MA Anthropology of Food in Camden United Kingdom | School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

The MA Anthropology of Food program provides a comprehensive study of diverse food cultures across time and geography, spanning from hunter-gatherer societies to modern industrial food systems, with case studies from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.
This program investigates how food systems—including classification, production, distribution, preparation, and consumption—shape social structures, religious practices, cultural identities, and human-environment relationships. It also analyzes the global circulation of food traditions and their role in migration patterns, as well as the development of regional and national culinary identities.
Students will trace food's journey from field to fork, critically examining the winners and losers in modern food systems. The curriculum engages with pressing discussions about how current food practices affect public health, agricultural communities, ecological balance, and the preservation of traditional meal customs and culinary knowledge.
The program explores various forms of food advocacy, including digital campaigns, sustainability efforts, anti-waste movements, and fair trade initiatives, along with plant-based dietary movements. It also examines preservation efforts for traditional foodways, including heritage food designations and culinary tourism's role in rural economic development and national identity formation.