Learn with leading experts in the field
The experience of the UM anthropology faculty covers much of the world, from the far North to the tropics, and around the globe from the Americas to Asia.
This research serves to increase an understanding of:
- Gender relations and biocultural interplays between sex, gender, health and wellbeing
- The political economy and culture of globalization
- The universal concern (across time and space) for food, shelter and livelihood
- Human evolution and ecological adaptations
- Human responses to disease and biocultural adaptations through time
- Cultural groups and their varied responses to health and illness
- Patterns of growth, stress and health across the life course
- Industrialization and migration for work
Visit our faculty page for more information on the diversity of our research interests.
Program details
Anthropology offers a graduate program PhD in sociocultural anthropology, biological anthropology and archaeology.
Expected duration: 4 years
Tuition and fees: Tuition fees are charged for terms one and two and terms four and five. A continuing fee is paid for term three, term six and each subsequent term. (Refer to Graduate tuition and fees.)
In addition to the minimum course requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section, students must complete:
- 9 credit hours of coursework at the 7000 level, including at least 6 credit hours of anthropology courses
- A mandatory pass/fail ANTH 7000 Professional Development in Anthropology Course
To complete the PhD program, students need to:
- Pass a candidacy exam
- Defend a thesis proposal
- Submit an acceptable thesis
- Pass a thesis oral examination
PhD students are required to pursue training in a language other than English if it is deemed of necessity or benefit to the student’s program of study. Determination of language training is made during the first year of the student’s program.
Sample graduate-level courses
- ANTH 7050 - Seminar in the Anthropology of Religion (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7040 - Seminar in Ethnography of Power Systems (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7470 - Scientific Methods and Applications in Biological Anthropology and Archaeology (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7140 - Ethnographic Research Methods (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7350 - Prehistoric Human Ecology (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7450 - Cultural Resource Management (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7460 - Advanced Faunal Analysis in Archaeology (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7790 - Advanced Topics in Human Skeletal Biology (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7440 - Archaeological Theory (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7830 - Social Organization (3 credit hours)
- ANTH 7930 - Growth, Development & Plasticity in Human
- ANTH 7450 - Cultural Resource Management
For full course descriptions, please visit the Academic Calendar.
Admission requirements
The following are minimum requirements for entry into the Anthropology PhD program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
To qualify for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Anthropology, you must have a minimum of:
- a Master of Arts degree in anthropology
- a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (4.5 scale), based on the last 60 credit hours (or two full years or equivalent) of university study.
A student will only be considered for admission if a faculty member agrees to act as his/her advisor. Students are encouraged to consult with potential advisors ahead of time.
Preference will be given to applicants who have demonstrated independent research competence at the Master of Arts level.
In addition to the admission requirements described here, all applicants must meet the minimum admission and English language proficiency requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
How to apply
The Anthropology PhD program has one application deadline per year, and applications are accepted for September entry only. Applications must be completed online and include several parts:
- Application fee (non-refundable)
- Unofficial copies of transcripts and degree certificates
- Current CV/resume
- Include the following, in this order, with dates for all activities: educational background, relevant experience, publications, other professional activities, volunteer and community service
- Statement of intent
- Detail your study and/or research interests and reasons for seeking admission, and identify a faculty member from the anthropology department whom you are interested in being your advisor.
- Make your statement two pages, single-spaced, in Times New Roman 12-point font.
- Publication/writing sample of single-authored scholarly writing
- Acceptable samples: master's thesis, research paper, major paper, published article, book chapter, conference paper
- The sample must be single-authored, academically rigorous, and demonstrate quality writing.
- Two letters of recommendation (must be requested from within the application)
- Letters must be from a university professor who has taught you at a post-secondary institution.
- Proof of English language proficiency, if required
Please read the Faculty of Graduate Studies online application instructions before beginning your application.
Application deadlines
Learn more
Contact us
Admission and application inquiries
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Room 500 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-9377
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Program inquiries
Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts
432 Fletcher Argue Building
15 Chancellor's Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
anthro@umanitoba.ca
204-474-9361