University Name:
See all universitiesSOAS
UCAS Code: S09
Location: Central London Show on Map
Site: Main site in Bloomsbury; further site King's Cross
A top UK research-intensive institution; a specialist college of London University and a member of the 1994 Group of universities.
Student Population
| Total Students: | 5,225 |
| Undergraduates: | 57% |
| Postgraduates: | 43% |
| FE Students: | 0% |
Undergraduates
| Total undergraduates: | 2,970 |
| Male: | 42% |
| Female: | 58% |
| Full Time: | 96% |
| Mature on Entry: | 27% |
| UK Students: | 66% |
| State school entry: | 78% |
Teaching Staff
200 (full- and part-time).
Broad study areas
Languages, cultures and societies of Africa, Asia and the Near and Middle East - including law, economics, politics, history, linguistics, music, religions.
Freshers
| Admission Information: | Average requirement is 280-360 points from 3 A-levels (excluding general studies) but many courses specify subjects and grades. |
| Points on Entry (Mean): | 366 |
| Drop Out Rate: | 8% |
| Accommodation: | Most first years housed by SOAS or London University |
Institution
| Founded: | 1916 |
| Structural features: | Part of London University. |
| Site: | Main site, Russell Square Campus (in London University area of Bloomsbury); Vernon Square Campus (at King's Cross, 20 minutes' walk). |
| How to get there: | Main site close to Russell Square underground station, easy walking distance from several others; Vernon Square close to King's Cross, St Pancras and Angel underground stations; many buses to both sites. |
Student services & facilities
| Student advice & services: | Welfare office; disability office; chaplains; access to doctors, dentists, FPA, psychiatrist, counsellor, optician, behavioural psychologist. |
| Amenities: | Refectory, snack bar and bar; also all facilities of ULU. |
| Sporting facilities: | All ULU facilities (including swimming pool). |
| Accommodation: | Most first years in SOAS or university accommodation. Approx 760 ensuite self-catering rooms in school residence (with telephone and internet cabling): rent £139 per week, contracts 38 or 51 weeks/year. Also number of places in intercollegiate halls: £149−£280 pw (from £85 pw for shared room), including breakfast and evening meal and all weekend meals, 30-week leases. London University accommodation office helps with university and privately-owned accommodation (based in ULU); rents locally £100-£200 pw. |
Study opportunities & careers
| Library & information services: | 1.2 million volumes in 400+ languages (4000 items of music, poetry and plays; 50,000 photographs and slides), 4500 periodicals, 7000 electronic journals, 650 study places; reserve and short loan collections. Library is national library of the study of Asia and Africa. Information provision, £208 pa spent for each student (FTE). 200+ computers for student use, most with access to internet, some with non-Roman print facilities; student residences online. IT helpdesk in working hours; new students offered training in standard applications. Specialist collections: regional libraries on Africa, Far East, South and South-East Asia, Near and Middle East; subject collections on law, geography, social sciences. Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (1700 pieces of Chinese ceramics). |
| Other learning resources: | 5 language labs; many language tapes made in School's own recording studio; direct lines to BBC overseas services; satellite TV offering 30 channels. Close to Senate House Library, LSE library and British Library. |
| Study abroad: | Many language courses involve a period abroad. Extensive links with universities across Africa and Asia, some links in Europe and USA. |
| Careers: | Information and advice service; access to London University careers service. |
Money
| Living expenses budget: | Budget of up to £10,000 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by School. |
| Financial help: | Various awards open to students resident in England, whose family income is up to £25k pa: 60 awards of £3000 pa; 30 awards of £3000 in Year 1 (for those on specified courses leading to a profession); of £2000 pa (for those from state schools or colleges); hardship payments for those facing unexpected financial hardship. Also 25 awards of £6000 fee reduction in Year 1 (£4500 and £3000 in subsequent years), open to students resident in England who live in a low-participation neighbourhood or are the first in their family to go to university; or of £500 in Year 1 to students from partner colleges. Also variety of individual scholarships. |
| University tuition fees: | Home students pay £9000 pa for first degrees (less for year abroad). International students pay £13,230 pa (£6615 for year abroad). |
Courses
Academic features:
Unique range of African, Asian and Middle Eastern languages from Amharic to Vietnamese (all of which can be studied from scratch); full range of social science courses (including law, politics, economics and development studies) and humanities courses (anthropology to study of religions). Degree courses either single subject or two subject.
Awarding body:
University of London
Main undergraduate awards:
BA, BSc, LLB
Length of courses:
3 years; 4 years for most languages.
Main subjects offered:
- African Studies
- Akkadian
- Ancient History
- Anthropology
- Arabic
- Art History
- Asian Studies
- Bengali
- Burmese Studies
- Chinese
- Cultural Studies
- Development Studies
- Economics
- French
- Geography
- Greek, Modern
- Hausa
- Hebrew
- Hindi
- History
- Human Rights
- Indonesian Studies
- International Development
- International Relations
- Islamic Studies
- Japanese
- Jewish Studies
- Law
- Linguistics
- Management
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Music
- Oriental Studies
- Persian
- Politics
- Religious Studies
- Sanskrit
- Semitic Languages
- Social Anthropology
- South East Asian Studies
- Swahili
- Tamil
- Thai Studies
- Third World Studies
- Turkish
- Urdu
- Vietnamese Studies
Student view
Living
It's in Russell Square, not far from Holborn. London is an extremely bustling and energetic city; it's easily compared to a typical Moroccan street market and the variety and opportunities is amazing. Within a mile you will find something for every taste. In food terms, for example, you will find Asian, African, Italian, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese in small, cosy corner cafés and restaurants. It is not far from the British Museum, from shopping areas like Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, and from the underground world of goths and alternative music in Camden Town. Majority of students live in one of the many halls of residence nearby. 'Living' is perhaps the most educational part of getting a degree, particularly in London. You can live in an intercollegiate hall with people from all over London University (all rooms on corridors, and you eat dinner and breakfast communally); or in halls just for SOAS students (self-catering, all ensuite rooms and vibrant, intense places to live). Or you can rent private accommodation, which means you will have to deal with landlords and broken washing machines yourself; prices nearby are very competitive. Social life is extraordinary. SOAS bar is both a mis-education and an education - it is second to the library as a resource for information, political debate, colourful and passionate conversation. The effects may hold you back from lectures but the bar is indisputably the social centre of the galaxy; the heart of SOAS entertainments is open-mike night - full of spontaneity, vibrancy and surprise - ranging from music, dance and poetry to story-telling. Guest musicians come from obscure corners of the globe. The mixed-aged crowd is positively anti-ageist and enriching and hosts the best Arabic parties in London (featuring live acts from throughout the Middle East). Very active, very political SU: occupations, demonstrations and walk-outs against the war on Iraq. Several extremely active societies, eg Africa Society, Islamic Society, Palestine Society and the Climbing Society. Rubbish sports facilities.
Summary
Housing: Most first years in intercollegiate or SOAS halls. Eats: SOAS food cheapish. Drink: SOAS bar cheap. Nightlife: SU events and all London awaits you. Sports: ULU pool, weights. Minuscule SOAS gym. Financial help: Some well-targeted funds. Travel: 10 min walk from halls. Jobs: Some work in SOAS bar and snack bar, or ULU (around the corner). Best features: It's a microcosm of the world! And worst: It's a pretentious microcosm of the world!
Past Students
Paul Robeson (singer); Zeinab Badawi (presenter); David Lammy MP; Dom Joly (Trigger Happy TV).
More info?
Check out the SU website at www.soasunion.org.
Contact
Address:
School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London
Thornhaugh Street
Russell Square
London
WC1H 0XG
Tel:
020 7898 4034
Email:
Website:
Student enquiries:
Student Recruitment Office
Application:
UCAS
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