BA South East Asian Studies is a three-year programme that strikes an exciting balance between the study of a South East Asian language (Burmese, Indonesian, Thai or Vietnamese) and the cultures of the region. Competence in a South East Asian language is developed as a tool for exploring the culture for which a spoken language is a vehicle. 

The syllabus introduces its subject through the broad media of language, culture, literature and cinema with options also to gain knowledge of South East Asian history, politics, economics, linguistics, religious studies, music, art and archaeology, anthropology and others. 

This degree is ideal for students who do not seek the intensive engagement with language demanded by the four-year degrees, but who desire a working knowledge of the language to enhance their engagement with the diversity of South East Asian culture.

Programme Code: T302 BA/SEASt

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

Year 1

Core Modules

Compulsory Language Module

Choose a language at a suitable level from Burmese, Indonesian, Thai or Vietnamese. This would typically be level 1 of the chosen language.

Compulsory Module

Please take the module below OR choose 30 credits from List B

Open Option

Choose a further 30 credits from List B or an open option from another department at an approved level.

Year 2

Core Modules

You must take both of the following modules.

Compulsory Module

A language module which is a continuation of the Year 1 language or 30 credits from List A.

Compulsory Module

30 credits from List A or a second approved language module.

Optional Module

Choose 30 credits from List A, List C or an open option at an approved level.

Year 3

Compulsory Module

Compulsory Module

A South East Asian language or modules to the value of 30 credits from List A.

Compulsory Module

A second approved language or modules to the value of 30 credits from List A or List C.

Optional Module

30 credits from List A, List C or an open option.

List of Approved Modules

List A

South East Asian Language Modules

Non-Language South East Asian Modules

List B: Introductory South East Asia related modules

These modules are for first year students only.

List C

Year 2 and Final Year South East Asia related modules. Please check any pre-requisites.

Programme Specification

• BA South East Asian Studies - Programme Specification (pdf; 273kb)

Important notice

Year abroad

No

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.

Module Information

Introductory and intermediate modules in a South East Asian language use a wide variety of learning experiences and techniques. Most other units are taught by formal lecture and with related tutorials. Assessment is by a combination of written examination and coursework.

Special Features

The SOAS's teaching is backed up by the South East Asia collection within the SOAS library, one of the world's major collections of information in the field of South East Asian studies. The South East Asia collection now contains over 6500 books and pamphlets and 550 periodical titles as well as substantial collections of microfilms and manuscripts.

Pre Entry Reading

Suggestions for preliminary reading

• Baker, C. and Pasuk Phongpaichit. 2009.  A history of Thailand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Cornwel-Smith, P. 2005. Very Thai. Bangkok: River Books.
• Hellwig, T. and Tagliacozzo, E. (eds). 2009. The Indonesia reader: history, culture, politics. Durham: Duke University Press.
• Jamieson, N. 1995. Understanding Vietnam. Berkely: University of California Press.
• Mulder, N. 2000. Inside Thai society: religion, everyday life, change. Chiangmai: Silkworm Books.
• Nguyen Van Huy and Kendall, L. (eds). 2003. Vietnam: journeys of body,
  mind, and spirit. Berkeley: University of California Press.
• Owen, N. (ed.). 2005. The emergence of modern Southeast Asia. Honolulu: University of Hawaii.
• Ricklefs, M.C., Lockhart, B. Lau, A. Reyes, P. and Maitrii Aung-Thwin. 2010. A new history of South East Asia. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Robson, S.O. 2004. Welcome to Indonesian, a beginner's survey of the language. Boston: Tuttle.
• Taylor, J.G. 2003. Indonesia: peoples and histories. New Haven:Yale University Press.
• Taylor, K. 2013. A history of the Vietnamese. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Vickers, A. 2005. A history of modern Indonesia. New York:Cambridge University Press.

As a graduate who specialised in the South East Asian region, you will have gained competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, literature, history, cinema, politics, economics or law. 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.

Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:

Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:

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