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

Structure

Year One

4 Units required: ONE from A, B, C and D

A:

• Introduction to political theory - 153400001 (1 Unit) - Full Year

B:

• Comparative and international politics - 153400063 (1 Unit) - Full Year

C:

• States, people, and power in Asia and Africa - 153400056 (1 Unit) - Full Year

D:

Any other unit available in another department of SOAS for first year UG students- an 'open option'

Year Two

4 Units required: TWO from A, ONE to TWO from B and up to ONE from C

A. TWO of the following DISCIPLINARY units:

• Comparative political sociology of Asia and Africa - 153400067 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• International politics - 153400014 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Political theory - 153400054 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Politics of development - 153400042 (1 Unit) - Full Year

B. ONE to TWO of the following REGIONAL units:

• Government and politics of China - 153400071 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Government and politics of South Asia - 153400020 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Government and politics of the Middle East - 153400060 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Southeast Asian government and politics - 153400022 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• The state and politics in Africa - 153400064 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Taiwan's political and economic development - 153400072 (1 Unit) - Full Year

C. Any other unit available in another department of SOAS for second year UG students- an 'open option'

Year Three

4 Units required: ONE to THREE units chosen from A, ONE to TWO chosen from B, and up to TWO chosen from C

A. ONE to THREE of the following DISCIPLINARY units:

• Comparative political sociology of Asia and Africa - 153400067 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• International politics - 153400014 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Political theory - 153400054 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Politics of development - 153400042 (1 Unit) - Full Year

For FINAL year students ONLY- see prerequisites

• Nationalism, ethnicity and state in Asia and Africa - 153400057 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Islam and democracy - 153400065 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Identity in international relations - 153400073 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Globalisation and global governance - 153400070 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
• The international organisation of world politics - 153400068 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Politics of Culture - 153400075 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Politics of Gender - 153400074 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Issues in Turkish Politics - 15 340 0076 (0.5 Unit)

B. ONE to TWO from the REGIONAL list:

• Government and politics of China - 153400071 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Government and politics of South Asia - 153400020 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Government and politics of the Middle East - 153400060 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Southeast Asian government and politics - 153400022 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• The state and politics in Africa - 153400064 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Taiwan's political and economic development - 153400072 (1 Unit) - Full Year

C. ONE to TWO of the following remaining options:

• Independent study project in Politics - 153400053 (1 Unit) - Full Year

OR:

• Extended essay in Politics - 153400058 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Extended essay in Politics b - 153400061 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Any unit available in another department of SOAS for third year UG students- an 'open option'

Prerequisites

To take 153400057 you should have previously taken: 153400067 OR 153400014

To take 153400065 you should have previously taken: A course in Middle East or South Asian Politics

To take 153400073, 153400070 or 153400068 you must have taken 153400063 OR 153400014

To take 153400075 or 153400074 you must have taken 153400063 OR 153400056 OR a Politics course from the list of regional courses

To take 153400053 you must have a mark of 2:1 or above in Year Two. Students CANNOT take BOTH an Independent Study Project and two Extended Essays.

Programme Specification

• Programme Specification 2012 (pdf; 124kb)

Teaching & Learning

Teaching & Learning

Classes are taught through lectures, tutorials and seminars. Assessment is by a combination of written examination and essays.

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

SOAS BA Politics students leave SOAS not only with a knowledge and understanding of the complex political and cultural issues of global politics, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector. 

Politics students follow many different careers in business, government, international organisations and NGOs, as well as further study.

Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:

Apple BBC - World Service British Council Center for International Peace Operations Channel 4 Civil Rights, Human Rights and Peace Movement Meretz Council for Assisting Refugee Academics Eversheds LLP Financial Times Limited Global Policy Institute Go East Consulting Grassroot Diplomat

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) LSE Norwegian Broadcasting Corp Oxfam Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance - PICG Public Affairs Council PWC Standard Chartered Bank Sveriges Riksdag, Swedish Parliament Think Security Africa Uganda Conservation Foundation Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:

Asia-Pacific Desk Editor Advisor Donor Development Officer Senior Policy Adviser Grant Programme Officer/Consultant Communications Coordinator Lawyer, International Arbitration and Litigation Editor Film Maker Head of Strategy & Corporate Development Media & Marketing Officer

Project Manager Senior Clinical Researcher Barrister at Law Market Analyst Foreign Affairs Correspondent Senior Consultant Commercial Advisor Corporate Affairs Manager, Europe Country Director Project Coordinator Journalist Communications strategist

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