Department of History & School of History, Religions and Philosophies

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Duration
Two years (full-time), four years (part-time)
Start of programme
September
Attendance mode
Full-time or part-time
Location
On campus
Fees

Home: £12,220
International: £25,320

Entry requirements

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.

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SOAS’s MA History and Intensive Language programme is one of the few UK Master-level degrees in History which focuses on the histories of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. 

With its high concentration of expertise of these regions, the programme offers an unrivalled breadth of courses on these regions’ respective as well as interconnected histories. In addition to offering regional and global/transnational expertise, the SOAS MA History and Intensive Language programme also provides a rich training in the theory and methodology in history-writing and historical research.

While the course is open to students from a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal applicant would have an undergraduate degree in History (or a related discipline), some knowledge of foreign, including Asian or African languages, and preferably some relevant background in the region of specialism.

Why Study MA History and Intensive Language at SOAS?

  • SOAS is ranked 12th in the UK for History (QS World University Rankings 2023)
  • SOAS is ranked 6th in the UK for employability (QS World University Rankings 2023)
  • You have the opportunity to significantly enhance proficiency in a range African, or Asian, or Middle Eastern languages
  • Our History research environment is entirely world-leading/internationally excellent (REF 2021)
  • 83.3% of our History impact case-studies were world-leading/internationally excellent (REF 2021)
  • 71.2% of our History research outputs were world-leading/internationally excellent (REF 2021)
  • In the 2023 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey, History scored above sector in the following categories: research culture, community, research skills, and professional development
  • You can participate in the Regional History Seminars, as well as in a wide range of research seminars, lectures and conferences, which regularly take place in different departments across the School and at other colleges of the University of London

Use our combined courses tool to see a breakdown of course structure

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Programme learning outcomes

Knowledge

  • Factual knowledge about the histories of Asian and African societies, the ways they interacted with each other and other world regions of the world, and the major historical forces that shaped our contemporary world.
  • Familiarity with a variety of different approaches to historical research and current scholarly debates, and, on that basis, the ability to formulate a valuable research question.
  • How to locate materials and use research resources (particularly research library catalogues, archival hand lists, and digital resources), assess data and evidence critically from manuscripts, printed, and digital sources, and solve problems of conflicting sources and conflicting interpretations.
  • Language skills appropriate to chosen region and field of study (recommended).

Intellectual (thinking) skills

  • Students should be able to synthesize different kinds of information, become precise and cautious in their assessment of evidence and understand what the different types of historical sources can and cannot tell us.
  • Students should question interpretations, however authoritative, maintain an open-minded attitude to interpretations that challenge older interpretations, and analyse and reassess evidence and research questions for themselves.
  • Students should be able to think critically about the nature of the historical discipline, its methodology, historiography, and openness for interdisciplinary approaches.
  • Students should be able to reflect about the potential of historical research on non-Western societies and civilizations for the advancement of the historical discipline and human civilization in general.

Subject-based practical skills

  • Effective writing and referencing skills, attention to detail and accuracy in presentation.
  • Effective oral presentation of seminar papers, articulation of ideas, and constructive participation in seminar discussions.
  • Ability to retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources, including relevant professional databases, effective note-taking, record keeping and planning of projects.
  • Ability to formulate research questions and design an independent research project, including the use of primary sources.
  • In the two year intensive language pathway, to acquire/develop skills in a language to Effective Operational Proficiency level i.e., being able to communicate in written and spoken medium in a contemporary language

Transferable skills

  • Critical thinking.
  • Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
  • Information gathering skills from conventional and electronic sources.
  • Effective time-management, writing to word limits, and meeting deadlines

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.

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Title Deadline date
Tibawi Trust Award
Felix Non-Indian Scholarship
Felix Scholarships
Sasakawa Studentships
Sochon Foundation Scholarship

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With specialised historical knowledge, an understanding of cultural sensibilities and skills in research and analysis, graduates from the Department of History are well respected by employers across private and public sectors.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

  • Al Jazeera
  • Amnesty International
  • Bank of England
  • BBC
  • Blackstock PR
  • Bonhams
  • British Council
  • British Library
  • Dataminr
  • Ernst and Young
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Google
  • HSBC
  • International Committee of the Red Cross
  • KPMG
  • Middle East Consultancy Services
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Cyprus
  • Natural History Museum
  • Publicis Media
  • UNESCO
  • United Nations Development Programme

Find out about our Careers Service.

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