Cities and especially global(ising) cities are set to see their economic, cultural and environmental roles gain greater significance in the next decade or so. Many forums and coalitions recognize the importance of understanding, researching, managing, planning and coordinating the continued growth of cities worldwide.

London is already home to over 8 million people. Can it continue to provide a ready stream of quality housing for its inhabitants? To what extent do London's regenerated spaces meet the needs of London’s businesses and population? If these questions excite and intrigue you then this Masters-level course will be an excellent fit for you.

Duration: 2 years

Entry Requirements: A minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent). We welcome applications from academically strong individuals from a wide variety of fields and backgrounds. Candidates with a lower class degree but with degree-relevant work experience may be considered.

Start of programme: April / October

Mode of Attendance: Online

Deepen your understanding of international affairs and contemporary diplomatic practice with a regional focus on the Middle East & North Africa. This programme will give you a theoretically and historically informed understanding of the practice of international diplomacy, broadly conceived, and its applications in the Middle East & North Africa.... [-]

Duration: One calendar year (full-time); Two or three years (part-time, daytime only)

Entry Requirements: Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent)

Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time

The MA African Studies (Literature Pathway) enables students to engage critically with varied aspects of oral and written literature in Africa. The programme is unique in the way it encourages exploration of relationships between indigenous African aesthetics and contemporary literary theories. The module ‘Theories and Techniques of Comparative Literature’ provides theoretical and methodological skills while the programme’s other units focus on specific areas such as literature in African languages and contemporary African literature in English.... [-]

Duration: One calendar year (full-time). Two or three years (part-time, daytime only) We recommend that part-time students have between two-and-a-half and three days a week free to pursue their course of study.

Entry Requirements: Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent)

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full-Time or Part-Time

The opportunity to move from the familiar Euro-American literary canons into the fresh but less well-known worlds of African and Asian literature is what attracts most students to this popular MA.

At SOAS, students benefit from the unique expertise in this vast field possessed by the school’s faculty.... [-]

Duration: One year (full-time). Two or three years (part-time, daytime only).

Entry Requirements: The normal qualification for admission to the MA programme is an upper second class honours degree. Other qualifications, however, may be acceptable and the Department welcomes mature students. Students taking the MA degree may or may not have previous experience of our subjects. While knowledge of a relevant Asian or African language is not a requirement, for some modules it is an advantage for admission (see individual module descriptions for details). It is possible to include an element of language training within the MA programme by taking an Asian or African language as one of the two ‘minor’ modules. This option may be particularly desirable for those intending to progress to the PhD, who do not already have the necessary language skills.... [-]

Duration: Two years (full-time). Four years (part-time, daytime only)

Entry Requirements: The normal qualification for admission to the MA programme is an upper second class honours degree. Other qualifications, however, may be acceptable and the Department welcomes mature students. Students taking the MA degree may or may not have previous experience of our subjects. The Japanese pathway offers beginner and intermediate entry levels. For further information please see the webpage for the [MA....and Intensive Language Japanese] in the pages of the Japan and Korea department. The Korean pathway is designed for beginner learners of Korean.... [-]

Duration: Two years (full-time), four years (part-time)

Minimum Entry Requirements: The normal qualification for admission to the MA programme is an upper second class honours degree. Other qualifications, however, may be acceptable and the Department welcomes mature students. Students taking the MA degree may or may not have previous experience of our subjects.

Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time

The Department of the History of Art and Archaeology contains some of the world’s leading experts in the art history and archaeology of the Islamic Middle East, whose ground-breaking research informs and is informed by their teaching. Students benefit from the unparalleled knowledge and enthusiasm of the staff. As members of the School of Arts, they profit from the insights of scholars and students working in other related fields, such as Music, Film and Media in the Middle East and the wider Islamic world. They can also select from courses in other departments, taking advantage of SOAS’s unrivalled expertise in the languages, history, religions and cultures of the Middle East.... [-]

Duration: One calendar year (full-time), or two or three years (part-time, daytime only)

Entry Requirements: Minimum Upper Second-class (2.1) honors degree (or equivalent). Overseas students may be asked to provide evidence of meeting English language requirements. Relevant professional and activist experience will be taken into account.

Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time

The pathway caters for students who would like to obtain a critical lens to the current issues and debates within the study of gender in the Middle East and will appeal to both students who are interested in the relevant academic discussions and those who are interested in political and activist dimensions.... [-]

Not running 2018-19

Entry Requirements: Minimum upper second class honours or equivalent.

Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time

Do you want to enhance your understanding of the cultural, political and economic history of Pakistan? The MA in the Study of Contemporary Pakistan provides a comprehensive and critical approach to Pakistan: its complex and vibrant culture, politics, economics, law, religious history and current trends. SOAS hosts one of the biggest concentration of research and teaching staff who specialise in Pakistan related topics. You will have an opportunity to interact and work closely with them. The Programme of Study will introduce you to the latest research topics, methods and debates in the field. It will prepare you to critically assess the diverse complexities of one of the most reported on countries in the world.... [-]

Duration: One calendar year (full-time); Two or three years (part-time, daytime only)

Entry Requirements: Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent)

Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time

The MA Korean Studies (Literature Pathway) aims to:

Duration: One calendar year (full-time), or two or three years (part-time, daytime only).

Entry Requirements: Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent).

Start of programme: September intake only.

Mode of Attendance: Full-Time or Part-Time.

The MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies provides exceptional opportunities for studying this diverse and fascinating area at the postgraduate level through a variety of disciplinary approaches. The main emphasis of the programme is on the modern period through the modules in history, geography, politics, economics and anthropology. Some exposure is provided, however, to the pre-modern culture and society of the area through modules in religious studies, Islamic art and archaeology, and history. Modules based on Arabic are offered for those with an adequate knowledge of the language, while modules in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish are available for those who wish to acquire or develop skills in these languages.... [-]

Duration: One calendar year (full-time) Two or three years (part-time daytime only)

Entry Requirements: Minimum upper second class honours (or equivalent)

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time

The SOAS MA programme in Taiwan Studies is the first postgraduate degree focussing on contemporary Taiwan in the English speaking world. It provides an unrivalled programme of advanced interdisciplinary courses on Taiwan’s politics, society and culture, film, rights and law, and languages. SOAS is the world’s leading centre for the study of Taiwan. Each year its Centre of Taiwan Studies runs a very vibrant series of academic events, film screenings, concerts and conferences that are designed to create a unique environment for the study of Taiwan.... [-]

Duration: 2 years

Start of programme: April / October

Mode of Attendance: Online

What are the challenges faced by Muslim minority communities and their host societies? What are the debates surrounding the place of religious minorities in secular societies?

Recent political shifts in Muslim majority countries have put Muslim minorities in the spotlight and impacted upon their relationship with their host societies. This programme gives you an opportunity to consider Muslim minority communities comparatively, within both western and non-western contexts.

You will explore the varieties of religious interpretations and practices that have resulted in issues and challenges arising uniquely within different Muslim minority communities and the key themes of:... [-]

Duration: 2 years

Start of programme: April / October

Mode of Attendance: Online

Deepen your understanding of international affairs and contemporary diplomatic practice with a regional focus on South Asia & Afghanistan. This programme will give you a theoretically and historically informed understanding of the practice of international diplomacy, broadly conceived, and its applications in South Asia.

Research is a key component of this programme upon completion will give students the skills to:

Entry requirements: The normal qualification for admission to the MA programme is an upper second class honours degree. Other qualifications, however, may be acceptable and the School of Arts welcomes mature students. Students taking the MA degree may or may not have previous experience of our subjects. While knowledge of a relevant Asian or African language is not a requirement, for some modules it is an advantage for admission (see individual module descriptions for details). It is possible to include an element of language training within the MA programme by taking an Asian or African language as one of the two ‘minor’ modules. This option may be particularly desirable for those intending to progress to the PhD, who do not already have the necessary language skills.... [-]