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Department of the Languages and Cultures of Africa

BA Hausa and...

Programme Code: As major subject Duration: Combined Honours - 4 years

Overview

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Alena Rettova

Alena Rettová

Convenor

2013 Entry Requirements

  • A Levels: AAB
  • A Level language preferred
  • IB: 36 (6/6/6)
  • BTEC: DDM
  • Access to HE: Minimum of 30 Level 3 Credits at Distinction
  • Scottish Highers: AAABB
  • Scottish Advanced Highers: AAB
  • Irish LC: 340 points from 5 Higher level subjects at grade C1 or above
  • Advanced Placement: 4 4 5 (Two semesters - UCAS Group A) plus US HSGD with GPA 3.0
  • Euro Bacc: 80%
  • French Bacc: 14/20
  • German Abitur: 2.0
  • Italy DES: 80/100
  • Austria Mat: 2.0
  • Polish Mat: 75%

Minimum Entry Requirements: No preliminary knowledge of the subject or the language is required, although we do look for ability to learn a language (e.g. language at A-level or equivalent). Applicants with non-standard qualifications may be invited for interview.

Subjects Preferred: A foreign language at A level, or equivalent, is preferred

Interview Policy: Candidates with ‘non-standard’ qualifications usually invited

Mode of Attendance: Full Time

Hausa is one of the principal languages of Nigeria but is also found in Niger, Ghana, Cameroon, as well as trading communities from Dakar to Khartoum. The first language to over 30 million Africans and familiar to millions more, Hausa has a long tradition of song and poetry within a cosmopolitan Islamic culture which developed through the position of the Hausa states astride the trans-Saharan and savannah trade routes. 

This 4-year degree combines the study of the language of Hausa with another language or discipline. The range of expertise in SOAS, not only in the Africa Department but also with regard to languages and literatures of other regions is unique in UK institutions. Along with proven excellence in other disciplines, such as religious studies, anthropology, art and archaeology, and history, this offers students an unparalleled range of options in choosing their second subject of study.

Combinations

May be combined with
  • Arabic (TTP5 BA/HAA)
  • Development Studies, (LTX5 BA/HADVS)
  • Economics, (LTC5 BA/HAEC)
  • French*,
  • Geography**, (LTR5 BA/HAGE)
  • History, (QV41 BA/HHE)
  • History of Art/Archaeology,(TVM3 BA/HHAA)
  • Law, (MTC5 BA/LWHA)
  • Linguistics, (QTC5 BA/HALG)
  • Music, (TWM3 BA/MSHA)
  • Politics, (LTF5 BA/POLHA)
  • Social Anthropology, (LTP5 BA/SAHA)
  • Study of Religions (TVM6 BA/SRHA)

** Taught at King’s College London
*Students interested in the combination with French should apply through UCL

Structure

Learn a language as part of this programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.

Students must take 4 course units each year. Over the four years students must pass at least 8 units in Hausa (this includes the course Language in Africa) and at least 5 units in the other subject.

Students must pass at least three course units in order to proceed to the following year. In year 1, according to the core course requirements, students must pass Hausa I in order to proceed to year 2. They must also pass Hausa IIA in order to proceed to year 3.

Students may take open option units in a joint degree as long as the required number of units for each of the named subjects is passed at the end of the degree.

The joint-degree Hausa and Arabic has a structure slightly different to the joint-degree with other subjects, for example students are not required to take the course Language in Africa.  The Undergraduate Tutor will advise on this.

Students must take a course for the year for which it is intended. Occasionally exceptions can be made in consultation with the Undergraduate Tutor and the approval of the Associate Dean.

Year 1
Core Course

This course must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.

  • Hausa 1 - 155900834 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Compulsory Course
Other Subject

Take 2 units in the second subject.

Year 2
Core Course

This course must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.

Compulsory Course
Other Subject

Take 2 units in the second subject.

Year 3: Year abroad

For more information on the year abroad programme please see the Teaching & Learning tab.

Year 4
Hausa Course

Take one Hausa course unit.

Optional Course

Choose a course from the list of optional courses.

Other Subject

Take 2 units in the second subject.

List of Optional Courses

Before selecting a course, student's must first check that the course is at the correct level. They must also ensure that they meet any pre-requisites.

Programme Specification

Teaching & Learning

Year abroad

At present the arrangements for the year abroad are under review and it may be the case that students will spend the third year in London.  Further details will be posted as they become available.

Teaching & Learning

Language teaching is mostly in small tutorial groups; tapes and language laboratory facilities are available for formal teaching and self-study. Non-language units are taught by lecture and seminar. Students are assessed by a combination of written examination (and oral for language units) and coursework, including essays and translations.

SOAS Library

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Destinations

Students who study the BA in Hausa and ... develop a wide range of transferable skills such as research, analysis, oral and written communication skills.

Choosing to study a joint degree programme will increase the breadth of your knowledge, and will develop additional skills with which to further your studies of the African continent, or to make comparative study with other areas. Hausa may be combined with a huge range of other disciplines. For more information on the extra skills you will gain from your second subject, please see the relevant departmental page.

Students from the Africa department have chosen non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Oxfam; others have found work in education, the media, or in publishing department.

For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.

How to apply

How to apply
Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section

Undergraduate Research Awards

Application Deadline: 2013-04-26 00:00

A Student's Perspective

SOAS has helped me to understand the world through an academic lens. I originally began my course as a wide-eyed student who wanted to ‘save the world’ and through my subjects and the people I have met here, I received more solid ground work for my ‘plans’.

Asia Mohamud