My year at SOAS: Being part of the museum community feels like a dream come true

Linshu reflects on her time at SOAS studying MA History of Art and Archaeology, immersing herself in London’s museum scene through research, curation and volunteering.

A few years ago, I made a big decision: to leave my job and pursue what I’m truly passionate about—art history and archaeology. Working in a museum has long been my dream, and SOAS felt like the gateway to making that dream a reality.  

The academic environment here has been like sunshine—it illuminated new perspectives for me. The teaching and the inspiring approach to learning have transformed the way I think and how I see the world. Over the past year, I’ve come to realise that academic research plays to my strengths.

We've had the opportunity to explore the study rooms of the British Museum and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, particularly in the Asia and Coins departments, and to handle real objects—from Dunhuang manuscripts and ancient Gandharan Buddhist sculptures to early Central Asian coins. 

Working in a museum has long been my dream, and SOAS felt like the gateway to making that dream a reality.

I also had the opportunity to co-curate an exhibition with my fellow students on cross-cultural ceramics, which is currently on display at the SOAS Library. The exhibition even caught the attention of a British Library curator! One of the biggest highlights for me has been becoming a volunteer at the British Museum. 

Being part of the museum community feels like a dream come true. And of course, London life added its own sparkle—Van Gogh at the National Gallery, red carpet at the London Film Festival, and boarding the Hogwarts train as a true Harry Potter fan. There’s more to come, I can feel it.