Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

Who is this programme for?:

Students on this new programme will come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some will come into the programme having acquired an interest in South Asia during their undergraduate career or as a result of travelling in the region while others will be keen to explore personal connections. The programme will also attract mature students: some may take the MA as a partial preparation for employment in the region; others, having lived in South Asia for a number of years, may seek to place their experience and impressions into a more structured, analytical framework.

The two-year programme is directed at students with a professional and academic interest in South Asia. It provides students with exceptional opportunities for advanced study of one of the world’s most diverse and important regions, with an opportunity for an intensive training in a South Asian language (Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit) as well as studying a range of modules across the disciplines.   

Knowledge of a South Asian language is not a pre-requisite for admission to this programme which is designed primarily for ab initio language study.  Students with intermediate or advanced language levels are advised to contact the programme convenor before applying. If necessary, proficiency levels will be assessed.

The programme includes a summer of intensive language which is currently only offered in India (students must note that SOAS cannot take responsibility for obtaining visas for travel to India).  Students bear the costs of travel to and from India, as well as all living expenses (including accommodation) during the period of their stay.

Students on this new programme will come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some will come into the programme having acquired an interest in South Asia during their undergraduate career or as a result of travelling in the region while others will be keen to explore personal connections. The programme will also attract mature students: some may take the MA as a partial preparation for employment in the region; others, having lived in South Asia for a number of years, may seek to place their experience and impressions into a more structured, analytical framework

.

Students must take 315 credits in total, comprised of 255 taught credits (45 of which are taught abroad as part of a Summer School) and a 60-credit dissertation in the selected discipline.

In their first year, students take 60 credits of intensive language instruction in Hindi, Sanskrit or Urdu and 60 credits in the disciplines. These modules should be chosen in close consultation with the programme convenor. They also take - Intercultural Communication and Interaction 15PLIH054, over the summer between year 1 and 2 students study at one of our partner institutions in India (Study Abroad module - worth 45 credits), before returning to take another 30 language credits as well as 60 credits in the discipline; they also write their 10,000-word dissertation (15PSAC997 Dissertation in South Asian Studies - worth 60 credits).

All modules are subject to availability

Year 1

Taught Component

All students will take language modules in Hindi, Sanskrit or Urdu to the value of 30 credits from the list below

Language [one language option as minor only]

AND Intensive Summer abroad study worth 45 credits. 

Students will take optional modules to the value of 60 from the list below (subject to availability)

Anthropology (minor only)

Art and Archaeology

Cinema

Culture

Development Studies

Economics

History

Law

Literature

Music

Study of Religions & Philosophies

Year 2

Taught Component

All students will take language modules in Hindi, Sanskrit or Urdu to the value of 30 credits from the list above.

Students will take optional modules to the value of 60 from the list above (subject to availability)

AND Intensive Summer abroad study worth 45 credits. 

Programme Specification

• MA South Asian Studies and Intensive Language Specification 2019-20 (pdf; 297kb)

Important notice

Year abroad

The programme includes a summer of intensive language which is currently only offered in India (students must note that SOAS cannot take responsibility for obtaining visas for travel to India). Students bear the costs of travel to and from India, as well as all living expenses (including accommodation) during the period of their stay.

Teaching & Learning

Lectures and Seminars

Most modules require students to attend two or three hours of classes each week. This time will be spent in lectures, seminars, tutorial discussions and student presentations: the exact mixture of activities varies somewhat from course to course. At Masters level there is a particular emphasis on students’ contributions and presentations, and students are also expected to read extensively and prepare for each class in advance.

Language modules typically involve more hours of contact time, especially at elementary level, and regular homework.

The assessment on most modules consists of two or three essay assignments and an unseen written examination, sat in April or May.  However, some modules are assessed purely on the basis of coursework, including essays and reaction papers.

Dissertation

A 20,000-word dissertation will be written by each student on this programme after his/her return from South Asia, for submission in September of the second year. The dissertation will be on an approved topic linked with one of the taught courses.

Learning Resources

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.  The South Asia collection consists of approximately 88,000 volumes in English and other European languages and about 70,000 volumes in South Asian languages.

Tuition Fees

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

This is a Band 1 tuition fee.

Fees for 2019/20 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. 2 year full-time programmes have 2 years of full-time fees - the fee in the second year will be higher than the fee for the first year (the full time fee below is for the first year only).

Scholarships

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

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