The study of Anthropology includes Archaeology, Biological Anthropology, Social Anthropology and Ethnomusicology. You can specialise in any one of these fields, or you can choose to study across these areas. Anthropology bridges the natural sciences, human sciences and humanities, and we embrace a unified approach.
The University of Auckland was ranked 37th in the world for Archaeology and 48th in the world for Anthropology in the 2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

As a doctoral candidate, you'll benefit from: financial support for research expenses through PReSS funding; high-calibre supervision practices; and the networks and expertise of our world-class academic researchers.

Research opportunities
We offer diverse opportunities for PhD study in the four major sub-fields of Anthropology. We welcome research proposals in areas such as:
Archaeology
- Ancient Australia
- Neolithic economies of Egypt
- Archaeological fauna and environment in the Pacific
- Ancient society and material culture in Polynesia and Melanesia
- New Zealand archaeology

Bioanthropology
- Osteology of past lives
- Historical epidemiology
- Human growth and maturation
- Primatology

Social Anthropology
- Food security, society in New Guinea
- Gender issues in the Pacific
- Religion and Pacific peoples
- Health and violence in cultural perspective

Ethnomusicology
- Modern musics of Aotearoa and the Pacific
- Bollywood music
- Asian music diaspora