SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Combinations

May be combined with

• African Studies,  WT35 BA/MSAF
• Arabic +,   TW63 BA/MSA
• Burmese ++,   TWH3 BA/MSBU
• Chinese +,   TW13 BA/MSCH
• Development Studies,   LW93 BA/MSDVS
• Geography **,   LW73 BA/MSGE
• Georgian,   TW93 BA/MSGN
• Hausa +,   TWM3 BA/MSHA
• Hebrew +,   QW43 BA/MSHE
• History,   VW3 BA.MSH
• History of Art/Archaeology,   
• Indonesian ++,   TWHH BA/MSI
• Japanese +,   TW21 BA/MSJ
• Korean +,   TWLJ BA/MSKO
• Linguistics,   QW33 BA/LGMS
• Persian,   TWQ3 BA/PMS
• Social Anthropology,   LW63 BA/SAMS
• South Asian Studies (3 years), WTH3 BA/SASMS
• South Asian Studies (4 years) +, TW33 BA/SASMS
• South East Asian Studies,   WTHH BA/MSSEA
• Study of Religions,   VW63 BA/SRM
• Swahili +,   TWN3 BA/SWMS
• Thai ++,   WT33 BA/THMS
• Turkish +,   TWP3 BA/TUMS
• Vietnamese ++   WTJ3 BA/VMS
  + 4-year degree with (compulsory) one year abroad
  ++ 3 or 4-year degree with option of one year abroad
  ** Taught at King’s College London

Structure

General Structure

First-year courses cover the basic principles of ethnomusicology and survey a variety of Asian and African musics. Students additionally receive aural training (e.g. in transcription) and follow lessons in one or more Asian or African performance traditions. Qualified single-subject students may take one or two half-units in Western music at King’s College, London. 

In Years 2 and 3, the student will usually focus on the music culture of a selected area or areas: Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Jewish music. They may also choose from the general and performance courses on offer. 

Degree Detail

• Students are required to take courses to the value of 12 units over the duration of their degree, or 4 units per year.  A full-unit course is taught over both terms, while a half-unit course is taught over one term only.  
• Up to 2 units (for a three-year degree) or 3 units (for a four-year degree) may come from "open option courses" (courses outside of this programme - e.g. language or non-music courses).  However, open option courses may not be taken in year 1.
• At least 5 units of Music courses must be taken in total.

Year 1:
Two-subject students take Sounds and Cultures 1 OR 2, Music and Culture, Introduction to Music Analysis, and Performance 1a OR Performance 1b.

Year 2:
Two-subject students take the compulsory 15 credit course Ethnomusicology Themes & Variations. They must also take one unit chosen from the "Area Courses" list. Remaining units can be selected from any of the course groups listed below, with up to one unit from an open option course, or music courses at Kings College.

Year 3:
Two-subject students take the compulsory half unit course Urban Soundscapes. They must also take at least a half unit chosen from the "Area Courses" list. Remaining units can be selected from any of the course groups, with up to one unit from an open option course, or music courses at Kings College.

Course Details

Year 1 Compulsory Courses

• Sounds and Cultures 1: Africa, the Jewish World, West and Central Asia - 155800071 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Sounds and Cultures 2: East, Southeast and South Asia - 155800072 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Performance 1a - 155800061 (0.5 Unit) - Full Year
• Performance 1b - 155800062 (0.5 Unit) - Full Year
• Introduction to Music Analysis - 155800070 (0.5 Unit) - Full Year
• Music and Culture - 155800060 (0.5 Unit) - Full Year

Year 2 Compulsory Course

• Ethnomusicology: Themes and Variations - 155800065 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Year 3 Compulsory Course

• Urban Soundscapes - 155800083 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Area Courses

• Music and Religion in South East Asia - 155800080 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Popular and Fusion Music in South East Asia (UG) - 155800081 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Music of Korea - 155800035 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• Musical Traditions of East Asia - 155800078 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Pop and Politics in East Asia - 155800077 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Indian Classical Music - 155800046 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Music in the Cultures of South Asia - 155800036 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• Music of Central Asia - 155800059 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Popular Music and Politics in Israel - 155800075 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Klezmer Music: Roots and Revival - 155800074 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Music of the Middle East and North Africa - 155800068 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Music in Africa - 155800022 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Music in the Mande Cultural World - 155800056 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• Atlantic Africa: (P)Layers of Mediation in African Popular Music (UG) - 155800079 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• The World of Cuban Music - 155800058 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

General Courses

• Composition (BA) - (0.5 Unit)
• Gender and Music - 155800073 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Global Hip-Hop - 155800084 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Introduction to Sound Recording - 155800069 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Music in Religion - 155800054 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Music, Shamanism and Healing - 155800055 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Presenting World Music On Radio - 155800076 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• The Music Business - 155800053 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Project Courses

• Extended Essay in Music 1 - 155800066 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Extended Essay in Music 2 - 155800067 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Independent Study Project in Music - 155800026 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Performance Courses

• Performance 2 - 155800042 (0.5 Unit) - Full Year
• Performance 3 - 155800045 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Programme Specification

• BA Music and...Programme Specification 2012-13 (msword; 115kb)

Teaching & Learning

Year abroad

Teaching & Learning

The Department of Music has been highly rated for teaching and research in all recent assessment exercises, and is regularly ranked amongst the top Music departments in the UK in Good University Guides.

Music students have access to the large Main Library of the School which holds numerous books, journals and recordings relevant to the study of ethnomusicology and world music, as well as the nearby British Library Sound Archive and other London libraries and museums.

The SOAS Library holds copies of standard reference works on music, such as the current edition of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. The Grove dictionary and the RILM database can also be accessed on line from computer terminals in the Library or elsewhere on the SOAS network. Listening facilities are provided in the Library, and most CDs are available on short loan. Among special items in the Department’s collections are:

• field recordings, films and slides
• a large working collection of musical instruments from Asia and Africa
• extensive staff collections relating to specific research interests

Destinations

As a graduate who specialised in Music at SOAS, you will have gained competency in one or more world music performance traditions, intercultural awareness and understanding of global music and the world music industry. Familiarity with a specific region will have been developed through the study of its music. You will have the opportunity to develop practical vocational skills in sound recording and radio presenting. Graduates leave SOAS not only with musical and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and creative capacities, including interpersonal skills, communication skills, focus, teamwork, passion and dedication. Studying a combined honours degree gives students to blend a solid grounding in another discipline or subject area which enables them to place the knowledge they gain as part of their degree within a specific regional, cultural or disciplinary context.

Specific Graduate Destinations:

• Nana Klimek (BA Music Studies) works at HeadNod Talent Agency in London.
• Rick Wilson (BA Music Studies), among other activities, collaborates with former MMus student Sally Pomme Clayton, providing music for her story-telling performances.
• Leni Koupis (BA Music Studies) is a fund-raiser and charity concert organiser for the Free Tibet Campaign.
• Nami Morris (BA Music & Korean) works in the External Affairs Division of Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea.
• Mira Sengupta (BA Music Studies) has composed music for three radio plays for LBC and has worked as a concert promoter.
• Many other graduates proceed to postgraduate study at SOAS or elsewhere. Others return, enhanced, to previous careers: Nigel Gomme as a composer and arranger, Fiona West as a music producer, David Wright as a jazz saxophonist, etc.

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

How to apply

How to apply

• How to Apply
• UCAS website
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts

Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section