! :smile:

Another piece of advice - if you're really struggling, try finding reading books on your favourite section of the topic. That'll help you define exactly what you want and maybe it'll be easier to understand and choose a course? Clarification is the key! And even after that, you're still stuck, perhaps considering to go with a second best option? I know it's awful to have to drop your dream but thinking practically - if you want to go to university and you do not know and your time is almost up, that seems the best idea.
I hope it'll never get to that though :frown:

Good luck and I hope it helped! This is just from the top of my head.

P.S. Oh, if you're having a hard time finding universities which offer those courses, Royal Holloway does. I don't attend and I don't want to advertise it but I just had a meeting with them today and saw their prospectus and recalled these subjects :smile:
(edited 10 years ago)
There are a few anthropology degrees in the UK focusing on biological anth, medical anth, etc. so it's certainly not just social, although that seems to be what would suit you best anyway going by what you've said.

I don't think the level of specificity and specialism that you desire is really found in too many undergraduate degrees, you're probably looking at postgrad to get that really, but then i'm no expert.

I study anth at Durham and it's great because we get an overview of bio, medical, legal, political, social, etc. etc. anthropology, and that is the beauty of the discipline really, the idea is to get a grounding and then specialise after that rather than doing so right from the start.

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