School of Oriental and African Studies, University Of London, England

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Bloomsbury, London WC1H 0XG
Estd 1916

Updated on - Apr 20th, 2022 | 08:36 AM By Venushree Agarwal

Overview Content

School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London is a public research university and is the top institution in Europe specializing in the study of Africa, Asia, and the Near and Middle East. One of the leading institutions of the world, SOAS is home to more than 6,300 undergraduate and postgraduate students who come from 130 countries of the world.

When was the School of Oriental and African Studies Established?

SOAS was founded in 1916 by the British state as an instrument to strengthen Britain's political, commercial, and military presence in Asia and Africa.

Where is the School of Oriental and African Studies?

SOAS is located in the heart of Bloomsbury, in central London in the United Kingdom. 

School of Oriental and African Studies Accreditation and Affiliations

School of Oriental and African Studies is affiliated with the University of London, ACU, and Universities UK.

Education at the School of Oriental and African Studies

SOAS offers more than 350 undergraduate degree combinations and 115 postgraduate programs delivered by over 300 respected specialists. There are five schools, ten departments, and five centers of the school across which programs are offered. SOAS also offers two International Foundation Year Programs to prepare students for undergraduate study.

Why Choose the School of Oriental and African Studies?

SOAS has been one of the most preferred study destinations by students all over the world but majorly from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Dedicated to the study of language, culture, traditions of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, SOAS offers a wide range of subjects from language to political science to the students so that they can study the subject of their choice. Some of the reasons to choose the School of Oriental and African Studies are given below:

Number of Faculties  3
Academic Staff Numbers  More than 300
Number of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs Offered  315 and 115
Percentage of International Students  40%
Student Population  5,200
Financial Aids Loan, Scholarships, Government Aid
Endowment Value  47 million pounds
Number of Departments and Centers  10 and 5
Undergraduates: Postgraduates 55:45

Faculties and Departments at the School of Oriental and African Studies

SOAS has three faculties. It also houses the SOAS School of Law which is one of the renowned and leading law schools in the United Kingdom. Some of the SOAS faculties and academic departments are as follows: 

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

  • Department of Art & Archaeology

Faculty of Languages and Cultures

  • Department of Linguistics

Faculty of Law and Social Sciences

  • SOAS School of Law

Financial Aid at the School of Oriental and African Studies

SOAS provides necessary financial help and support to the students in the form of scholarships, bursaries so as to ensure that the financial burden is reduced to a great extent. Some of the financial aid provided for students at SOAS have been listed below:

  • Undergraduate SOAS Academic Excellence Scholarship
  • Undergraduate Research Awards
  • Felix Scholarships
  • International Postgraduate Scholarships
  • British Council

Student Services at the School of Oriental and African Studies

School of Oriental and African Studies' library houses more than 1.5 million books, collections, journals, and publications in more than 400 languages making the school. It has eight regional centers coordinating regional expertise and running seminars, conferences, and workshops to provide in-depth and up-to-date knowledge. 50 clubs and societies, or better still found their own club. The school has 6 residence halls. Facilities in these halls of residence include broadband internet, contents insurance, 24-hour security, common room with TV, vending machines, courtyard, laundry room, secured bike shed, wheelchair access & adapted rooms, etc. 


University Stats

Student Population at the School of Oriental and African Studies

SOAS is home to more than 5,200 undergraduate and postgraduate students who come from 130 countries of the world. It has around 2,681 international students. SOAS offers more than 100 postgraduate courses and over 350 undergraduate courses in various fields of studies like science, arts, humanities, law, economics, politics, linguistics, and many more.

School of Oriental and African Studies Rankings

The SOAS’s Faculty of Arts & Humanities has been ranked 39th in the world by QS World University Rankings and 7th in the world for Development Studies. Over the years of imparting quality education and training to the students, SOAS has been awarded several awards and recognitions for its continuous effort in imparting top-quality education and training. Some of the School of Oriental and African Studies rankings are given below:

Ranking Institution Ranks/Position
QS World University Rankings Ranked 39th in the world
Complete University Guide's League Table Ranked in top 10 list
Times/Sunday Times  Ranked 36th in the UK
QS Global Ranking 2020 Ranked 288th 

Read More: School of Oriental and African Studies Rankings

Student-Faculty Ratio

11:1

Male-Female Ratio

42:58

International Students

2,681

Total Enrolment

5,200


Admission Details

How can I get into the School of Oriental and African Studies? 

Each application is considered on a merit basis according to the course offered at SOAS. The basic entry requirements for admission at the School of Oriental and African Studies are given below:

Undergraduate Programs

  • Indian school certificate from ICSE or CBSE with at least five subjects and an overall percentage of 85%
  • Applicants offering either ‘A’ levels or the IB Diploma

Postgraduate Programs

  • Second class upper (or equivalent) bachelor’s degree from a good university 
  • The candidates also need to show proof of English language qualification. The acceptable English language scores are Duolingo, TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, etc. 

Acceptance Rate

Minimum Score
TOEFL Requirements

Min. 100


Minimum Score
IELTS Requirements

Min. 6.5


Application Website


Accepts Direct Application

yes


Total Applications

-


Average Tuition Fees

The tuition fees at SOAS is paid pounds sterling (GBP). It depends on the level of study and the course duration. The average tuition fee for undergraduate programs is £18,630. Shown below is the average tuition fees at SOAS for international students at different levels of study:

Degree Type Tuition Fees
Diploma -
Undergraduate £18,630
Post Graduate £20,930

Application Details

The students applying for an undergraduate course at SOAS must apply through UCAS the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK. For a postgraduate course, one can apply directly to SOAS. The student swill requires English proficiency scores, high school education scores, personal statements, and references during their application. The deadline for September intake at SOAS is given below:

Events Dates
Application Deadline
2022-06-30

Other Fees

What is the Annual Average Cost to attend the School of Oriental and African Studies? 

SOAS students have to pay some additional costs apart from tuition fees such as fees for accommodation and everyday living expenses like food, transport, books, and other supplies. The monthly additional costs at SOAS are:

  • Accommodation: £590
  • Laundry: £15-£18
  • Food: £230-£275
  • Travel (buses, trains within London): £50-£110
  • Books, Supplies, Stationery: £40-£70
Average Annual Tuition Fees
£20,530
Average Accommodation
-
Application Fees
-

Courses Fees

The course fee at SOAS varies for UK/EU and overseas students. The fee also differs as per the course levels. The general course fee for undergraduate courses such as BA, BSc, LLB is £18,630. For courses such as LLM; MRes; MA in Law is £22,550. Find below some of the popular SOAS courses along with their fee details for international students:

Doctor Courses:

Bachelor Courses:

Master Courses:

Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D]

Course Fees: $20193


Bachelor of Arts [B.A]

Course Fees: $22470 - $22653


Bachelor of Laws [L.L.B]

Course Fees: $22470


Bachelor of Science [B.Sc]

Course Fees: $20744 - $22659


Master of Arts [M.A]

Course Fees: $22826 - $27587


View All Courses


Contact Information

The SOAS University Authorities can be visited in person at 10 Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG or called on their number at +44 (0)20 7637 2388. Given below is the location and other contact details of the School of Oriental and African Studies:

London, England

Location

+44-20-78-98-4361

Contact No

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