Director of the SOAS-Alphawood Asian Art Programme & Senior Lecturer in the History of Art
SOAS-Alphawood Asian Art Programme
SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art
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Key information
Key information
- Start of programme
- September, January or May
- Attendance mode
- Full-time or part-time, in person
- Location
- On Campus
- Fees
-
£17,430
- Course code
- PGOF0001
- Entry requirements
-
A good undergraduate degree in any subject or equivalent experience. Prior knowledge of Asian art history or archaeology is not a requirement.
Course overview
Offered by the SOAS-Alphawood Asian Art Programme, the Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art at SOAS University of London offers a unique programme renowned for its excellence.
We lead you on a journey of object-based study through lectures and contributions from a wide range of leading scholars, curators, and art market professionals. We have a formal association with the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, which allows us to offer exceptional access to the collections and curatorial expertise of both institutions.
The Postgraduate Diploma will appeal to all those with a serious interest in Asian art, regardless of your personal, professional or academic background. It is also a proven pathway to further postgraduate study in Asian art and careers in museums, the commercial art world and academia.
Application procedure
Please apply by completing our online application form. You must also submit:
- Your undergraduate degree transcript or certificate
- Evidence of proficiency in English language (where applicable)
- Copy of the photo page of your passport
Our prospectus
For full details regarding our programme, entry criteria and application procedure, please view our prospectus:
SOAS-Alphawood Asian Art Programme Prospectus 2026/27
PDF document, 32.70MB
Contact us
- Email: asianart@soas.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)20 7898 4445
- Dr Malcolm McNeill, Programme Director (mm133@soas.ac.uk)
- Mr Patrick Monger, Programme Manager (pm50@soas.ac.uk)
Structure
The SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art requires 120 credit points and can be completed via a flexible combination of modules. You can begin the programme in September, January or May.
Our in-person modules require full-time attendance in London and feature on-site visits to museum galleries and reserve collections.
Full-time students must complete the programme within one year, with consecutive teaching sessions. Part-time students must complete the programme within three years.
Our module options
| Compulsory Module | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analysing and Exploring the Arts | Runs alongside every teaching session | 15 Credit Points |
| Guided Options A (select 3) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arts of India | 28 Sep - 16 Dec 2026 (annually) | 30 Credit Points |
| Arts of China | 18 Jan - 7 Apr 2027 (annually) | 30 Credit Points |
| Arts of Japan and Korea | 3 May - 21 Jul 2027 (biennially) | 30 Credit Points |
| Arts of the Buddhist World | 3 May - 21 Jul 2027 (biennially) | 30 Credit Points |
| Arts of Southeast Asia | May - Jul 2028 (biennially) | 30 Credit Points |
| Arts of the Islamic World | May - Jul 2028 (biennially) | 30 Credit Points |
| Guided Options B (select 1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Independent Study Project in Asian Art History | Runs September to January and May to August | 15 Credit Points |
| Asian Art: Theories, Practices and Objects | Runs January to April | 15 Credit Points |
| Asian Art: Theories, Practices and Objects (online) | Runs September to December | 15 Credit Points |
| Asian Art in the Museum | Runs 26 July – 06 August 2027 | 15 Credit Points |
Our study pathway options
Full time (required for international students): Full-time students are required to complete this programme in consecutive periods of study within one year
Part time: Part-time students are required to complete this programme within three years
Teaching and learning
Our in-person 30-credit modules require full-time attendance in London for 10 weeks and feature:
- In-person lectures given by SOAS academic staff, leading national and international scholars, museum curators, and art market professionals, generally taking place between 10.00 and 13.00 Monday through Thursday
- Exclusive contributions from the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum, including access to their reserve collections
- Visits and object study sessions at a variety of museums, galleries and auction houses, generally taking place on Tuesday and/or Thursday afternoons
- A series of asynchronous online lectures exploring critical thinking and current methods with associated seminars
- Recommended weekly readings
- Weekly review sessions
- Weekly one-to-one tutorials with your module convenors
Scholarships
Fees and funding
| Qualification | 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma | £17,430 |
| Postgraduate Diploma with Asian Art in the Museum | £19,180 |
Deposits and payment schedules
Successful applicants must secure their place on the programme by making a £500 deposit payment, which will be credited towards your total tuition fee. The remaining fee balance must be paid at least 5 weeks prior to your start date.
Students studying part-time can opt to pay in three installments (60 credit blocks). Installments paid in future academic years will be subject to any annual increase in tuition fees.
Annual fee increases
Tuition fees are subject to annual increases (applied from each September). Part-time students paying in installments are protected from any annual increase exceeding 5%.
Alumni and family discount
The alumni and family discount provides a 25% reduction in tuition fees to all alumni who have an undergraduate degree in any subject from SOAS, but no higher qualification. The same discount is available to any applicant whose family member (defined as grandparent, parent, sibling, child or spouse) is a SOAS graduate or staff member.
