Department of Politics and International Studies


Overview
Established in 1962, the Department of Politics and International Studies has grown into one of the largest Departments at SOAS and is now home to almost fifty academics and 1,000 students across undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
A wide range of degree programmes provide students with expert grounding in the disciplines of Politics and International Relations through deep engagement with the historical legacies and political realities of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The Department is unique in combining this regional expertise with the study of world politics from the perspective of the Global South.
Facts and figures
5th in UK
QS World University Rankings 2022
3rd in world
QS World University Rankings 2022 (Academic Reputation)
Our research
The Department of Politics and International Studies is one of the leading research-driven centres in the UK. It is unique in its regional coverage in the UK and beyond, and is respected for its combination of in-depth knowledge of Asia, Africa and the Middle East with a consciously critical research approach. The research work of the Department is recognised for its innovative research methods and cutting-edge theoretical contributions.