SOAS University of London

 

SOAS University of London is the only higher education institution in Europe specializing in the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. SOAS students are encouraged to develop a truly global perspective and are uniquely placed to inform and shape current thinking about the economic, political, cultural, security, and religious challenges in society. That is one of the reasons why SOAS graduates develop careers that make a real difference in the world.

Founded in 1916, SOAS is a public research institution within the University of London. The SOAS campus, in London’s Bloomsbury neighborhood, has more than 5,000 students, more than 50 percent of whom are from outside the U.K. About 45 percent are graduate students (termed “postgraduate” in the U.K.). An additional 3,600 students are enrolled in SOAS online and distance-learning programs from all over the world.

SOAS offers an intimate community and small classes, with a student-staff ratio of less than 12:1. At the same time, it provides an immense breadth and depth of program choices. Students can take courses from different disciplines across the school to create individualized interdisciplinary programs.

An emphasis on transferable skills in the Master of Science (MSc) in Development Studies benefits the many graduates who go on to pursue careers with international organizations, government agencies, and NGOs. SOAS offers 14 additional MSc programs in the field of Development Studies, on campus and online, focusing on environment, sustainability, migration, and more.

SOAS programs in Politics and International Studies include theme-based degrees, such as the MA in Globalization and Multinational Corporations, as well as region-based degrees, such as the MSc in African Politics.

Three of SOAS’s six postgraduate degrees in International Studies and Diplomacy are offered on campus, and four are available online: the MA in Global Diplomacy, the MA in Muslim Minorities in a Global Context, MSc Global Corporations and Policy and the MSc in Energy and Climate Policy.

Area studies programs include opportunities for interdisciplinary study of a region. The MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies, for example, offers courses in history, geography, politics, economics, history, religion, anthropology, and more. Language options include Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish.

Master’s degree programs focusing on specific parts of the Middle East include MA degrees in Iranian, Turkish, Israeli, or Palestine Studies. Another option is the MA in Gender Studies with respect to the Middle East.

Students often choose the MA in African Studies program for a chance to explore the history, culture, or political economy of a particular region of Africa. Many go on to work in Africa or in fields related to the continent.

SOAS offers the most comprehensive MA in Japanese Studies available anywhere in Europe. Other options include MA programs focusing on Chinese, Taiwanese, or Korean Studies. SOAS also offers an MA in Southeast Asian Studies, an MA in South Asia Studies, an MA in the Study of Contemporary Pakistan, and an MSc in Contemporary India Studies.

Master’s Degrees offered: See Program Directory

Receive School Information: See Request Info