Department of History, School of History, Religions & Philosophies

MA History (2022 entry)

Select year of entry: 2022 2021

Overview

Overview and entry requirements

SOAS’s MA History programme is one of the very few Master-level programmes in History in the UK, which focuses study of the discipline through Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. With its high concentration of expertise of these regions, the programme offers an unrivalled breadth of courses on these regions’ respective as well as interconnected histories. In addition to offering regional and global/transnational expertise, the program also provides a sound training in the theory and methodology in history writing and historical research.

Programme aims

An advanced understanding of the study of history and its various methodologies and approaches in general, and specialist knowledge of the history of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East in particular
Practical research and writing skills, developed through the study of primary and secondary sources related to history of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East
The critical, conceptual, and analytical skills required for historical research as well as for positions of responsibility in all other professions
In the MA History and Intensive Language course, near proficient ability in a language

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

Why Study MA History at SOAS

We are ranked 12th in the UK for History (QS World University Rankings 2022).
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 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

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).

Core Module

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

Compulsory Module

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Debating Pasts	15PHIH061	15	Term 1
Crafting Histories	15PHIH062	15	Term 2

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: History Guided Options

Module	Code	Credits	Term
The Afghanistan Wars, 1979 to the Present	15PHIH056	15	Term 2
Colonial curricula: empire and education at SOAS and beyond	15PHIH054	15	Term 2
Community, Religion, and Conflict in South Asian History	15PHIH041	15	Term 2
Global Histories of Justice, Freedom, Equality	15PHIH057	15	Term 2
Historical Perspectives on Gender in Asia, Africa and the Middle East	15PHIH029	15	Term 2
Reconfiguring the Global	15PHIH060	15
Race and Slavery in the Middle East and Africa	15PHIH059	15	Term 2
Nationhood and Competing Identities in Modern China	15PHIH022	15	Term 1
Race, Segregation, and Apartheid in Twentieth-century South Africa (PG)	15PHIH003	15	Term 1
Formations of the Colonial in the Middle East	15PHIH058	15	Term 2

List B: Guided Open Options

Module	Code	Credits	Term
Art and Architecture of the Seljuks and Ottomans (12th -15th centuries)	15PARH070	15	Term 1
From Palestine to Israel	15PNMH021	15	Term 1
Gender and Society in Contemporary Japan (PG)	15PJKH046	15
History of Korea to the late 19th Century (PG)	15PJKH039	15 Credits
Modern Trends in Islam	15PNMC228	30	Full Year
Reading Classical Arabic Historians: Themes and Trends in Islamic Historiography	15PNMH035	15	Term 2
Remapping Area Studies in Asia, Africa and the Middle East	15PNMH053	15	Term 1
Culture and Society in Traditional Korea (PG)	15PJKH043	15	Term 1
The Great Tradition of Taoism	15PSRH036	15	Term 2
The Indian Temple	15PARC034	30 credits - 1.0 unit
The Making of Modern Korea	15PJKH032	15	Term 1
The Origins and Development of Yoga in Ancient India	15PSRC173	30	Full Year
The Two Koreas since 1953	15PJKH033	15 Credits
Turkey: Continuity and Change II (1945-2023)	15PNMH034	15	Term 2
Turkey: Continuity and Change II (1945-2023)	15PNMH034	15	Term 2

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.

Programme learning outcomes

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 will 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 will be able to 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 will be able to think critically about the nature of the historical discipline, its methodology, historiography, and openness for interdisciplinary approaches.
Students will 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 MA History and Intensive Language program, 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: 2022-01-28 15:00