At SOAS the study of Turkish can be combined with an unparalleled range of disciplines and languages. All combined-honours degrees in Turkish are four-year programmes that expose students to at least three years intensive study of Turkish language and literature.

Key Information Set Data

The information for BA, BSc, or LLB programmes refer to data taken from the single subject degrees offered at SOAS; however, due to the unique nature of our programmes many subjects have a separate set of data when they are studied alongside another discipline.  In order to get a full picture of their chosen subject(s) applicants are advised to look at both sets of information where these occur.

Start of programme: September annually

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

May be combined with:

Key Information Set data

Click on a combined programme to load KIS data

BA Turkish and Another Subject is a 4-year degree that gives students the opportunity to study the language of Turkey and the Ottoman empire ab initio to advanced levels in four years and to learn about the culture and literary traditions of Turkey and the Ottoman world, in parallel with either another language, such as Arabic or Persian, or a discipline that will give them a broader context of, for example, the History of Art and Archaeology, Religions and Philosophies, History, Politics, Music, Law, Economics and Anthropology of the region. 

The programme structure varies depending on whether Turkish is combined with another language or a discipline.

BA Turkish and another Discipline

When combined with a discipline, students normally take an equal number of modules in both named subjects while at SOAS but the have the option of taking only 30 credits in Turkish and 90 credits in the discipline in the final year.

Year 1 students begin with the Intensive Modern Turkish Language module (60 credits) and take two other modules in their second subject (discipline).

Year 2 is the Year Abroad at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, where students continue the study of Turkish while also taking advantage of the wide range of courses in different disciplines.

In Year 3, back at SOAS, students continue with the study of Turkish language and take either Ottoman or a literature module in addition to two modules in their other subject.

In Year 4 students consolidate their Turkish proficiency by taking the Advanced Translation module and EITHER take an additional 30 credits from a list of modules related to Turkish and 60 credits from their second subject OR take 90 credits from their second subject.

BA Arabic and Turkish

In Year 1 students begin with Arabic 1 Intensive and take the module Literatures of the NME.

In Year 2 students continue with Arabic and begin Turkish (Intensive Modern Turkish).  They take another unit in Arabic.

Year 3 is the Year Abroad, with one semester in Jordan and the other semester in Turkey.

In Year 4 students take Arabic 4 and Advanced Turkish (or Advanced Translation if their level allows it), another 30 or 60 credits from Turkish or Arabic-related courses.

BA Turkish and Persian

For specific information on combining Turkish and Persian, please see the Programme Structure pdf below.

NB: The structure for this module has changed for new students who enrolled in or after September 2017. Students who enrolled in 2016/17 or earlier, please use the structure directly below. Students who enrolled in/after September 2017, please use the structure set out at the bottom of this page.

Structure for students who enrolled before September 2017

Year 1

A typical syllabus

• Intensive Turkish language * - Core module; 60 credits
• 60 credits in the second subject

* Core module signifies a module that must be passed before progressing to the following year of study

Year 2

• Intermediate Modern Turkish language * - Core module; 30 credits
• Ottoman Turkish language OR Nation and Nationalism in Middle Eastern Fiction (in translation) - Compulsory; 30 credits
• Two units in the second subject; 60 credits

* Core module signifies a module that must be passed before progressing to the following year of study

Year 3

The third year is spent at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, where a full programme of study is scheduled: students are expected to attend a minimum of four courses each semester and are required to sit the local examinations.

If there is room for a year abroad and Istanbul is chosen, two semesters are spent at the Boghazici University. There students are expected to attend a minimum of four modules each semester and are required to sit the local examinations.

Year 4

• Advanced Turkish/English/Turkish Translation - Compulsory; 30 units
• One course from List A, B2, B3 or C OR a course in the second or another subject (if the whole Year Abroad was spent in Turkey)
• Two units in the second subject; 60 credits

* A course in the second subject can only be taken by students who have spent the entire Year Abroad in Turkey.

Structure for students starting in or after September 2017

Programme Specification

• BA Turkish and... Programme Specification 2018/19 (pdf; 191kb)
• BA Turkish and Persian Programme Structure 2018/19 (pdf; 176kb)

Important notice

Year abroad

One semester si spent at Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey in the third year (http://www.boun.edu.tr/en-US/Index). There students are expected to attend a minimum of four modules each semester and are required to sit the local examinations at Boğaziçi University.

All students need to submit an application to Boğaziçi University by May of the previous year and they are assisted by the BA Convenor in doing so.  A detailed Briefing Document  is also provided in advance.

It is possible to apply for university accommodation at Boğaziçi University (details provide in the Briefing Document), though most students prefer to make their own arrangements even though Istanbul is no longer a cheap city.  Rents and cost of living in Istanbul are almost comparable to London, though still a little cheaper.

The SOAS BA convenor determines progression to the final year on the basis of performance and, if required,  following consultation with colleagues at Boğaziçi. Students are expected to pass at least 6 semester-long modules or their equivalent.  If they do not, then they need to submit an Independent Project to be agreed with the SOAS BA convenor, normally an essay of approximately 10,000 words in English, by  September 1.  The topic of the project is decided in consultation with the subject tutors at SOAS.

Teaching & Learning

Contact Hours

All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, taught in modules of 30 credits (taught over 20 weeks) or 15 credits (taught over 10 weeks). The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study (see Approaches to teaching and learning at SOAS). It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others.

In the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, undergraduate modules take various forms. Modules may be taught through 1 or 2 hours of lectures a week, and some may have an additional 1-2 hours of weekly seminars. Languages classes may be 4-5 hours per week in the first and second year, typically less at higher levels.

More information is on the page for each module.

Intercollegiate Modules

Modern Greek (KCL)

• Modern Greek language I 4AABL001
• Modern Greek language II 5AABL002
• Modern Greek language III 6AABL003

Russian (UCL; http://www.ssees.ucl.ac.uk/russunit.htm)

• Foundation Russian
• Intermediate Russian

Ukrainian (UCL)

• SEEU1001 Ukrainian Language
• SEEU2001 Ukrainian Language 2a - Comprehension (15 credits)
• SEEU2002 Ukrainian Language 2b - Production (15 credits)
• SEEU4001 Ukrainian Language 3a - Comprehension (15 credits) SEEU4002 Ukrainian Language 3b - Production (15 credits)

Bulgarian (UCL)

• SEEB1001 Bulgarian Language Level 1
• SEEB2001 Bulgarian Language Level 2a - Comprehension (15 credits)
• SEEB2002 Bulgarian Language Level 2b - Production (15 credits)
• SEEB4001 Bulgarian Language Level 3a - Comprehension (15 credits)
• SEEB4002 Bulgarian Language Level 3b - Production (15 credits)

Serbian/Croatian (UCL)

• SEEY1001 Serbian and Croatian Language Level 1
• SEEY2001 Serbian and Croatian Language Level 2a - Comprehension (15 credits)
• SEEY2002 Serbian and Croatian Language Level 2b - Production (15 credits)
• SEEY4001 Serbian and Croatian Language Level 3a - Comprehension (15 credits)
• SEEY4002 Serbian and Croatian Language Level 3b - Production (15 credits)

Hungarian (UCL)

• SEEH1001 Hungarian Language Level 1
• SEEH2001 Hungarian Language Level 2a - Comprehension (15 credits)
• SEEH2002 Hungarian Language Level 2b - Production (15 credits)
• SEEH4001 Hungarian Language Level 3a - Comprehension (15 credits)
• SEEH4002 Hungarian Language Level 3b - Production (15 credits)

Romanian (UCL)

• SEER1001 Romanian Language Level 1
• SEER2001 Romanian Language Level 2a - Comprehension (15 credits)
• SEER2002 Romanian Language Level 2b - Production (15 credits)
• SEER4001 Romanian Language Level 3a - Comprehension (15 credits)
• SEER4002 Romanian Language Level 3b - Production (15 credits)

Pre Entry Reading

• Zuercher, Erik J.: Turkey, A Modern History. London: I B Tauris, 1993
• Fergar, Feyyaz Kayacan (ed.), Modern Turkish Poetry. The Rockingham Press, 1992

As a graduate who specialised in Turkish, you will have gained competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a study of language in combination with literature, development studies, economics, geography, history, history of art and archaeology, law, linguistics, music, politics, social anthropology or religion.

Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources. Choosing to study a joint degree programme will increase the breadth of your knowledge, and will develop additional skills with which to further your studies of the region, or to make comparative study with other areas. The study of Turkish may be combined with a huge range of other disciplines. For more information on the extra skills you will gain from your second subject, please see the relevant departmental page.

Graduates have found employment in the Foreign Office, in education, the media with the BBC or the Turkish Radio station, in the press, in multinational business companies. Others have chosen non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International.

For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.