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

Structure

Year 1

Core Courses

• Introduction to South East Asia - 155901320 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• South East Asia on Film - 155901318 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Compulsory Language Course

Choose a South East Asian Language at a suitable level.

Optional Course

Choose a unit from List B at an approved level.

Open Option

Choose a further unit from List B or an open option from another department at an approved level.

Year 2

Core Course

These literature courses run in alternate years.

• War, Revolution and Independence in South East Asian Literatures in Translation - 155901316 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• The City and the Countryside in South East Asian Literatures - 155901326 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2013/2014

Core Course

Choose a half-unit course from List A.

Optional Course

This can be either; a continuation of Year 1 SEA language OR one unit from List A or List B at an approved level.

Optional Course

Choose a unit from List A, List B or List C at an approved level.

Open Option

Choose a further unit from List B or an open option from another department at an approved level.

Year 3

Core Course

• Independent Study Project in South East Asian Studies - 155901243 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Compulsory Course

A unit from List A at an approved level.

Optional Course

This can be either; a continuation of Year 2 SEA language OR one unit from List A or List B at an approved level.

Open Option

A unit from List B or List C at an approved level OR an open option.

List of Approved Courses

List A

• Thailand on Screen (post '97) - 155901317 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Indonesia on Screen - 155901354 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Sex and the City in South East Asian Film - 155901319 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• War, Revolution and Independence in South East Asian Literatures in Translation - 155901316 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• The City and the Countryside in South East Asian Literatures - 155901326 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Cultural Foundations of Indonesia - 155901308 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Indonesian Literature: Literature of the Revolution - 155901309 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Jawi and the Manuscript Tradition - 155901312 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Pre-Modern Historical Texts of Java, Bali and the Malay World in English Translation - 155901313 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Traditional Malay Literature: Adventure Romances in Texts and Film - 155901314 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Language in South East Asia - 155901358 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Thai Cultural Texts - 155901352 (1 Unit) - Full Year

List B

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.

• H150 Introduction to the History of South East Asia - 154800232 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Introduction to the Art and Archaeology of South and Southeast Asia - 154900156 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Introduction to the Art and Archaeology of East Asia - 154900163 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Introduction to Islam - 157400020 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Buddhism: Foundation - 158000110 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Hinduism: Foundation - 158000118 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• World Christianities Foundation - 158000117 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - (Previously called: Christianity Foundation)
• Extended Essay in South East Asian Studies - 155901307 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Ethnography of a Selected Region - South East Asia - 151802048 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Popular and Fusion Music in South East Asia (UG) - 155800081 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Music and Religion in South East Asia - 155800080 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• H255 South East Asia During the Cold War 1945-1991 - 154800237 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2013/2014
• H353 The Creation of Modern Burma 1852-C.1941 (I) - 154800252 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Arts of the Buddha in Southeast Asia - 154900148 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Contemporary Arts in Southeast Asia - 154900149 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Angkor and Khmer Art in Southeast Asia - 154900146 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2013/2014
• Southeast Asian government and politics - 153400022 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Economic development of South East Asia - 153400012 (1 Unit) - Full Year

List C

These, or another SEA language at an appropriate level

• Sanskrit Language 1 - 155901303 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Arabic 100 - 155901202 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Basic Pali - 155900948 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Programme Specification

• BA South East Asian Studies - Programme Specifications 2012/13 (pdf; 50kb)

Teaching & Learning

Year abroad

No

Teaching & Learning

Course Information

Introductory and intermediate courses in a South East Asian language use a wide variety of learning experiences and techniques. Most other units are taught by formal lecture and with related tutorials. Assessment is by a combination of written examination and coursework.

Special Features

The School's teaching is backed up by the South East Asia collection within the SOAS library, one of the world's major collections of information in the field of South East Asian studies. The South East Asia collection now contains over 6500 books and pamphlets and 550 periodical titles as well as substantial collections of microfilms and manuscripts.

Pre Entry Reading

Suggestions for preliminary reading

• Allott, A.J. 1996. 'The Study of Burmese Literatures.' In South East Asian languages and literatures, edited by E. Ulrich Kratz. London:Tauris.
• Eliot, Joshua. 1997. Thailand Handbook. London: Footprint Handbooks.
• Gelman Taylor, Jean. 2003. Indonesia; peoples and histories. New Haven : Yale University Press
• Hall, Barbara and Cathy Draine. 2000. Culture Shock! Indonesia: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette. London: Kuperard,
• Healy, Dana. 1996. 'Studies on Vietnamese language and literature.' In South East Asian languages and literatures, edited by E. Ulrich Kratz. London:Tauris.
• Jamieson, N. 1993. Understanding Vietnam. Berkeley: California University Press.
• Keyes, C.F.. 1987. Thailand: Buddhist Kingdom as modern nation-state. Boulder Colorado and London: Westview Press.
• Mulder, Niels. 2000. Inside Thai Society: Religion, Everyday Life, Change. Chiangmai: Silkworm Books.
• Nguyen Du. 1983. The tale of Kieu (translated and annotated by Huynh Sanh Thong) Yale UP.
• Okell, John. 1996. 'Burmese language study.' In South East Asian languages and literatures, edited by E. Ulrich Kratz. London:Tauris.
• Robson, S O 2004. Welcome to Indonesian, a beginner's survey of the language. Boston; Tuttle.
• Steinberg, David. 1982. Burma: a socialist nation of South East Asia. Boulder Colorado and London: Westview Press.
• Vickers, A. 2005. A history of modern Indonesia. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Destinations

As a graduate who specialised in the South East Asian region, you will have gained competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, literature, history, cinema, politics, economics or law. Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, 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. These include: written and oral communication skills; attention to detail; analytical and problem-solving skills; and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.

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

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

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