School of History, Religions and Philosophies

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Start date
Duration
1 year
Attendance mode
Full-time or part-time
Location
On Campus
Fees

Home: £12,220
International: £25,320

Course code
PGTF0043
Entry requirements

We will consider all applications with 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher. 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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Religion remains a force to be reckoned with in the contemporary global geopolitical landscape.

As a result, there is a pressing need to reassess predominant understandings of secularisation, as well as the meanings of, and tensions inherent within, secular assumptions and secularist positions. The so-called 'resurgence' of religion in the public sphere in recent decades is now a significant area of interdisciplinary scholarship eliciting a complex array of responses, ranging from vehement opposition to the very idea that religious concepts and commitments have a right to expression in political debates, to a reassessment of the origins and implications of divisions between the secular and the religious and their relationship to the nation state.

The notion that there is no singular secularism, but rather a plurality of secularisms, and of ‘religion’ as an invention of European modernity and colonial interests are two of many emerging efforts to re-conceptualise the meanings of religion and the secular and the entangled relationship between them.

SOAS’s MA Religion, Politics, and Society programme offers a unique and intellectually rich opportunity to examine these questions and issues at an advanced and interdisciplinary level by studying the complex relationships between religion and politics in the histories and contemporary political contexts (both national and international) of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

A core, decolonial objective is to actively challenge the Eurocentrism of current debates around secularism, secularisation, the nature of the public sphere within modernity, by drawing substantive attention to the plurality and contested nature of conceptions of both religion and the secular when considered in a global framework. The programme is designed to appeal to policy-makers, analysts, journalists and researchers in either international, national or regional institutions and organisations engaged in policy formation, inter-religious dialogue and community development, social work, development, conflict resolution, peace building or diversity management.

Why study MA Religion, Politics, and Society at SOAS?

  • SOAS is ranked 13th in the UK for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings 2022)
  • SOAS is ranked 6th in the UK for employability (QS World University Rankings 2023)
  • Our department has been ranked 3rd for research outputs and 7th place overall in the Theology and Religious Studies research rankings (Research Excellence Framework REF 2021)
  • Theology and Religious Studies scored above sector in the following categories: research culture, community, progression, research skills, and professional development (2023 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey)
  • All of our Theology & Religious Studies impact case-studies were world-leading/internationally excellent (REF 2021) 
  • 85.4% of our Theology & Religious Studies research outputs were world-leading/internationally excellent – 56.3% of our submitted outputs were deemed world-leading (REF 2021) 
  • Our Theology & Religious Studies research environment score was 85% world-leading/internationally excellent (REF 2021) 
  • 88.4% of our Politics & International Studies research outputs were world-leading/internationally excellent (REF 2021) 

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Students are required to take taught modules to the equivalent of 120 credits, and to submit a dissertation of 10,000 words (60 credits). Of these 120 credits, all students will take the compulsory module (30 credits). They will choose additional modules from List A (45 to 90 credits) and List B (0 to 45 credits) as outlined below.

Part-time studies

Students may be allowed to study for the MA on a part-time basis: The part-time MA may be taken over two years, in which case the student takes two 30 credits (or equivalent 15 credits) in the first year, and two 30 credits (or equivalent 15  credits) and the dissertation in the second year.

Dissertation

Alternatively, it can be taken over three years, in which case the student can distribute the 120 credits evenly in each of the three years. The dissertation can be written in year two or three, but it is strongly recommended that this be undertaken in the final year of the degree.  It must be submitted in September of the year in which the student registers for it.

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes.

However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Core

Compulsory

List A - Religious Traditions guided options

45-90 credits from Religious Traditions guided options

List B - Thematic and Regional Approaches guided options

Up to 45 credits from List A, Thematic and Regional Approaches guided options.

Open options

Students can take a maximum of 30 credits from the School-wide languages' open options list.

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The MA Religion, Politics, and Society is designed both as a professional development qualification and as a platform preparing students for doctoral research.

Students are required to follow taught modules to the equivalent of 120 credits and in addition to submit a dissertation of 10,000 words, worth 60 credits.  Modules are assessed through a variety of methods including short and long essays, examinations, oral presentations, and response papers. An overall percentage mark is awarded for each module, based on the marks awarded for individual assessment items within the courses. The MA may be awarded at Distinction, Merit or Pass level in accordance with the common regulations for MA/MSc at SOAS.

We recommend that part-time students have between two and a half and three days free in the week to pursue their course of study. 

Programme learning outcomes

Knowledge

  • Inter-and multidisciplinary specialist understanding of the relationship between religion/secularism and the public sphere;
  • Knowledge of the comparative and historical contexts of religion and secularism;
  • Theories and practices of criticism and analysis in relation to core topics in the field of religion and politics in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe;
  • Understanding of the disciplinary range of the field and the necessity of engagement with the topic of religion for the understanding of politics;
  • Familiarity with various frameworks and key concepts that enable the integration of a variety of perspectives around the problematic of the role of religion in the public sphere and of the interrelationship of state and religious structures, values, and commitments.

Intellectual (thinking) skills

  • Precision in assessment of evidence and argumentation;
  • Capacity to discuss theoretical and epistemological issues in an articulate, informed, and intellectual manner;
  • Precision and critical acumen in the assessment of scholarly arguments and interpretations;
  • The ability to assess evidence and arguments independently;
  • Effective presentation of complex theoretical arguments and their relationship to empirical data;
  • Theoretical and regional expertise in order to develop and apply self-reflexive approaches to dominant issues in the comparative study of religion and politics.

Subject-based practical skills

  • Academic and professional writing to the highest standards;
  • IT-based information retrieval, processing and data organisation;
  • Fieldwork and archival research techniques;
  • Research project design;
  • Presentational skills;
  • Independent study skills;
  • Reflexive learning.

Transferable skills

  • Problem solving and research skills;
  • Oral and written communication;
  • Critical and independent thought;
  • Synthesising of difficult and wide ranging empirical material;
  • Regional specialism;
  • Working to deadlines and to high standards of presentation and argumentation;
  • Ability to make assessments involving complex factors.

SOAS Library

Students also benefit from the vibrant learning environment SOAS provides more broadly. The 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. 

Moreover, every year there is a lively events programme that attracts renowned speakers from around the world, allowing students to engage with cutting edge debates on contemporary politics.

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Title Deadline date
Tibawi Trust Award
Felix Non-Indian Scholarship
Felix Scholarships
Sasakawa Studentships
Shapoorji Pallonji Scholarships
SOAS Master's Scholarships (Home)

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In addition to an understanding of global faiths, histories and cultures, graduates from the Department of Religions and Philosophies develop the skills to analyse and communicate ideas in a clear, rational and comprehensive manner. These key proficiencies are valuable in many careers and are transferable to a wide range of sectors and roles.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

  • Asia Society
  • British Council
  • Cabinet Office
  • Chatham House
  • Edelman
  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
  • HELP USA
  • King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Princeton University
  • Royal Government of Cambodia
  • The Happiness Factory
  • The Inter Faith Network for the UK
  • The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
  • UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
  • United Nations Development Programme

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