SOAS University of London

Information for Current Students

Undergraduate Non-language open option modules available 2020-21

The following list of modules are available in principle as open options at undergraduate level. Follow the link(s) below for full details of whether the module is running/not running and information on pre-requisites (if any) that are needed to take the module. Some modules will need the permission of the module convenor. Please ensure that you have this permission before choosing the module. This is normally requested through email. Some modules will have a limit on numbers.

Content:

Africa

Year 1 modules
Year 2/3/4 modules

Anthropology and Sociology

Year 1
Year 2
Year 2/3

School of Arts

Year 1 modules
Year 2/3 modules
Year 3 modules
Centre for English Studies
Year 2/3 modules
Centre for Media and Film Studies

Year 1 modules

  • please check directly with Departrment for options available

Year 2/3 modules

History of Art and Archaeology

Year 1 modules

Year 2 modules

Year 2/3 modules

Year 3 modules

  • please check directly with Departrment for options available

Year 1/2/3 modules

  • please check directly with Departrment for options available

Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy

Year 1/2 modules

Year 2/3 modules

China and Inner Asia

Year 1 modules
  • Please check with Department directlry for options available
Year 1/2 modules

Year 2/3 modules

  • Empire of Text: Writing, Authority, and Power in Traditional China 155901466

Year 3 modules

  • Please check with Department directly for options available

School of Finance and Management (SFM)

Please note:

  • SFM open options are NOT available to First year students, they are only available for selection by Returning students in April. Availability of modules is explained in the header of each section below.
  • There is a LIMIT OF 10 Open Option places per module.
  • While you may be able to select an Open Option on module sign, approval or non-approval of placement will be confirmed by email. Therefore students are advised to select open options well in advance of the deadline.
  • A number of modules have pre-requisites or entry requirements, further details can be found on individual module pages.
  • When selecting 15-credit open options, the number of modules taken in each term would be expected to remain equal e.g. one would not take two Term 2 options leading to three modules in Term 1 and five in Term 2.
  • Students are strongly advised to sign up for SFM Open Options as soon as possible due to limited places.
  • The number in brackets following the module name indicates the number of credits for that module e.g (15)
Year 1 SFM modules – available as an open option to year 2 students only
Year 2 SFM modules – available as open options to year 2 and year 3/final year students only
Year 3 SFM modules – available as open options to year 3/ final year students only

Development Studies

Priority will be given to Development Studies students
Year 1 modules
Year 2 modules
Year 3 modules

Economics

Students from departments other than Economics wishing to take more advanced year 2 or year 3 modules in Economics as their open option modules, MUST consult the module convenor of their chosen open option PRIOR to signing up for this module on the precise level and type of prior economics knowledge is required.  This can vary between modules, depending on a number of factors, such as whether these are general theory modules, specialised regional development modules, modules with a strong microeconomic or strong macroeconomic contents, and/or largely applied empirical modules.  Please note that it in the students' own best interest to consult module convenors in this regard prior to signing up for any more advance Economic open options in order to ensure their successful completion of their open option modules.  

Year 1 modules
Year 2 modules
Year 2/3 modules
  • Asia Pacific Business 153401011 (to be taught outside UK)
  • China's Belt and Road Initiative: Challenge and Opportunities 153401012 (to be taught outside UK)
Year 3 modules

* requires module convenor’s approval

History

Year 1 modules
Year 2 modules
Year 2/3 modules

Second and third year students may take one of the following intermediate modules (subject to the approval of the module convenor and the module running).

Year 3 modules

Advanced modules can only be taken if the student has taken a relevant introductory or intermediate module.

Japan and Korea

Year 1/2 modules
Year 2 modules
Year 3/4 modules

Year 4 modules

Law

Year 1 modules

Law modules are not available to first-year ​students on non-Law programmes

Year 2 modules
Year 3 modules

Linguistics

Year 1 modules
Year 2/3 modules

Music

Year 1 modules
Year 2 modules

Year 2/3 modules

Near and Middle East

Year 1 modules
Year 2 modules
Year 2/3 modules
Year 3/4 modules

Politics and International Studies

Year 1 modules
Year 2/3/4 modules

Religions and Philosophies

Year 1 
Year 1/2
Year 2/3
Year 3

Year 2/3/4

South Asia

Year 2/3/4 modules

South East Asia

Year 1 modules
  • currently no open option available for non-South East Asia students
Year 2/3/4 modules

Academic Summer School

The following modules are offered by the SOAS Academic Summer School in co-operation with three SOAS Departments. As teaching of these modules will take place in the June and July 2020, they offer greater flexibility, along with the ability to reduce students' workload during the 2020/21 Academic Year. Students will also benefit from studying alongside a number of international students. 

For further information about these modules, please visit the links below or contact the Academic Summer School office (summerschool@soas.ac.uk).

For students progressing from Year 1 to Year 2 in 2020/21

For students progressing from Year 2 to Year 3 in 2020/21