Department of Anthropology and Sociology & Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies

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Duration
2 years (full-time), 4 years (part-time)
Start of programme
September
Attendance mode
Full-time or part-time
Location
On campus
Fees

Home: £12,710
International: £26,330

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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What is ‘migration’? Do we live in an age of ‘migration’, or an age of ‘borders’? How are contemporary experiences of migration and border regimes racialised, and shaped by colonial histories? What is ‘diaspora’? What challenges do diasporic communities bring to modern political constructions such as the nation-state, national ‘imagined’ communities and citizenship, and their associated metaphysics of sedentarism?  

The MA in Migration & Diaspora Studies tackles these crucial and timely questions, providing students with the skills to understand, diagnose and articulate what is at stake in contemporary experiences of migration and diaspora; as well as contribute to the work of academics, communities, and activists engaged in reimagining a world beyond borders, and exclusionary modes of belonging.

The MA in Migration & Diaspora Studies is a highly interdisciplinary programme taught from a Global South perspective. It is engaged and practice oriented and offers the possibility of creative assessments along with conventional assessment forms. Students enrolled in the programme have the unique opportunity to gain work relevant experience while studying, through the module ‘From Theory to Practice & Back: Work Placements in Migration Research’.

Overall, this MA programme is committed to the belief that knowledge and practice produced by diasporas, migrants’ grassroots organisations, activists, practitioners and artists should be intertwined with academic knowledge, and validated as part of a real decolonising effort. 

Why study Migration and Diaspora Studies at SOAS?

  • We are ranked 6th in the UK and 19th in the world for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings 2024)
  • 3rd in the UK for Employer Reputation (QS World University Rankings 2024)
  • 6th in the UK for Academic Reputation (QS World University Rankings 2024)
  • 4th in the UK (2023 Times/Sunday Times League Table)
  • We are specialists in the delivery of languages; your command of a language at SOAS will set you apart from graduates of other universities  
  • The MA Migration & Diaspora Studies programme has a first-rate graduate employability record, and offers the chance to build your CV whilst you study, bridging the gap between theory and practice 
  • Our teaching is strongly informed by our regional interests in Africa, Asia and diasporas, as well as professional experiences of working in/with international humanitarian organisations, NGOs and activist collectives 
  • The MA in Migration and Diaspora Studies is considerably enriched by the SOAS Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies, which runs seminars, films and public lectures and also hosts a number of international scholars 

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

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SOAS has a large range of options on migration and diaspora related issues across the school. Teaching methods and assessment vary across these options, and their availability will depend on appropriate staff being available in the relevant academic year.

In addition, students are required to attend the weekly seminars held by the Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies , where they will hear international scholars give papers on a variety of migration and diaspora related topics. The seminars provide an invaluable backdrop for the transdisciplinary approach of the programme overall. Students are also encouraged to apply to the London in Motion workshop:

The student learning experience is also be enhanced by the public lectures, films and workshops the Centre organises.

Contact hours

During the academic year, modules are delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials and/or seminars. Students can expect an average of two hours of classroom time per week for each module. Outside of the classroom, students explore topics of the module through independent study and through personal exchanges with teachers and fellow students.

In some cases, modules are taught by several teachers within the department to provide students with an array of perpsectives on the subject. All modules involve the active participation of students in the discussion of ideas, viewpoints and readings.

Dissertation

The MA Migration and Diaspora culminates in a 10,000-word dissertation, based on original research on a topic of the student's own choosing and developed in discussion with a supervisor.

Year abroad

All students participate in a Summer School abroad for the selected language.

Aims and outcomes

  • introduce students to important areas of contemporary social theory which deal with issues of migration, globalisation, the postcolonial world, and cultural transformations
  • ground students in the historical basis of these issues
  • encourage transdisciplinary thinking on issues of migration
  • enable students to translate theoretical perspectives for practical application in the material world
  • provide students with a near proficient ability in a language

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

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Students from SOAS’ Department of Anthropology and Sociology develop an in-depth understanding of the world. Employers value our graduates’ cultural awareness and global perspective, as well as their skills in analysis, data interpretation and problem-solving.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

  • Allen & Overy
  • BBC
  • British Council
  • Deloitte
  • Hackney Migrant Centre
  • IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development)
  • IOM- UN Migration
  • Media 52
  • New York Times
  • Social Mobility Foundation
  • The Week
  • UNICEF
  • United Nations Development Programme
  • World Bank Group

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