Department of History, School of History, Religions & Philosophies

MA History (2022 entry)

Select year of entry: 2022 2021

Overview

Overview and entry requirements

MA History is designed for students with a keen interest in studying the remote as well as the more recent past of the countries, peoples, and cultures of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It is also ideal for students who seek to understand the historical conditions of the contemporary world from a global perspective.

While the course is open to students with backgrounds in a diverse range of disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences, the ideal applicant would have an UG degree in History or a relevant area studies programme, some knowledge of foreign, in particular Asian or African languages, and preferably relevant background in the region of specialism.

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

Why study MA History 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).

This is one of the few Master-level programmes in History focusing on the study of Asia, the Middle East and Africa in the UK. With its high concentration of expertise of these regions, SOAS can offer an unrivalled breadth of courses on their histories. Apart from the possibility of acquiring regional expertise, the programme also provides a sound training in the historical sciences more generally.

A broad range of courses is available in every single year (see 'Structure' tab for more details), though you may want to contact the programme convenor to ask about the availability of particular courses in a particular year. Those who wish to further develop their linguistic skills may choose from a range of African and Asian language courses.

In addition to their studies on the MA programme, students at SOAS have the opportunity to participate in the Regional History Seminars, as well as in a wide range of research seminars, lectures and conferences, which regularly take place in different departments and centres across the School and at other colleges of the University of London.

If you wish to continue your studies on the research level you may want to consider the MA in Historical Research Methods. To help with funding, there is a limited number of relevant scholarship opportunities available (see under 'How To Apply').

The on-line module sign-up system guides students through the available modules. Please note that not all optional modules are available every year.

Explore

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Email: ck17@soas.ac.uk

English language requirements: Those whose mother tongue is not English must take the English test run by the British Council (IELTS) and obtain a score acceptable to the School.

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:: Full-time: 12 months; Part-time: 24 or 36 months

Fees 2021/22

UK fees:: £10,680

Overseas fees:: £21,980

Fees for 2021/22 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 in the Fees and Funding tab on this page or in the Registry Postgraduate Tuition Fees page

Convenors

Dr Ceyda Karamursel Convenor

Structure

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.

Students in this programme take four units of taught courses plus a 10,000 word dissertation with a detailed 2,500 word dissertation plan worth 10% of this mark. The proximity to the School of many archive depositories and records offices, including its own archival collection as well as the British Library, greatly enhances the potential for dissertation work.

Contact hours

Students must take 180 credits in total, comprised of 120 taught credits and a 60-credit dissertation (10,000 words with a detailed 2,500-word dissertation plan worth 10% of the mark for this module).

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

Compulsory Module

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

Taught Component

AND

Choose a module(s) from List A below to the value of 30 credits

AND

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

AND

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

List of Modules (subject to availability)

List A

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Independent Research Essay in History 1	15PHIH051	15	Term 1

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 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
The Afghanistan Wars, 1979 to the Present	15PHIH056	15	Term 1
Advanced Cuneiform Texts: The Earliest Literature	15PNMC021	30	Full Year
Advanced Cuneiform Texts: The Age of Empires	15PNMC023	30	Full Year
Sumerian Language	15PNMC024
Modern Trends in Islam	15PNMC228	30	Full Year
Reading Classical Arabic Historians: Themes and Trends in Islamic Historiography	15PNMH035	15	Term 2

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

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 Great Tradition of Taoism	15PSRH036	15	Term 2
The Indian Temple	15PARC034	30	Full Year
The Origins and Development of Yoga in Ancient India	15PSRC173	30	Full Year

Programme Specification

MA History Programme Spec 20-21 (pdf; 535kb)

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

Teaching is generally by informal lectures and seminar discussions. At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work where students may be expected to make full-scale presentations for units they take.

In addition to their studies on the MA programme, students at SOAS are able to participate in a wide range of research seminars, lectures and conferences that regularly take place in the School and in the University of London.

Dissertation

The 10,000-word Dissertation with a detailed 2,500 word dissertation plan worth 10% of this mark on an approved topic linked with one of the taught courses.

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 2021/22 entrants, per academic year (Band 1 tuition fee)

Full-time		Part-time 2 Years		Part-time 3 Years		Part-time 4 Years Intensive Language only
UK Students	Overseas Students	UK Students	Overseas Students	UK Students	Overseas Students	UK Students	Overseas Students
£10,680	£21,980	£5,340	£10,990	£3,560	£7,330	£5,340	£10,990

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