Why SOAS?
Overview
The great challenges of our time - pandemics, climate change, inequality, political and social polarisation - are transnational in character and require local and global knowledge, multidisciplinary perspectives, critical thinking and practical solutions if they are to be sustainably addressed. This is what the SOAS education is about.
At SOAS, Africa, Asia and the Middle East provide the lens through which we interrogate the planetary questions of our time.
At our central London campus, you will engage in robust debate, develop academic rigour, and gain the skills required to be a global citizen - one who is capable of making an impact in a changing world.
Building on our values of social justice and equality, you’ll be encouraged to challenge conventional views and to think globally.
So...let's get started.
The world's university
Our rankings
Top 50 in the world
for internationalism (QS World University Rankings 2023)
6th in the UK
for employment outcomes (QS World University Rankings 2023)
87% of research
ranked 'world leading or internationally excellent' (Research Excellence Framework 2021)
Top QS 2023 ranking subjects include...
2nd in the world for Development Studies
12th in the world for Anthropology
17th in the world for Politics
Silver
Teaching Excellence Framework 2018
Top 50 in the world
for arts and humanities (THE World University Rankings 2022)
An alumni network that spans the globe
Upon graduation, you'll automatically join an interconnected network of over 55,000 SOAS alumni worldwide.
Whether for networking opportunities, or for friendships that span decades, you'll always cherish the relationships you built during your SOAS years.
I made really good friends, and met people who ended up becoming useful contacts. Working in the Middle East, it was a huge advantage to have been at SOAS because you make all these connections that you can use later on in life.
A unique student experience
Do you want to join one of the most international universities in the UK? We have students from over 135 countries studying with us - both on campus and virtually.
The SOAS Library is one of the world's most important research libraries and attracts academics from all over the world.
And our politically active Students' Union run over 100 active societies. Take a look!
Careers
London is also home to some of the most influential graduate employers you’ll find in the UK - but our alumni also go on to find careers across the globe.
Recent graduates from SOAS have been hired by:
- Amnesty International
- BBC
- Bloomberg
- Clifford Chance
- Deloitte
- Department for International Development
- Edelman
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- United Nations Development Programme
- Greenpeace
- KPMG
- Latham & Watkins
- Médicins Sans Frontiers
- PwC
- The World Bank
- Wall Street Journal
- WaterAid
- World Food Programme
