Department of History, School of History, Religions & Philosophies

MA History and Intensive Language (2022 entry)

Select year of entry: 2022 2021

Overview

Overview and entry requirements

The MA History and Intensive Language programme would suit students with a keen interest in learning about the historical conditions of the contemporary world, and in particular those who are prepared to look at the world from the perspective of other people and cultures.

While the course is open to students from a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal applicant would have an UG degree in History (or a related discipline), some knowledge of foreign, including Asian or African languages, and preferably some relevant background in the region of specialism.

See Department of History, School of History, Religions & Philosophies

Combine History with a language

Intensive Language pathways: Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Persian, South East Asian Languages (Indonesian, Vietnamese), Swahili, Turkish.

Why study MA History and Intensive Language at SOAS

for History we are 11th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2021) and 45th in the World (QS World University Rankings 2021).
graduates will find a wide range of career options open to them, in particular those involving inter-cultural or international contact, such as in international organizations, government institutions, non-profit organizations, and journalism, but also museums, educational institutions, or the publishing sector more generally.
it would also be a suitable preparation for students considering embarking on a research degree focusing on one of the regional or topical areas of expertise represented in the department.
the two-year intensive language pathway is directed at students who want to engage with Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East in a professional as well as academic way, as the intensive language course would enable them to reach a near proficient knowledge of the language.

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Studying History at postgraduate level at SOAS

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Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Email: ck17@soas.ac.uk

Entry requirements

We will consider all applications with a 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher in social science of humanities subject. 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:: 2 years full time, 4 years part time

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 Ceyda Karamursel Convenor

Combinations

May be combined with:

Combine MA History and Intensive Language with other subjects

The following Intensive Language pathways are available:

Arabic
Japanese
Korean
Persian
South East Asian Languages: Indonesian, Vietnamese
Swahili
Turkish

Structure

Students must take 315 credits in total, comprised of 255 taught credits (45 of which are taught abroad as part of a Summer School) and a 60-credit dissertation (10,000 words with a detailed 2,500-word dissertation plan worth 10% of the mark for this module) as outlined below.

There are five regional pathways within the History part of the programme: Africa, East Asia, Near and Middle East, South Asia and South East Asia. If you have any questions about pathway requirements, please contact the programme convenor.

In their first year, students on the two-year Intensive Language programmes take 60 credits of intensive language instruction and 60 credits in the discipline. During the summer, they participate in a Summer School abroad. In the second year, they take another 30 language credits as well as 60 credits in the discipline; they also complete their dissertation in the discipline.

For information on the programme structure for the four-year part-time version of the programme, please see the pdf programme specification at the bottom of this page.

Please see the relevant web pages in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics for information on the Intensive Language part of the programme.

Year 1 (two years full time)

Language Component

Students take 60 credits in the selected language.

Compulsory Module

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Debating Pasts, Crafting Histories	15PHIC033	30	Full Year

PLUS

Students will select module(s) from List A to the value of 30 credits

Summer Abroad

Students participate in a Summer School abroad in the selected language to the value of 45 credits

Year 2 (two years full time)

Core Module

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Dissertation in History	15PHIC999	60	Full Year

Language Component

Students take 30 credits in the selected language.

PLUS

A module(s) from List A or B below to the value of 30 credits.

PLUS

A module(s) from List A, B or a Postgraduate Open Options to the value of 30 credits.

List of Modules (subject to availability)

List A: History Guided Options

Comparative / Global

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Colonial curricula: empire and education at SOAS and beyond	15PHIH054	15	Term 1

Africa

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Slavery in West Africa in the 19th and 20th Centuries	15PHIH028	15	Term 2
Historical Perspectives on Gender in Asia, Africa and the Middle East	15PHIH029	15	Term 2
Race, Segregation, and Apartheid in Twentieth-century South Africa (PG)	15PHIH003	15	Term 1

Near and Middle East

Module	Code	Credits	Term
The Afghanistan Wars, 1979 to the Present	15PHIH056	15	Term 1
The Early Development of Islam: Emerging Identities and Contending Views	15PHIH039	15	Term 2
Empire, Law, and Citizenship in the Middle East and the Balkans	15PHIH049	15	Term 2
Empire and Reform in the Modern Middle East, 1789-1914	15PHIH031	15	Term 1
Nationalism and Revolution in the Modern Middle East, 1914-1979	15PHIH032	15	Term 2
Advanced Cuneiform Texts: The Earliest Literature	15PNMC021	30	Full Year
Advanced Cuneiform Texts: The Age of Empires	15PNMC023	30	Full Year
Israel and the Palestinians: from 1948 to Oslo	15PNMH022	15	Term 2
Modern Trends in Islam	15PNMC228	30	Full Year
Reading Classical Arabic Historians: Themes and Trends in Islamic Historiography	15PNMH035	15	Term 2
From Palestine to Israel: 1900 to 1948	15PNMH021	15	Term 1

South Asia

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Community, Religion, and Conflict in South Asian History	15PHIH041	15	Term 1

East Asia

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Gender and Empire in Early Modern China	15PHIH024	15	Term 2
Nationhood and Competing Identities in Modern China	15PHIH022	15	Term 1
The Making of Modern Korea	15PJKH032	15	Term 2
The Two Koreas since 1953 (PG)	15PJKH033	15	Term 2
Culture and Society in Traditional Korea (PG)	15PJKH043	15	Term 2

South East Asia

List B

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Sanskrit Language 1 A (PG)	15PSAH020	15	Term 1
Sanskrit Language 1 B (PG)	15PSAH021	15	Term 2
The Indian Temple	15PARC034	30	Full Year
The Origins and Development of Yoga in Ancient India	15PSRC173	30	Full Year
The Great Tradition of Taoism	15PSRH036	15	Term 2

Programme Specification

MA History and Intensive Language PS 20-21 (pdf; 660kb)

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

Year abroad

Yes (summer)

Teaching & Learning

Knowledge

Factual knowledge about the histories of Asian and African societies, the ways they interacted with each other and other world regions of the world, and the major historical forces that shaped our contemporary world.
Familiarity with a variety of different approaches to historical research and current scholarly debates, and, on that basis, the ability to formulate a valuable research question.
How to locate materials and use research resources (particularly research library catalogues, archival hand lists, and digital resources), assess data and evidence critically from manuscripts, printed, and digital sources, and solve problems of conflicting sources and conflicting interpretations.
Language skills appropriate to chosen region and field of study (recommended).

Intellectual (thinking) skills

Students should be able to synthesize different kinds of information, become precise and cautious in their assessment of evidence and understand what the different types of historical sources can and cannot tell us.
Students should question interpretations, however authoritative, maintain an open-minded attitude to interpretations that challenge older interpretations, and analyse and reassess evidence and research questions for themselves.
Students should be able to think critically about the nature of the historical discipline, its methodology, historiography, and openness for interdisciplinary approaches.
Students should be able to reflect about the potential of historical research on non-Western societies and civilizations for the advancement of the historical discipline and human civilization in general.

Subject-based practical skills

Effective writing and referencing skills, attention to detail and accuracy in presentation.
Effective oral presentation of seminar papers, articulation of ideas, and constructive participation in seminar discussions.
Ability to retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources, including relevant professional databases, effective note-taking, record keeping and planning of projects.
Ability to formulate research questions and design an independent research project, including the use of primary sources.
In the two year intensive language pathway, to acquire/develop skills in a language to Effective Operational Proficiency level i.e., being able to communicate in written and spoken medium in a contemporary language

Transferable skills

Critical thinking.
Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
Information gathering skills from conventional and electronic sources.
Effective time-management, writing to word limits, and meeting deadlines

Learning resources

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

Felix Non- Indian Scholarship

Application Deadline: 2021-01-29 00:00