Projects per year
Organisation profile
The fundamental goal of anthropological research is to examine micro-level social life as well as global-level phenomena from a comparative point of view, thereby continuously expanding the boundaries of the researcher’s previous competence.
In the teaching of anthropology at the University of Helsinki a strong emphasis is placed on the tradition of fieldwork research through which modern anthropology is connected to the central questions and issues of sciences concerned with culture, society and human behaviour. The early stages of anthropological studies focus on research traditions and the philosophical and theoretical questions which have been asked throughout the history of the discipline. The purpose of this part of the programme is to ensure that every student becomes acquainted with the research fields of modern anthropology, its research methods and ethnographic studies across the globe.
The study of anthropology at the University of Helsinki comprises three academic degrees. The Bachelor of Social Science typically takes three years with a total of at least 180 ECTS; this includes introductory and intermediate courses in social and cultural anthropology and an additional 50-60 ECTS in minor subjects. The Master of Social Science degree comprises 120 ECTS of advanced studies, ethnographic fieldwork and a written thesis based on empirical findings; it is expected to take approximately two years. The most important element of the Doctoral degree is approximately one year of fieldwork resulting in a supervised dissertation, with an additional 50 ECTS of coursework or supervised literature reports connected with the candidate’s ethnographic sphere of inquiry. This should take approximately four years.
A major part of the expertise accruing from anthropological studies is the competence to work in a wide range of different fields and professional environments, along with the ability to come up with solutions to unpredictable problems in any situation. In addition to finding positions in diverse research initiatives, anthropologists are employed in international organizations and government administration, as cultural experts in the corporate world and have found niches in fields such as journalism and other communication media. Anthropologists are required as teachers both in universities and other educational institutions, and are in particular demand in non-government organizations, museums and welfare bodies.
International and National Collaboration
Profiles
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Pierre Auzerau
- Social and Cultural Anthropology
- Academic Disciplines of the Faculty of Social Sciences - Grant-funded researcher
- Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences
Person: Visiting scholar, Doctoral Researcher
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Fangming Cui
- Social and Cultural Anthropology - Postdoctoral Researcher
Person: U2 Teaching and research staff
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Matti Eräsaari
- Academic Disciplines of the Faculty of Social Sciences - Grant-funded researcher
- Social and Cultural Anthropology - University Researcher
Person: Visiting scholar, U3 Research and teaching staff
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Kati Maarit Forde, PhD
- Social and Cultural Anthropology - University Lecturer
- Faculty Common Matters (Faculty of Social Sciences) - Title of Docent
- Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ)
Person: U3 Research and teaching staff
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Sarah Green
- Social and Cultural Anthropology - Professor
- Helsinki One Health (HOH)
- Doctoral Programme in Gender, Culture, and Society - Supervisor for doctoral programme
- Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences - Supervisor for doctoral programme
Person: U4 Research and teaching staff
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M Eräsaari ERC CoG 09/2023 - 08/2028
01/09/2023 → 31/08/2028
Project: EU Horizon Europe: European Research Council (HORIZON-ERC)
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Establishing Black History Month at the University of Helsinki
Lüpke, F. K. E. M., Oinas, E., Pohjonen, M., Wayessa, G., Väyrynen, S., Vähäkangas, A., Pietilä, T., Al-Sharmani, M. & Posti-Ahokas, H.
01/01/2023 → 31/12/2023
Project: Other project
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IRRITATION: Irritation and Human Sociality
Kajanus, A., Medzani, J. M., Sarasjärvi, R. E. & Wu, H.
01/10/2022 → 30/09/2027
Project: EU Horizon Europe: European Research Council (HORIZON-ERC)
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Ärtymys ja ihmisen yhteistyö
Kajanus, A., Cui, F. & Scalco, P.
Suomen Akatemia Projektilaskutus
01/09/2022 → 31/08/2026
Project: Academy of Finland: Academy Project
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Sekularismi rodun ja uskonnon risteyksessä: afrobrasilialaiset uskonnot ja uskonnollisen suvaitsemattomuuden syytteet 2000-luvun Brasiliassa
Suomen Akatemia Projektilaskutus
01/09/2022 → 31/08/2024
Project: Academy of Finland: Academy Research Fellow's research expenses
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Religion in Trinidad and Tobago
Forde, K. M., 2024, (Accepted/In press) The Oxford Handbook of Caribbean Religions. Gonzales Maldonado, M. (ed.). Oxford: Oxford University PressResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
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Special Issue: Gender and Power in a Diverse Religious Landscape
Forde, K. M., Syriac, S., Lucien, V., Atiba, I. & Ragoonanan-Maharaj, V., Aug 2024, (Accepted/In press) Brill. 70 p.Research output: Book/Report › Anthology or special issue › Scientific › peer-review
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Anthropology's entanglement with “Europe”
Green, S., 1 Jun 2023, Knots: ethnography of the moral in culture and social thought. Lipset, D. & Silverman, E. K. (eds.). 1 ed. London and New York: Routledge, p. 215-226 11 p. (Routledge Studies in Anthropology).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
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Basotho blankets: ownership and appropriation
Pietila, T., Mar 2023, In: Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 29, 1, p. 124-144 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access -
Comparing the Worth of the While in Fiji and Finland
Eräsaari, M., 2023, Oxford University Press. 132 p. (British Academy Monographs)Research output: Book/Report › Book › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
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Finnish Anthropological Society Conference: Relations and beyond
Timo Kaartinen (Speaker: Presenter)
21 Mar 2023 → 23 Mar 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
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Co-curator of the museum exhibition "Right body, wrong body?"
Toomas Gross (Participant)
2023Activity: Other activity types › Types for other activities - Other
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Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies Winter School 2023
Pierre Auzerau (Attendee)
8 Feb 2023 → 10 Feb 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
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Temporality and Ambivalence of Kinship: Politics of kinning in the lives of late colonial British child migrants.
Katja Uusihakala (Speaker)
23 Mar 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Value frontiers across locations and landscapes
Timo Kaartinen (Speaker: Presenter)
8 Sep 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
Prizes
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Best International Teacher of the Year (2021)
Gross, Toomas (Recipient), 27 Nov 2021
Prize: Prizes and awards
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Fellow of Association of Social Anthropology
Siikala, Jukka (Recipient), 2008
Prize: Prizes and awards
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Third price in the science photography contest organized by the The Federation of Finnish Learned Societies
Salmi, Jelena Johanna (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prizes and awards
Press/Media
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Sansibarissa islam ja vanhat uskomukset kohtaavat: asiantuntijahaastattelu artikkeliin Sansibarin menneisyydestä, nykyisyydestä ja uskontojen synkretismistä
06/03/2023
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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University of Helsinki: How Long Until COVID-19 is Over? The Social History of Pandemics Gives Us a Clue
24/06/2021
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Haastattelu artikkeliin 'Ei ruokaa, ei vapautta’
15/05/2021
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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