A reimagined online degree portfolio at SOAS, launching September 2026
Overview
SOAS University of London is launching a reimagined portfolio of online degrees for September 2026 entry, opening up new ways to study with one of the world’s leading institutions for global, interdisciplinary education.
Designed for ambitious learners around the world, the new offer combines SOAS’s distinctive academic expertise with flexible, high-quality online learning - enabling students to build future-ready skills, engage with cutting-edge research, and study on pathways that fit their lives.
Wherever you are in the world, we want students to be able to access the expertise of SOAS academics and experience a rich and uniquely SOAS student experience.
Our new online learning portfolio reflects SOAS’s distinctive mission and strengths. It is designed around unique graduate attributes that combine global perspectives, critical thinking and practical expertise, while offering stackable and flexible pathways that fit around the realities of modern professional life. By aligning learning with the skills most valued by employers and embedding direct access to the latest SOAS research, we are enabling learners to progress with confidence, relevance and impact in an increasingly complex global economy.
Flexible learning, designed around you
Your current and future career aspirations
Every module and assessment has been designed to enhance your career
Unique graduate attributes
Connect your studies with your careers and showcase the skills you have gained
Impactful assessment that adds value
We don't use exams. Our assessment approach prioritises innovative methods to meet your needs
Our 6 module structure
All modules comprise structured, live and directed individual learning-based using our new online platform
Frontiers in Research module
Study alongside SOAS academics as you explore live research shaping global debates, policy and professional practice
Recognising the trust you place in us
Your trust in us shapes everything we do to deliver an outstanding educational experience
Our new portfolio
Express your interest
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Key changes and practical opportunities
Flexible, career-centred structure
The reimagined online degrees are designed to fit around real lives and real careers. Students can choose between standard (3-year) and accelerated (2-year) part-time pathways, allowing you to balance study alongside work, caring responsibilities, or other commitments. The modular structure gives you clear progression points and the flexibility to shape your learning around your personal and professional goals.
What this means in practice:
- Manageable, clearly structured modules designed for part-time online study
- Choice in pace and pathways, allowing you to complete your degree in a way that suits your circumstances
- Opportunities to tailor your degree through optional modules that align with your interests and career aspirations
Applied learning through core modules
A core element of the new portfolio is a strengthened focus on practical research and project skills, ensuring students are fully supported as online, part-time learners.
All students complete three core SOAS-wide modules that connect academic insight with real-world application. These modules encourage you to think critically about global challenges while producing work that has relevance beyond your degree.
Applied learning opportunities include:
- Engagement with current research and global case studies
- Independent inquiry linked to real-world or workplace contexts
- A capstone project - either a dissertation or professional project - that can contribute to a portfolio, workplace innovation, or further study
Teaching and learning designed for Online
Each module runs over 14 weeks and combines live interactive sessions with flexible, self-paced study, recognising the realities of studying online across different time zones and schedules.
You benefit from:
- Live seminars that support discussion, collaboration, and networking
- Recorded content and flexible engagement options for busy schedules
- Ongoing academic support, including opportunities for one-to-one guidance
Built-in employability outcomes
Employability is embedded across the curriculum. Assessments are designed to help you demonstrate practical skills, critical thinking, and cross-cultural awareness - skills valued across sectors including public policy, international development, business, sustainability, media, and NGOs.
Graduates leave with:
- Clear evidence of transferable skills
- Substantial independent projects that demonstrate applied expertise
- The ability to articulate the value of their degree to employers or future collaborators