Research vision and strategy

World-changing research that applies a global lens to the critical issues of our time

The world needs SOAS more than ever before. A global university in the heart of London’s vibrant university quarter, with a more diverse staff and student base than virtually any other in the UK, our scholarship spans the arts, humanities and social sciences. Our expertise is deeply and uniquely rooted in the political, social, economic, historical and cultural dynamics of Africa, Asia and the Middle East and their diasporas, which collectively account for over three-quarters of the world’s population.

We think about the world differently. Even as our world has become more interconnected through trade, travel and global communications, it also seems more fragmented. We make the connections that others cannot, helping to build bridges in a complex world and applying a global lens to the critical issues of our time. Our internationalism and our commitment to justice, diversity, equality and the highest ethical standards infuse all that we do.

We want to re-centre research excellence and intensivity, placing these features at the very heart of our institutional mission. Read our 2021-2025 Research and Knowledge Exchange Strategy, outlining our goals and objectives.