MA South Asian Area Studies
Key information
- Start date
- Duration
- 1 year
- Attendance mode
- Full-time or part-time
- Location
- On campus
- Fees
-
Home: £12,220
International: £25,320 - Course code
- Y4S7
- Entry requirements
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Afghanistan: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Master's degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 80% or 3.3/4.0
-
Argentina: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Titulo / Grado de Licenciado
Equivalent to 2:ii: 7/10
-
Australia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 2:2 or Credit or 65%
-
Austria: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 2.5/5.0 and overall Pass (Bestanden)
-
Bahrain: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 75% or GPA 3.0/4.0
-
Bangladesh: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor’s from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or Master's degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 60% or GPA 3.0/4.0
-
Belgium: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Licentiaat or Licencié
Equivalent to 2:ii: 13/20 or 65%
-
Botswana: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree (5-year) or Master's from University of Botswana
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.5/5.0 or 65% or B- or Good
-
Brazil: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Título de Bacharel / Título de Licenciado (4-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 7/10 or 70%
-
Brunei: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: Lower Second Class Honours with 50% overall
-
Bulgaria: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 4.3/6
-
Cameroon: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Diplôme d'Ingénieur/ Diplôme d'Études Supérieures de Commerce (5-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 12-13 assez bien (fair); 70-74; or B+
-
Canada: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.0/4.0 or 74-77% or overall B
-
China Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree (4-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii:
73% or 2.6/4.0 (C9 unis)
75% or 2.8/4.0 (Double First unis)
80% or 3.25/4.0 (all other unis) -
Colombia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Licenciado / Titulo (4-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 3.5/5.0
-
Croatia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Baccalaureus / Baccalaurea (Bachelor degree)
Equivalent to 2:ii: Overall score 3/5
-
Cyprus: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 6.5/10
-
Czech Republic: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree (180 ECTS)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 1.75/4.0 or High C 'dobre’ (good)
Information for prospective students from the Czech Republic
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Denmark: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 7/12 or 8/13 or grade C
-
Egypt: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 70% or 3.0/4.0
-
Estonia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bakalaurusekraad / University Specialist's Diploma / Professional Higher Education Diploma
Equivalent to 2:ii: 4.0/5.0
-
Finland: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor / Kandidaatti / Kandidat (180 ECTS credits)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 3/5 or 2/3
-
France: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Licence or Diplôme from a grande école
Equivalent to 2:ii: 11.5 out 20
-
Gambia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Master's degree (2-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.0/4.3 or 64% or B
-
Germany: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree (180 ECTS)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 2.6/5
-
Ghana: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 2:2 (Second Class Lower Division) or GPA 3.25/5.0 or 60%
-
Greece: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 6.50/10
-
Hong Kong: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: Upper second class or GPA 2.7/4.0 or 75% or B Minus
-
Hungary: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor (Alapfokozat) or Diploma (Egyetemi Oklevél)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 3.5/5.0
-
Iceland: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree (Baccalaureus or Bakkalarprof)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 7.0 out of 10
-
India: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: CGPA: 55-60% or 5.5/10 - 6.0/10
-
Iraq: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree (Licence/Karshani)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 0.7
-
Israel: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 70% or C+
-
Italy: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Laurea (180 ECTS)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 100/110
-
Japan: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 70% or C+ or 3.0
-
Jordan: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 3.0/4.0 or 70%
-
Kazakhstan: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelors (Bakalavr Diplomi) or Specialist Diploma
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.0/4.0 or GPA 4.0/5.0 or B
-
Kenya: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 2:2 or 60%
-
Kuwait: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 3.0/
-
Latvia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bakalaura Diploms (Bachelor's) or Profesionālā Bakalaura Diploms
Equivalent to 2:ii: 7/10
-
Lebanon: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree / Licence
Equivalent to 2:ii: 75% or Grade B-/C+ or GPA 2.8/4.0 or 14/20
-
Liberia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Master's degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 75% or 2.8/4.0
-
Libya: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor Degree from selected institution
Equivalent to 2:ii: 75% or GPA 3.0/4.0
-
Lithuania: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelors / Bakalauro (180 ECTS)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 7.5/10
-
Malawi: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Master's degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 70% or GPA 3.0/4.0
-
Malaysia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 3.0/4.0 or B (Class 2 Division 2)
-
Malta: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: Lower Second Class with 65% or Category IIB
-
Mexico: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Titulo de Licenciado
Equivalent to 2:ii: 8/10 or 80%
-
Morocco: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Licence / Licence d'Etudes Fondamentales / Licence Professionnelle
Equivalent to 2:ii: 13/20
-
Nepal: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Master's degree / Bachelor degree (4-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 70%
-
Netherlands: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 6.5/10 or GPA 3.0
-
New Zealand: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: Majority of credited modules B- or above
-
Nigeria: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: Lower Second Class or 55% or GPA 3.0/5.0 or 2.5/4.0 or 4.0/7.0
-
Norway: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelors / Bachelorgrad (180 ECTS) or Candidatus /a magisterii
Equivalent to 2:ii: Grade C (with at least 80 ECTS) at grade B or 3.2
-
Oman: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 3.0/4.0
-
Pakistan: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor (4-year) / Master's from HEC recognised institution
Equivalent to 2:ii: CGPA 2.7 or 65%
-
Philippines: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Master’s from recognised institution or Centre of Excellence / Bachelor from prestigious institution or Centre of Excellence
Equivalent to 2:ii:
Prestigous Universities: GPA 3.3/4.0 or 1.75/5.0 or Grade B or 83%
Recognised Universities: GPA 3.5/4.0 or 2.0/5.0 or Grade B or 87% -
Poland: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Licencjat or Inżynier (3-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 4.25/5
-
Portugal: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Licenciado (180 ECTS)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 15/20
-
Qatar: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 or 70% or 7/10
-
Romania: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Diplomă de Licenţă / Diplomă de Inginer / Diplomă de Urbanist Diplomat
Equivalent to 2:ii: 8/10
-
Russia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Diplom Bakalavra or Specialist Diploma
Equivalent to 2:ii: 3.8/5.0
-
Rwanda: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor (4-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: Lower Second Class Honours or 65-69% or 14/20
-
Saudi Arabia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 or overall 70%
-
Singapore: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: CAP 3.5/5.0 or 3.0/4.0
-
Slovakia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bakalár / Bachelor
Equivalent to 2:ii: 70% or 2.0 overall or C
-
South Africa: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor (4-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 60%
-
South Korea: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 2.7/4.0 or 3.0/4.3 or 3.3/4.5
-
Spain: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Título de Grado / Título de Licenciado / Título de Ingeniero / Titulo de Arquitecto
Equivalent to 2:ii: 6.5/10 or GPA 1.75/4.0
-
Sri Lanka: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor Special Degree or Professional Degree (4-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 55% or 2:2 or GPA 3.0/4.0
-
Sudan: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor (5-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: 65%+ or B
-
Sweden: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree / Kandidatexamen / Yrkesexamen
Equivalent to 2:ii: B (90 credits) and C (90 credits) or Very Good (70 credits) and Good (110 Credits) or C (180 credits)
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Switzerland: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Diplom / Diplôme / Lizentiat / Staatsdiplom / Diplôme d’Etat
Equivalent to 2:ii: Overall 4.5/6 or 7/10 or 2.5/5
-
Syria: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Licence / al-ijaza-fi / Bachelor
Equivalent to 2:ii: 70%+ or 'Good'
-
Taiwan: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 68-70% or GPA 2.8/4.0-3.0/4.0
-
Thailand: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.0/4.0
-
Tunisia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Diplôme National d'Ingénieur / Diplôme National d'Architecture / Licence / Maîtrise
Equivalent to 2:ii: 12 out of 20
-
Turkey: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Lisans Diplomasi
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 2.6/4 from the top universities and 3.0/4 from all others
-
Uganda: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 2:2 (Lower Second) or B or GPA 3.0/5.0
-
Ukraine: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree or Specialist Diploma
Equivalent to 2:ii: 8/12 or 3.8/5
-
United Arab Emirates: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/5.0
Information for prospective students from the United Arab Emirates
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United States of America: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.0/4.0
-
Vietnam: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree (4-year)
Equivalent to 2:ii: Overall score of 6.5/10
-
Yemen: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Master's degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: Overall 'Good' (71-77%) or Aden University 80-83% (or 3.0/4.0)
-
Zambia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Master's degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 65% or B or Credit or GPA 1.7/2.5 or 3.3/5.0
-
Zimbabwe: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree
Equivalent to 2:ii: 2:2 or 65%
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We will consider all applications with a 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher in a social science or humanities subject. In addition to degree classification we take into account other elements of the application such as supporting statement. References are optional, but can help build a stronger application if you fall below the 2:2 requirement or have non-traditional qualifications.
See international entry requirements and English language requirements.
Course overview
The MA South Asian Area Studies programme provides exceptional opportunities for advanced study of one of the world’s most diverse and important regions.
Students can choose to concentrate on pre-modern or modern South Asia and can acquire a basic knowledge of one of the area’s languages, or build upon pre-existing knowledge.
This degree provides a wide-ranging interdisciplinary analysis of the South Asian countries – India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, with more limited coverage of Bangladesh and Bhutan. Disciplines available include Politics, Economics, Anthropology, Law, Literature, Cinema, Culture, Religion and History.
The South Asian Area Studies MA programme attracts students from a variety of backgrounds. While some wish to broaden their previous studies or experience of South Asia, others approach the programme without having a South Asian element to their first degree, but with a desire to focus their previous training on the region.
Why study South Asia at SOAS?
- SOAS is ranked 1st in London and 9th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2023 for Asian Studies.
- We are ranked 6th in the UK for employability (QS World University Rankings 2023).
- We are ranked top 10 in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2023 for African and Middle Eastern Studies.
- Modern Languages and Linguistics at SOAS has been ranked 10th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
Structure
Learn a language as part of this programme
Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.
Students take 180 credits : 60 credits from a dissertation and 120 credits from taught modules. All students take both 15-credit compulsory modules 'Politics of Culture in Contemporary South Asia' and 'Remapping Area Studies', and up to 15 credits may be taken from the list of postgraduate open options. The remaining credits should be chosen from the list below: a maximum of 60 taught credits can be taken from one discipline and a minimum of three disciplines must be covered. For students opting to take two languages, only 30 credits can be at an introductory level.
Some disciplines, such as Politics, Economics or Anthropology, require an appropriate qualification (such as part of a first degree) if any of their modules are to be taken as the major subject.
One module – whether 15 or 30 credits – must be designated as a 'major'; this will designate the discipline and subject in which the dissertation will be written. The remaining taught component credit-bearing modules are designated as 'minors'. All should be chosen from the list below. Modules listed as 'minor only' may not be taken as a major.
All modules are subject to availability.
Important notice
The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes.
However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.
Compulsory
Guided options - Major
Selection of 15 or 30 credits from Major module options
Guided options - Minor
Selection of 30 or 45 credits from Minor module options
Teaching and learning
One-year Masters programmes consist of 180 credits. 120 credits are taught in modules of 30 credits (taught over 20 weeks) or 15 credits (taught over 10 weeks); the dissertation makes up the remaining 60 units. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.
Contact hours
As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework and revising for examinations. 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. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
- How to assess data and evidence critically from printed and digital sources, solve problems of conflicting sources and interpretations, locate materials, use research sources (particularly research library catalogues) and other relevant traditional sources.
- Subject specific skills, for instance familiarity with a South Asian language and the ability to read texts in that language, or advanced study of a South Asian literature in its original language.
- Aspects of South Asian history, economics, political, management and legal systems, art and archaeology, literature, visual and popular culture, anthropology and music.
Intellectual (thinking) skills
- Students should become precise and cautious in their assessment of evidence.
- Students should question interpretations, however authoritative, and reassess evidence for themselves.
- Apply language learning skills to new linguistic challenges, or to new oral or written texts.
Subject-based practical skills
- Communicate effectively in writing.
- Retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources.
- Present seminar papers.
- Participate constructively in the discussion of ideas introduced during seminars.
- Work to strict deadlines.
- Use and apply foreign language skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Transferrable skills
The programme will encourage students to:
- Write good essays and dissertations.
- Structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing.
- Understand unconventional ideas.
- Study a variety of written and digital materials, in libraries and research institutes of a kind they will not have used as undergraduates.
- Present (non–assessed) material orally.
- Communicate in a foreign language.
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.
Scholarships
Employment
Graduates of the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with skills in written and oral communication, analysis and problem solving.
Recent graduates have been hired by:
- Africa Matters
- Amnesty International
- Arab British Chamber of Commerce
- BBC World Service
- British High Commission
- Council for British Research in the Levant
- Department for International Development
- Edelman
- Embassy of Jordan
- Ernst & Young
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
- Middle East Eye
- Saïd Foundation
- TalkAbout Speech Therapy
- The Black Curriculum
- The Telegraph
- United Nations Development Programme
- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
- Wall Street Journal
Find out about our Careers Service.