MSc African Politics

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

The Department of Politics and International Studies offers seven linked masters programmes in politics and the international politics of Asia and Africa.

The MSc African Politics is a regional specialist MSc, aiming to provide students with a detailed specialist understanding of both domestic and international politics (and of the implications of one for the other) in Africa. At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work.

Students make full-scale presentations for each unit that they take, and are expected to write substantial papers that often require significant independent work.

Students must take 180 credits comprised of 120 taught credits (including core and option modules) and a 60 credit dissertation.

ONE module from List A (core)
THREE modules from B, C or D, with no more than 30 credits coming from List D, and no more than four x 15 credit modules.
Dissertation on some aspect of African Politics (compulsory).

Please note that not all option modules may run every year.

A. Compulsory Module:

B. Full-Unit Politics Modules:

C. Half-Unit Politics Modules (maximum 30 credits total from this list):

D: Modules focused on Africa in a cognate discipline (maximum 30 credits total from this list):

Courses from this section may only be taken with permission of the programme convenor and relevant course convenor.

Language courses: students should chose the language they wish to take from the list below. They should then make contact with the relevant Course Convenor during welcome week who will assess which level of course would be appropriate, and will advise re. changing course enrolments if necessary.

Dissertation:

This would focus on some aspect of African Politics raised by the compulsory module 15PPOC205

This is the structure for 2018/19 applicants

Programme Specification

• MSc African Politics Programme Specification 2012 (pdf; 95kb)

Disclaimer

Teaching & Learning

Modules are taught by a combination of methods, principally lectures, tutorial classes, seminars and supervised individual study projects.

The MSc programme consists of three taught modules (corresponding to three examination papers) and a dissertation.

Lectures

Most modules involve a 50-minute lecture as a key component with linked tutorial classes.

Seminars

At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work. Students make full-scale presentations for each unit that they take, and are expected to write papers that often require significant independent work.

Dissertation

A quarter of the work for the degree is given over to the writing of an adequately researched 10,000-word dissertation. Students are encouraged to take up topics which relate the study of a particular region to a body of theory.

Learning Resources

SOAS Library

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.

Tuition Fees

Full details of postgraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Postgraduate Tuition Fees page.

This is a Band 3 tuition fee.

Fees for 2018/19 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. 

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

• How to Apply
• Online Application
• Request a prospectus
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• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts