SOAS University of London

Directions Website

SOAS University of London SOAS is a remarkable institution, uniquely combining language, disciplinary expertise and regional focus.

We are distinctively positioned to analyse some of the most challenging issues facing the world today. Celebrating 100 years of research and teaching excellence SOAS’s world class scholars are well-placed to provide the analysis and understanding of our rapidly changing world. Our programmes are taught by respected specialists engaged in fieldwork and research which influence government policy and the lives of individuals across the globe. SOAS scholars grapple with the pressing issues confronting two-thirds of humankind today: democracy, development, economy, finance and public policy, human rights, migration, identity, legal systems, poverty, religion, and social change.From day one at our central London campus, our students are encouraged to challenge conventional views and think globally – and that’s one of the reasons why they develop careers that make a real difference. A SOAS student is typically passionate about their subject; opts to learn a second language; loves to learn, to travel, to be surprised; and is interested and engaged with the world around them.

Graduated from SOAS around 15 months ago? We'd love to hear what you're up to! 👋 The Graduate Outcomes Survey takes abou...
16/10/2026

Graduated from SOAS around 15 months ago? We'd love to hear what you're up to! 👋

The Graduate Outcomes Survey takes about 10 minutes and asks what you're doing now. Your answers:

✅ help future students choose the right course

✅ boost the value of your SOAS degree in university rankings

✅ help SOAS improve support for students and graduates

Whatever you're doing, your answer counts. Check the personal email address you gave SOAS for your invitation 💙

16/10/2026

What really makes us who we are, beyond the colour of our skin?

For , Professor Elvis Imafidon picks three books on identity, Africa’s place in the history of progress, and why understanding the past matters if we want to build a better future.

Which one would you start with? 👇

15/10/2026

Can Donald Trump and Xi Jinping ever end the US–China rivalry?

SOAS Professor Steve Tsang says the competition runs much deeper than either leader.

From Taiwan’s future to the risks of AI and who gets to set the rules of the global economy, the disagreements aren't going away.

The real question is whether the US and China can manage their rivalry without letting it escalate.

Professor Steve Tsang explains what's at stake in this SOAS Explains.

We’re offering five £2,000 scholarships to students starting a SOAS online master’s programme in January 2027.Eligible p...
14/10/2026

We’re offering five £2,000 scholarships to students starting a SOAS online master’s programme in January 2027.

Eligible programmes cover public policy, banking and finance, international business, development, humanitarian action, sustainability, climate change, diplomacy, gender, history, media and anthropology.

Apply for your course first, then for the scholarship through the admissions portal. The deadline is 12 noon UK time on 4 December 2026.

Full programme list and how to apply: https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/student-life/finance/scholarships/soas-online-scholarships

🏆Congratulations to the SOAS team for an outstanding performance on BBC University Challenge last night!Delivering a hig...
13/10/2026

🏆Congratulations to the SOAS team for an outstanding performance on BBC University Challenge last night!

Delivering a high scoring performance of 240 points to Edinburgh’s 80 points; Josephine Newcombe (Korean Studies), Seb Lawson (Arabic), team captain Lola Finch (Liberal Arts) and Aiden Langston (Linguistics) had their fingers primed on the buzzers answering quick-fire questions that tested their knowledge on science, geography, pop culture, music and more!

We wish our University Challenge team the very best of luck and look forward to seeing their progress in the second round of the competition! 👏

We often describe countries as ‘developing’ or ‘underdeveloped’. But have you ever stopped to think about what those wor...
12/10/2026

We often describe countries as ‘developing’ or ‘underdeveloped’. But have you ever stopped to think about what those words actually mean?

They suggest that every society is moving along the same path, with Western industrialised nations setting the standard for what it means to be ‘developed’.

But what about the role of colonialism, slavery, unequal trade and the extraction of resources in shaping wealth and poverty?

In this edition of Words Worth Rethinking, Ida Hadjivayanis, Senior Lecturer in Swahili at SOAS, questions the assumptions behind these familiar labels.

Take a look at the carousel and tell us: do these terms help us understand the world, or do they leave too much of its history out?

09/10/2026

For Black History Month, we’ve created a special edition of 'Three Books to Understand the World we Live in'.

Dr Ida Hadjivayanis, Senior Lecturer in Swahili at SOAS, takes us to East Africa in some of her book recommendations, asking us to think differently about development, the history and legacy of slavery, and Zanzibar through the eyes of a woman.

It’s also a reminder that African history isn’t separate from world history. Its people, ideas, movements and experiences have shaped the world we live in today.

What book has changed the way you think about African history?

08/10/2026

We asked SOAS students to teach us some slang in their language. Swipe to hear what they had to say.

08/10/2026

We asked SOAS students to teach us some slang in their language. Swipe to hear what they have to say!

07/10/2026

What looks like a football dispute is really a question about money, regulation and how complex disputes are resolved.

Manchester City’s case with the Premier League has played out largely behind closed doors. But why? And when a dispute has such public consequences, how should confidentiality be balanced against transparency and the public interest?

Professor of Law Baiju Vasani, a member of the SOAS Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre, unpacks what this process actually is, why it is not arbitration, and what makes private dispute resolution fair and legitimate.

Watch the latest SOAS Explains.

Address

Thornhaugh Street
London
WC1H0XG

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when SOAS University of London posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share