Many people from all over the world are affiliated to the RAI. We welcome anyone with an interest in the subject, whether working in an academic institution or not. Our affiliates include academic specialists, students, those working in fields where anthropology has practical applications, and those whose interest is captured by the subject matter of anthropology. The membership structure has been designed as far as possible to suit all interest groups. The RAI is constantly looking for ways of improving its structure and services, and welcomes all suggestions.

You can go straight to the application form here.

CATEGORIES OF AFFILIATION TO THE RAI

Individuals can join the RAI as Fellows, Members or Student Associates.

FELLOWSHIP OF THE RAI

Fellowship is intended for those who have an academic or professional engagement with the social sciences, but serious amateurs are warmly welcomed. Fellows are elected by the Council of the RAI. For details about the types of Fellowship available, click here.

Fellows are entitled to:

Print subscription and online access to the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute (JRAI)
A special Fifth Issue of the JRAI is distributed annually to all Fellows without charge
Print subscription and online access to Anthropology Today (AT)
Online access to the entire back files of both Journals, up to 5 years before the current year, through JSTOR
The right to borrow up to 10 books (4 in the case of Junior Fellows) from the Anthropology Library, in person or by post, when in the UK
Free access to The RAI Collection by appointment during opening hours
Free or reduced-rate admission to RAI events
Voting rights and eligibility for election to the RAI Council
25% discount on Blackwell publications ordered through Blackwell; follow this link for an order form.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE RAI

Membership is available to all those who have a general interest in the study of humanity. Members do not need to be elected.

Members are entitled to:

Print subscription and online access to Anthropology Today (AT)
Free access to The RAI Collection by appointment during opening hours
Free or reduced-rate admission to RAI events
25% discount on Blackwell publications ordered through Blackwell; follow this link for an order form

STUDENT ASSOCIATESHIP

Student Associate status is available to all registered postgraduate students on taught or research programmes in any field of anthropology. Student Associates do not need to be elected but annual confirmation of their postgraduate student status is required. Preferably this should be in the form of an email from the department administrator confirming status. The subscription rate is kept as low as possible to support the needs of postgraduates. Student Associate subscriptions can be renewed throughout the period of student status, and for one year afterwards.

Student Associates are entitled to:

Print subscription and online access to Anthropology Today (AT)
Online access to the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute (JRAI)
Free access to The RAI Collection by appointment during opening hours
Free or reduced-rate admission to RAI events
25% discount on Blackwell publications ordered through Blackwell; follow this link for an order form

Student Associates in social anthropology may also apply, on payment of a small supplementary fee, to be Associate Members of the Association of Social Anthropologists (ASA). Benefits include

Annals of the ASA
Annual Monograph (proceeds of the annual ASA conference)
Discounts on previous monographs
Reduced-rate admission to ASA conferences

ONLINE ACCESS TO JRAI AND AT

All Fellows, Members and Student Associates receive online access to the journals to which they are entitled from the 2000 volume onwards, via Blackwell Synergy. In addition, all Fellows are entitled to access the entire back catalogue of RAI journals, up to 5 years preceding the current volume year, through the JSTOR online archive.

HOW TO JOIN: INDIVIDUALS

You can join by completing the application form here. Or if you prefer to have hard copy of the application form, please email the . You can find information about the price of each category here.

Election of first-time Fellows

If applying to become a Fellow for the first time, you must be proposed and elected by the Council of the RAI. If possible, your proposer should be a current Fellow who knows you personally. Failing this, a letter of recommendation from a person of standing will be accepted. Follow the joining and payment instructions given here. We will send you a proposal form to complete and return. As soon as your payment is processed, you will begin to receive Fellowship benefits. In the unlikely event of your not being elected, your payment will be refunded immediately. If applying to become a Member or Student Associate, or if you have previously been a Fellow, you do not need a proposer.

In case of difficulty

If you meet any difficulty in joining or renewing your affiliation, or in accessing the services to which you are entitled, contact the RAI office by post at 50 Fitzroy St, London W1T 5BT, UK; by phone on +44 (0)20 7387 0455, or by email to the .

IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR 2008
RAI TO TAKE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP IN-HOUSE

The RAI Council has decided that, with effect from the 2008 membership year, the Institute will take direct responsibility for membership administration. This has, since 2000, been outsourced to Blackwell Publishing under a management fee agreement; and we are grateful to Blackwell for the professional service they have provided. However, Council believes that now is the moment for the RAI to assume this responsibility. The change will enable the Institute to deal directly with its membership and provide a responsive and personal service, as well as developing new service areas in future based on improved knowledge of our membership and its needs.

Staffing changes have been put into effect at Fitzroy St to cover the additional tasks. Membership administration becomes the responsibility of the Office and Membership Manager, supported by the Assistant Director (finance and personnel) who will handle all financial transactions. Technical support will be provided by Nomad IT. Blackwell Publishing will continue to produce and dispatch the RAI’s two journals (the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute and Anthropology Today) and to administer journal-related membership services such as online journal access for those entitled to this, and access to JSTOR for Fellows. Institutional subscriptions to the journals will continue to be handled by Blackwell.

The RAI is also pleased to announce that individual fees for Fellows, Members and Student Associates in 2008 are being frozen at 2007 levels, in order to balance any bedding-in problems that may arise as we transfer to the new system. We ask those joining or renewing to let us know promptly on of any problems encountered.

INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIBERS

Institutions and libraries cannot join the RAI, but may subscribe to the RAI journals Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute (JRAI) and Anthropology Today (AT). Since 2006, a special fifth issue of the JRAI is published annually and distributed to institutional subscribers as part of their subscription. All institutional subscriptions are managed by Blackwell publishing. Follow these links for information on subscribing to JRAI and AT.