Facts and figures

2nd

ranked for overall satisfaction in the UK in the NSS 2016

Alumni and student stories

• "Not only does SOAS have a great reputation for its Japanese department and Japanese library collection, but I also believe that for language students, there’s no better city to live and study in than London"

  Not only does SOAS have a great reputation for its Japanese department and Japanese library collection, but I also believe that for language students, there’s no better city to live and study in than London

• "SOAS is a unique institution not only through its degrees, but also through the diversity of people that you meet here. "

  SOAS is a unique institution not only through its degrees, but also through the diversity of people that you meet here. My department is more like a family, the teachers are warm and caring, and they know how to maintain our curiosity for learning new things.

• "The cultural diversity is something rare in the UK and what makes the university experience so much more than studying."

  It’s a melting pot of languages and cultures where your eyes open to new things you might have never heard about on a daily basis.

• "Here you’re not only intrigued by the lectures but also by the people around you."

  The best thing about my time here is that there has been a huge improvement in my language skills and I have become more aware of people from various backgrounds. 

• "Lots of students often bypass a chance to study in the UK because they assume it won’t be a culturally “exotic” experience... Think again!"

  Being a city girl, I thought life in London wouldn’t be too much of a culture shock but it actually was! London is very different from cities like New York or Tokyo. It really is one of a kind.

• "London is amazing. It is a big city, there is always something going on, always something interesting to do."

  London is amazing. It is a big city, there is always something going on, always something interesting to do. Also, you can move around easily and fast. It is a frenetic life, but it is just part of the fun. If you want you can also relax in a park. I particularly love parks as there are not many in my city. You can enjoy art, nature and everything else in the same city. I really think it is amazing!

• "London is really a city for young people and sometimes you get lost in the sea of possibilities that it offers... I enjoyed living in London, it was magical. "

  My advice would be: go for it! Especially if you are thinking about studying at SOAS because it is a great experience, not only for your CV but for yourself as well because [the] SOAS environment is really as great as the leaflets or the website tell you.

• "Everyone has an amazing story to tell and SOAS creates an open and engaging environment in which to hear from everyone."

  I really enjoyed the intimate atmosphere of SOAS and the chance to learn just as much from my fellow students as from my lecturers. I also really enjoyed how open and helpful the lecturers were, and was grateful to learn that they honestly cared about my progress in their course. I always felt supported during my time at SOAS.

Read more alumni and student stories