African Languages, Cultures and Literatures Section

MA African Studies (2022 entry)

Select year of entry: 2022 2021

Overview

Overview and entry requirements

The MA African Studies at SOAS provides an unrivalled programme of advanced modules on Africa; one of the world’s most fascinating and challenging regions. The opportunity for interdisciplinary study of the continent is a particular advantage of the degree. Our former students have chosen to study Africa at this level for a wide range of reasons. For some a deep interest in the history and culture or political economy of a particular region is sufficient motivation, but for many students the programme has, in addition, been followed with the intention of furthering their career opportunities. Some go on to work either in Africa or in fields related to Africa. The opportunity to combine study of particular African subjects with an African language is very useful, although some evidence of competence in learning a foreign language is usually required.

See African Languages, Cultures and Literatures department

Why study Africa at SOAS

SOAS ranks 1st in London in the Complete University Guide 2021 for Middle Eastern and African Studies, and 6th in UK
Modern Languages and Linguistics at SOAS has been ranked 10th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
we've also been ranked 4th for research environment - with 100% of our research ranked as 'internationally excellent' and 85% as 'world-leading' - and 8th for research outputs in the REF 2021
we are specialist in the studies of Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and South East Asia
gain in-depth understanding of one these key world regions, grounded in the study of one or more languages of the region
access SOAS’s comprehensive cross-regional expertise and gain an understanding of the interconnectedness of these regions in an increasingly globalised world
solid methodological and interdisciplinary foundation
students have an opportunity to develop a holistic and integrated approach to the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East through their languages and cultures.

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Entry requirements

We will consider all applications with 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher. In addition to degree classification we take into account other elements of the application such as supporting statement. References are optional, but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:2 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications.

Please see our 'postgraduate entry requirements' page for Overseas and EU qualifications and equivalencies.

Featured events

duration:: One calendar year (full-time); Two or three years (part-time, daytime only)

Fees 2022/23

Home students fees:: £11,980

Overseas students fees:: £23,400

Fees for 2022/23 entrants. This is a Band 1 fee. The fees are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. Further details can be found on the Postgraduate tuition fees page

Convenors

Dr Ida Hadjivayanis Convenor

Structure

Students take 180 credits in total:

60 credit dissertation
120 credits of taught modules

All students take the compulosory modules listed below (Approaches to African Studies and Remapping Area Studies) and select 120 credits from lists A, B and C

Programme

Dissertation

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Dissertation in African Studies	15PAFC990	60	Full Year

Compulsory modules

Students take the following two modules below

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Approaches to African Studies: Concepts, Methods and Theories	15PAFH036	15	Term 2
Remapping Area Studies in Asia, Africa and the Middle East	15PNMH053	15	Term 1

Guided Options

Select 15 credits from 'List A' plus 15 credits from 'List B' plus another 60 credits from 'List A, B or C'. Students opting to take more than 30 credits of language acquisition modules may only take 30 credits at an introductory level.

List A

Select 15 credits from List A

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Contemporary African Literature (PG)	15PAFH032	15	Term 2
Language, Identity and Society in Africa (PG)	15PAFH033	15	Term 1
Intersecting Worlds: Race and Gender in the Contemporary Postcolonial Novel	15PAFH031	15	Term 1
Concepts and Practice of Subtitling	15PLIH048	15	Term 2
Language, Society and Communication (Masters)	15PLIH004	15	Term 1
724 Migration, Borders and Space: Decolonial Approaches	15PANH086	15	Term 1
725 African and Asian Diasporas: Culture, Politics, Identities	15PANH085	15	Term 2
Asia and Africa On Display	15PARH043	15	Term 1
Modern and Contemporary Arts in Africa	15PARH048	15	Term 1
Global Film Industries	15PARH098	15	Term 1
Colonial curricula: empire and education at SOAS and beyond	15PHIH054	15	Term 2
African Philosophy (PG)	15PAFH008	15	Term 1
Race, Segregation, and Apartheid in Twentieth-century South Africa (PG)	15PHIH003	15	Term 1

List B

Select 15 credits from List B

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Government and Politics of Africa	15PPOC257	30	Term 1
Rule and Resistance in Contemporary Southern Africa	15PPOH069	15	Term 2
Political Life in African Cities	15PPOH062	15	Term 2
Violence, Justice and the Politics of Memory	15PPOH019	15	Term 1
Gender and Security in Africa	15PGNH015	15	Term 2
Economic development of Africa (PG)	15PECH034	15	Term 2
Law and Postcolonial Theory	15PLAH050	15	Term 2
Law and Development in Africa	15PLAC160	30	Full Year
Colonialism, Empire and International Law	15PLAH025	15	Term 2
Queer Politics in Asia, Africa and the Middle East	15PGNH007	15	Term 2
Gender and Development	15PDSH010	15	Term 1
Problems of Development in the Middle East and North Africa	15PDSH019	15	Term 2

List C

Students are strongly encouraged to select language aquisition modules as part of this programme

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Amharic 1 A (PG)	15PAFH021	15	Term 1
Amharic 1 B (PG)	15PAFH022	15	Term 2
Swahili 1 A (PG)	15PAFH029	15	Term 1
Swahili 1 B (PG)	15PAFH030	15	Term 2
Intermediate Swahili 2A (PG)	15PAFC141	30	Full Year
Swahili 3 (PG)	15PAFC142	30	Full Year
Practical Translation: English into Other Languages	15PLIH071	15	Term 1
Practical Translation: Other Languages into English	15PLIH072	15	Term 2
Zulu 1 A (PG)	15PAFH019	15	Term 1
Zulu 1 B (PG)	15PAFH020	15	Term 2

Programme Specification

MA African Studies - Programme Specification (pdf; 217kb)

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching & Learning

One-year Masters programmes consist of 180 credits. 120 credits are taught in modules of 30 credits (taught over 20 weeks) or 15 credits (taught over 10 weeks); the dissertation makes up the remaining 60 units. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

Contact hours

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework and revising for examinations. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

More information is on the page for each module.

Learn a language as part of this programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

Students will acquire knowledge and critical awareness of current issues and/or insights into Africa from the perspective of at least two social sciences and/or humanities disciplines.
The student will have the opportunity of gaining knowledge or further knowledge of an African language.
The student will gain specialized and in - depth knowledge in one particular area of the study of Africa and from disciplinary perspective

Intellectual (thinking) skills

Students will develop a critical and analytical approach to issues relating to Africa in the disciplinary areas chosen.
Students will develop skills of synthesizing materials from a variety of sources and presenting these in writing and orally in an academic context.
Students will have the opportunity of researching topics which have been little commented on in the secondary literature and thus develop research skills by working on primary sources.

Subject-based practical skills

Students will gain specific knowledge of aspects of African life, which will prepare them for working in Africa.
The specialist knowledge developed in the individual courses will allow students to add an academically grounded perspective to their particular subsequent work context.
If a student takes an African language they will have a strong practical skill, which will help them in any context where the language is used and which will also be of benefit if they need to learn another language in the future.

Transferable skills

Through managing their studies students will develop the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility.
In researching and writing coursework and the dissertation students will develop research and writing skills.
Students will develop the skills of independent learning required for continuing onto a research degree or for professional development.

Learning resources

Useful resources from the African Languages, Cultures and Literatures section
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.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for 2022/23 entrants, per academic year (Band 1 tuition fee)

Full-time		Part-time 2 Years		Part-time 3 Years
Home Students	Overseas Students	Home Students	Overseas Students	Home Students	Overseas Students
£11,980	£23,400	£5,990	£11,700	£3,955	£7,725

Fees go up each year, therefore, your tuition fee in your second and subsequent years of study will be higher.

Our continuing students, on the same degree programme, are protected from annual increases higher than 5%.

For full details of postgraduate tuition fees see our postgraduate tuition fees page.

Scholarships

Allan and Nesta Ferguson Scholarships

Application Deadline: 2022-05-02 00:00

Felix Non- Indian Scholarship

Application Deadline: 2022-01-28 15:00