Educational support

Academic Skills is the heart of student success at SOAS. Through this, we offers a variety of services designed to strengthen your academic foundation and boost your confidence:

• 1:1 tutorials: a 30-minute one-on-one session with a tutor, one of a range of talented PhD students at SOAS, who will answer questions and give advice on the skills you need to study successfully. Topics include how to approach essay questions, planning and drafting essays, and organising ideas and arguments.
• Academic advisor: you will be assigned to an academic advisor when you start your studies at SOAS. They're your first point of contact for any personal or general academic issues you may be having, and they provide general support and guidance.
• Workshops: we run a range of workshops throughout term time covering exam techniques, how to maximise technology, effective reading and note-taking, and much more. Many of these workshops are recorded, so you can learn at any time.
• Study guides: SOAS students have access to our eight comprehensive study guides. From referencing and time management to wellbeing, these are designed to help you with every aspect of your academic journey.

At SOAS, we provide comprehensive support to help you master the platforms and resources you’ll use throughout your studies. From submitting assignments online to conducting in-depth research, we’ve got you covered.

• Digital skills workshops: we run regular workshops explaining how to use the technology that is essential to your degree, and sharing the technology hacks that will make your academic life easier.
• Generative AI guidance: explore our resources to develop your understanding of the use and ethics of generative AI, allowing you to use it as a tool, not a shortcut.
• Accessibility: we offer inclusive tools and features to enhance your learning experience, supported by a team that’s here to help meet your accessibility needs.

ESL Study Skills provide extensive year-round support to those with English as a second language:

• ESL 1:1 tutorials: private, bespoke sessions of 30 minutes each. Up to four per semester.
• Workshops: 1.5 hours long and delivered online. There is also a repository of slides and recordings.
• Classroom-based courses: 2 hours a week for four or five weeks. Non-assessed and non-credit bearing.
• Moodle self-study materials: independent study materials to consolidate classes and workshops.

As one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, the SOAS Library is one of the most valuable resources you’ll have during your studies. We’ll make sure you know how to use it to its full potential:

• 1:1 tutorials: our specialist subject librarians are available for one-to-one library tutorials. They can help you when starting a literature review, approaching a new area of research, or if you’re unfamiliar with the library’s resource.
• Workshops: learn how to navigate academic databases, manage your bibliographic resources, and search for our unique resources on countries in the Middle East, Africa, and. Asia.
• Library skills Moodle: a vast repository of library information, from how to identify credible sources and avoiding plagiarism, to guides on accessing our online and physical resources.