What my typical week as a SOAS student looks like

Ever wondered what it's like to study at SOAS? Final-year BA Chinese student Daisy shares her typical week balancing study, work, a social life, and planning for the future. 

A typical week for me at SOAS usually involves studying, attending classes, seeing friends, and doing some part-time work on the side. I have often dedicated quite a lot of time to my future plans, that being researching careers, applying for internships, or inquiring about shadowing opportunities.

Studying (with the help of coffee)

Whenever I have classes, I make sure that I’m on campus slightly earlier. I get some coffee, attend my classes, and then either stay on campus doing university work or go back to my local library to study. Thanks to the Sconul Access scheme, I have access to Greenwich Library which is super convenient as it is much closer to my house than SOAS is. If I don’t go to a library, I’ll also go to local cafes to study, like Noxy Bro’s, Waterstones, Ole & Steen, and more.

Since the beginning of my degree, I have dedicated at least a few hours to flashcards, handwriting, and speaking practice.

As a BA Chinese student, language study has always been of the utmost importance. Since the beginning of my degree, I have dedicated at least a few hours to flashcards, handwriting, and speaking practice. I also dedicate a lot of my time to reading, writing essays, planning essays, and talking to my lecturers about my approach to the next assignment. 

Balancing work

I worked part-time as a chef in my second and final years. I currently work four days a week: three in the Marketing Office at SOAS and one in the library. I couldn’t have worked this much during term time, but as classes have come to an end, I’ve been able to work more.

Seeing friends and trying out new Chinese restaurants

Whenever I see friends, it’s usually for food. I love trying out new restaurants, I particularly enjoy finding the best new Chinese restaurants in London. In London, I’ve recently discovered Simmer Huang (a chain in China that came to London recently), Pao Shi Men Hotpot (Chongqing hotpot that also came to London recently), and Lucky Dog (North-eastern Chinese food).

Planning for the future

As a final-year undergraduate student, a new part of my life is planning for the future. I have been applying for master's degrees, applying for work, and thinking about what I want out of a career. I also want to try and go to China this summer for a month or so to do some language practice. I'm looking forward to what's in store!