Department of Anthropology and Sociology

The Department of Anthropology and Sociology at SOAS University of London offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees in social anthropology, medical anthropology, migration and diaspora studies, and sociology, with a distinctive focus on Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

We are part of a diverse community comprising more than 50 academics across a wide range of subjects and expertise. Our teaching is research-led, and we grapple with the theory and practice of real-world issues including migration, race, gender, climate change and social justice. A globally renowned department, SOAS is ranked 19th in the world for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026).

What is Anthropology and Sociology at SOAS?

Anthropology is the broad study of what it means to be human, while sociology examines the social relationships and institutions that shape our lives. At the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, we explore what defines our humanity and how that humanity is shaped by the societies we create.

We approach these questions through a comparative and decolonial lens centred on Africa, Asia and the Middle East. We start from the premise that the world contains many perspectives, histories and forms of knowledge, with teaching that is practice-based, collaborative and shaped directly by staff research.

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See the world beyond Eurocentric perspectives

Our teaching and research approach the world from a decolonial, comparative perspective, with Africa, Asia, and the Middle East always at the centre, rather than the periphery, of study.

Learn in central London

Study close to international NGOs, cultural institutions and humanitarian organisations, with real-world placements built into programmes.

Join a globally recognised department

Ranked 6th in the UK and 19th in the world for Anthropology, SOAS is internationally recognised for its teaching and research, offering students a distinctive perspective on societies, cultures and global change.

Learn from researchers working on real-world issues

Teaching is informed by research on issues shaping societies today, such as caste and gender inequality in the Himalayas, the experiences of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda, and food insecurity and humanitarian assistance in Sudan through the work of the SOAS Food Studies Centre.

A collaborative, international learning community

Ranked joint 1st in the UK for International Faculty (QS World University Rankings 2027), SOAS brings together students and academics from around the world. We believe in collaborative learning and peer mentoring, with the Helen Kanitkar Departmental Library providing a dedicated social study space for our diverse and vibrant student community.

Teaching in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology is shaped by research into:

• Migration and displacement: borders, refugees and diasporas 
• Race and inequality: power, identity and social change 
• Gender and sexuality: family, relationships and society 
• Mental health and wellbeing: culture, care and lived experience 
• Climate change and social justice: environment, sustainability and inequality

Students examine these themes with a distinctive regional focus on Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Research and teaching in the department is also informed by our dedicated research centres, including the Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies, CAMHRA, and the SOAS Food Studies Centre.

Graduates from the Department of Anthropology and Sociology work in international development, humanitarianism, research, journalism, consulting and the cultural sector. Recent graduates have been hired by organisations including the BBC, British Council, Deloitte, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, The New York Times, UNICEF and the World Bank Group. 

Graduate roles include researcher, consultant and business analyst, journalist, teacher, marketing manager and food writer. Our graduates apply anthropological and sociological expertise, along with strong ethnographic research and analytical skills, across public, private and third-sector organisations worldwide.