Department of Linguistics
About the Department of Linguistics
The Department of Linguistics at SOAS University of London offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in linguistics, with a focus unique in the UK: the languages of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Founded in 1932, the Department of Linguistics at SOAS was the first linguistics department in the UK.
What is Linguistics at SOAS?
Linguistics at SOAS is uniquely focused on the languages of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, setting us apart from more typical linguistics departments whose curricula are heavily focused on European languages.
Our expertise spans language documentation and description, multilingualism, language endangerment and revitalisation, language contact and change, sociolinguistics, translation studies, and theoretical models of language analysis, with particular strengths in language variation and comparative linguistics.
Studying with us gives you a thorough grounding in the methods of linguistic research and investigation, as well as the opportunity to do specialised study in a number of the areas mentioned above, always with a focus on languages of the global majority.
Top-ranked for Linguistics
9th in the UK for Linguistics
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026
Top 90 in the world for Linguistics
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026
Joint 1st in UK for International Faculty
QS World University Rankings 2027
Meet the academics
Get to know the researchers behind some of the world's most important work on the languages of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
'Language is what makes us human – cognitively and culturally. We seek to understand how language functions across societies all over the world and invite you to join us in this exciting project!'
