Program overview
Anthropology is the study of human culture, social structures, and historical change, centered on understanding "why people live the way they do." In Chinese universities, courses typically include cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, physical anthropology, and fieldwork methods. You'll learn to analyze the lifestyles, beliefs, and economic patterns of different groups through observation, interviews, and participatory experiences. For example, you might spend months living in a minority village in Yunnan documenting their marriage and funeral customs, or study how food delivery riders in cities build social networks. Who is it for? If you love traveling, are curious about other cultures, enjoy listening and observing, and don't mind "hanging out" in unfamiliar settings for research, anthropology is a great fit. A unique feature of Chinese universities is the rich resources of ethnic minority cultures (e.g., in Yunnan, Guizhou, Xinjiang), combined with rapid urbanization and social change, providing excellent fieldwork opportunities. Peking University, Tsinghua University, Sun Yat-sen University, and Xiamen University all have strong anthropology programs, with some courses taught in English—international students are welcome to apply.