A course in development studies or anthropology is often seen as a route into working for a development NGO. Hannah Elliot is about to start an undergraduate course in social anthropology, and she takes time out from packing to tell us why she chose this degree.

What made you decide to study social anthropology?
A trip to Malawi definitely triggered my fascination with different cultures and how the way we live our lives is so very diverse depending on where we come from and in which culture we grew up. I found myself suddenly on the lookout for anything to do with Africa - in the papers, on TV and in music. African American history and race relations in the USA was an area of A-Level history which I found particularly interesting and my history teacher picked up on this and suggested social anthropology. I also considered African studies and development studies, but decided anthropology was broader and allowed more room for my ambitions for a future career to develop and change.

What will you be studying?
The course covers a range of areas including culture, power and language; anthropology of religion; culture and society; regional anthropology; sex, gender and kinship; and anthropology in relation to globalisation and development. The course also looks into the anthropology of organisations and what part anthropology plays in visual culture and the media.

How does this degree fit into your career ideas?
I still don’t know what I want to do for a career. I’m very interested in third world development and yet I feel that maybe too much help from the developed world has rendered developing countries too dependent on aid. I’d love to see what these countries would look like had western countries never intervened and taken over. Perhaps my degree course will lead me to look more closely into sustainable development projects that really suit the particular culture they aim to help. I would also be interested in working to ease cultural conflict through education and possibly theatre. I’m hoping I’ll get many more ideas once at university!