Learn about the diversity of cultures
Study how people live and interact with each other in communities. Cultural Anthropology gives you tools to communicate insights about culture and humanity, understand the range of human experience, and to question our assumptions about that understanding.
Explore the rituals, foods, gender relations, environments, economies, and politics that shape how communities participate in world-making across the globe. You’ll also have the chance to explore areas like design anthropology, medical anthropology, and visual anthropology.
You’ll graduate with the sharp qualitative research skills and the analytical grounding to work across policy, health, design, and community sectors—wherever understanding people matters.
Why Wellington
Make the most of our decades of study and scholarship—we’ve been offering Cultural Anthropology since 1965 and we’re the top programme in the country. As one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most culturally diverse cities, Wellington is an ideal place study anthropology. The communities, conversations, and tensions that anthropologists study aren't abstract here—they are our everyday life.
The city's migrant communities, visible queer culture, history of activism, and connections to government give you a living context for the ideas you’ll encounter in our classes. Wellington also takes food, art, and ideas seriously. Anthropology recognises that these things matter for our understanding of the world.
As the capital, Wellington also sits at the centre of the policy and public sector networks where many of our graduates find work. That gives you access to the kinds of organisations, internships, and professional connections that are harder to find elsewhere in the country.
Litara Allan on Anthropology
Choose your study path
You can study Cultural Anthropology as a major or minor in a:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Environment and Society
- Bachelor of Global Studies (as a minor only).
You can shape your study around what interests you most or what’s closer to your career goals. Topics include:
- environmental anthropology
- medical anthropology
- gender and sexuality
- ritual
- migration
- food
- humanitarianism
- education
- Oceania
- science and technology
- design
- capitalism.
Double major and minor options
You can combine Cultural Anthropology with another major or minor. As a minor, it pairs well with subjects like Sociology, Geography, Development Studies, or other subjects where understanding people and culture is key.
Study as part of a conjoint degree
You could study Cultural Anthropology in a conjoint degree. For example, a Bachelor of Arts combined with a Bachelor of Environment and Society.
Whichever path you choose, you will build ethnographic research and qualitative analysis skills that are valued across policy, health, design, and community sectors.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
Study options
Find out how you can study Cultural Anthropology at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
What I love about Anthropology is that it gives me a unique lens through which to unpack and examine the world. My studies exposed me to fresh and exciting perspectives on topics I was curious and passionate about.
Future careers
Cultural Anthropology graduates work in a range of roles that make the most of their creative and unbiased approach, and their strong communication and analytical skills.
These skills, along with understanding relationships, belief systems, influences, and behaviours, make graduates valuable across many industries.
Your early roles could be in administration, coordination, or similar.
With further study, you could aim for more advanced roles in policy, research, or service design.
FHSS Internship
The FHSS Internship course run by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences helps you develop practical workplace experience.
More career information
Find out more about careers.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
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The Erasmus Scholarship is open to second year students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington who want to major in Greek or Latin.
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This scholarship is designed to support second year students studying English at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington by removing financial barriers to study.
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This scholarship is designed to support second year students studying History at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington by removing financial barriers to study.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also offer specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
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The Erasmus Scholarship is open to second year students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington who want to major in Greek or Latin.
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This scholarship was established in 1980 by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon. Sir John Marshall, GBE, CH, BA, LLM, Hon. LLD, to encourage the study of Political Science at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. The Scholarship was extended to include International Relations.
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This scholarship was established to encourage students to complete a major in Language Sciences at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, and continue to further study or careers in this field.
Postgraduate study
Postgraduate study in Cultural Anthropology means joining a community of researchers doing internationally recognised work. Our researchers have regional expertise from Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.
We offer Honours and Master’s degrees, and PhD pathways that let you do independent research in your specialist subject.
A PhD or Master’s is particularly valuable if you’re interested in academic careers, senior research roles, or specialist work in policy or international development.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you're facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.