SOAS University of London

Taught

SOAS MA and MSc courses are all taught master’s. On these programmes, students will attend lectures, seminars and tutorials and take part in group discussions. Assessments will include exams, essays, coursework and presentations, and the majority of the programmes also require students to complete a dissertation.

Along with compulsory modules, students will also have the option of choosing elective modules to customise their degree to suit their own interests.

Some two-year master’s courses include a period of study at partner institutions overseas.

Research

Research students generally undertake a research project of their choosing, and will be assigned a supervisor, along with a member of staff with a close interest in their area of study. Students also attend training seminars, introducing them to a range of research methods.

Online and Distance learning

SOAS Online and Distance Learning degrees bring the expertise of SOAS University of London to students, no matter where they live or work.

Equal in quality to those taught on campus, SOAS qualifications are recognised throughout the world for their high standards. With more than 20 years of experience and expertise in delivering specialised distance learning programmes, SOAS courses are designed to meet the needs of students and industry.

Research

Research students will be assigned a supervisor, along with a member of staff with a close interest in the chosen area of study. Students will also attend training seminars, which will introduce them to a range of research methods.

Students will be represented by the Research Students' Association (RSA) – where elected students will voice their concerns and feedback to the university, along with organising a range of academic and social events throughout the year.

There are a range of research master’s degrees at SOAS including MRes Social Anthropology, MRes Law, MPhil/PhD in Economics, MPhil/PhD in Linguistics and so on. These postgraduate courses use seminars, courses and individual supervision to equip students with strong research skills.

Much of the research conducted by SOAS students, lecturers and alumni focuses on key themes such as global voices, heritage of humanity, sharing a small planet, global interactions, global diplomacy and governance.

SOAS also has many research centres and institutes focusing on specific regions of the world each running their own research projects, events and workshops.

Distance learning

Distance learning programmes are available to study at the university within the following fields:

• Development studies
• Development, environment and policy
• Finance and management
• Gender studies
• International studies and diplomacy
• Media studies

Students learn through the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), where they will have access to study materials, tutor-led discussion forums, interactive exercises and self-assessment questions.

All online and distance learning degrees are equal in standard to those taught on campus, and they have the advantage of allowing students to maximize their potential whilst fitting their studies around their professional and personal commitments.

University of London qualifications are recognised throughout the world for their high standards, and SOAS is the largest provider of online and distance learning courses in the University of London’s International Programmes.

Online and distance learning students will also have access to the SOAS library and the University of London’s online library plus they can learn from their peers using online discussion forums.