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Department of Politics and International Studies

Graduate Destinations

The study of Asian and African politics, whether at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, provides an intellectual challenge to any individual genuinely interested in understanding or adding to the world's knowledge of politics. Such study equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to pursue a variety of careers both in and out of the academic world. The analytical task of understanding not only the politics of another country but also the interaction of culture and society with political forms and forces provides amongst the most stimulating of intellectual opportunities. The Department of Political Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies offers that opportunity.

How does a degree in Politics and International Studies help with my career?

The department of Politics and International Studies enables students to follow many different careers in business, government, international organisations and NGOs.  Students leave SOAS with a knowledge and understanding of the complex political and cultural issues of global politics.  They are also equipped with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek including; the ability to research information from a variety of sources; analytical skills; written and oral communication skills to set out and discuss opinions and conclusions; and presentation skills.

Former Politics and International Studies students have gone on to employment in a wide range of professional and management careers in business, public and charity sectors.  The Politics and International Studies programmes have also enabled graduates to continue in the field of research either at SOAS or other institutions.

Destinations of recent graduates from this department immediately after graduation include:

  • Reporters and producers: BBC and BBC World Service; Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera English; Jeddy TV
  • Campaign Organiser: National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaign; Tomorrow’s Youth Organization
  • Programme Officer: Konrad Adenauer Foundation, UN, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Centre for Democracy and Development
  • Researcher or Campaigner: UN, ICRC, Amnesty International, Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
  • Journalist: BBC, The Brunei Times, The Guardian, New York Observer, Al Masry Al Youm, Wall Street Journal
  • Policy Adviser: Central Office of Information, Thai Government, UK Ministry of Justice, Synovate
  • Project Manager: Terre de home
  • Risk Analyst: Olive Group Security
  • Lawyer/Legal Analyst: Latham and Watkins
  • Global Advocacy Manager: Unilever
  • Management Consultant: Ernst and Young, Deloitte
  • Analyst: UNDP
  • SOAS: MA International Studies and Diplomacy
  • University of Milan: International Economics Postgraduate Study
  • University of Macedonia: International Studies

DLHE Statistics

The chart above shows that SOAS Politics and International Studies graduates are very employable. Graduate Destination Surveys from 2004-2011 show that 90% of graduates who could be surveyed are either in work, further study, work and study or volunteering.

Further information about DLHE is available on the Careers Service website.

What do Graduates do?

Job Profiles

  • Occupational profiles for 600 career areas on Prospects
  • Postgraduate study information and database on Prospects
  • For more information about careers, visit Careers Tagged

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