Centre for Gender Studies

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Duration
3 or 4 years
Start of programme
September
Attendance mode
Full-time
Location
On campus
Fees

Home (full-time): £4,860 per year
International (full-time): £23,390 per year

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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The MPhil/PhD in Gender Studies is a unique programme combining cutting edge theorizing in Gender Studies with the special areas expertise related to Africa, Asia and the Middle East which has been a trademark of SOAS. 

The Centre for Gender Studies welcomes applications from research students for our MPhil/PhD programme in all areas of Gender Studies. The Centre places its emphasis on the acquisition of critical theoretical skills and in-depth regional knowledge across disciplines with specific reference to Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Members of the Centre and current research students work on an exceptionally wide range of topics, both theoretical and empirical. Supervision for research students can be provided across this wide range. The Centre houses a training programme in Gender Studies for research students the work of which is supported by the organisation of regular Centre seminars.

The Centre for Gender Studies especially invites students to apply with interest in researching gender or gender and sexuality, including sub-specialisms in security; law; migration and diasporas; political movements and coalition building; queer theory; transgender studies; critical race theory; transnational feminism; queer/trans of colour critique; decolonial epistemologies. Projects on any area of gender and sexuality and the study of the Asia, Africa and/or the Middle East and/or their diasporas are welcomed.

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Research will be guided throughout by a research committee of three staff members, consisting of one primary supervisor and two supporting supervisors in an advisory capacity. Depending on the nature of the research joint supervision is sometimes recommended, under the direction of two supervisors.

In the first year, doctoral candidates prepare for research by following an MPhil training programme convened by the Chair of the Centre for Gender Studies. There are certain required courses, the other elements being agreed between the candidate, the Research and Admission Tutor, and the supervisor(s).

MPhil doctoral researchers may attend also specific research methods course offered within both the Faculty of Languages & Cultures and witin the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences. The specific elements of generic research training might vary and will be agreed with your supervisor and the research tutor. The generic research method training includes courses offered by the Academic Development Directorate (ADD) and the library.

Methodologies and Methods in Gender Studies

In addition to generic methods training, MPhil/PhD students in Gender Studies are required to attend a training seminar in methodologies & methods in Gender Studies in terms 1&2. The aim of the training programme is to provide a thorough grounding in theory, methods, regional, cultural, linguistic and any special disciplinary expertise that may be required for the research. The training seminar is a fortnightly course of seminar-classes specially for first year research students consisting of student presentations and discussions thereof, as well as guided tutorials.

MPhil/PhD students are in addition expected to attend regularly the Centre’s seminar series, details of which are available on the SOAS website. MPhil students are also encouraged to attend the MA Gender Studies core course in Gender Theory and the Study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Optional elements may consist of specialist disciplinary, language or regional culture courses, attendance of which can be agreed between the student and the supervisory committee. 

Upgrade procedure

In the first week of term 3, year 1, doctoral candidates submit an extended research proposal (of about 10,000 words), including the following elements:

  • Research rationale and context of proposed research
  • Main research questions
  • Literature review
  • Theoretical and methodological framework and considerations
  • Proposed research methods
  • Ethical issues (where applicable)
  • Outlining structure of PhD dissertation
  • Schedule of research and writing
  • Bibliography

This upgrade proposal is assessed by the candidate’s research committee, based on a 20-30 minute oral presentation followed by a discussion also open to other staff and student members of the Centre for Gender Studies. On successful completion of the extended proposal, doctoral researchers are formally upgraded to PhD and proceed to the fieldwork phase, which conventionally lasts up to a year. (If the assessors consider there to be shortcomings in the upgrade proposal, researchers will be asked to revise it to their satisfaction before the upgrade to PhD status can be confirmed.) Candidates are not normally permitted to undertake fieldwork until the upgrade process has been completed.

Year 2 and 3

The second year is normally spent engaged in research. This may be by any combination of fieldwork and research in libraries and archives as agreed between the doctoral researcher and the supervisor(s).

The third year is devoted to writing up research for the PhD thesis. During this time, doctoral candidate will normally give a presentation to the Postgraduate Research Seminar, comprising a small number of staff members with special expertise in the topic and other research students. During this time candidates will present draft chapters to the supervisor(s) for comment, before writing the final draft for examination. The thesis – normally 80,000 words in length - will be examined by two leading authorities on Gender Studies or relevant disciplines/area studies. The external examiner is always a scholar from outside the University of London.

Doctoral candidates studying part-time take the MPhil training seminar in the first year and write the Core Chapter and research proposal in the second year. The length of time for field or other research, and writing up, is adjusted accordingly.

Degrees are awarded by the University of London..

For further details of the requirements and structure of the programme, email genderstudies@soas.ac.uk or contact Dr. Alyosxa Tudor (email at53@soas.ac.uk), Research and Admissions Tutor in Gender Studies (email gh21@soas.ac.uk).

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.

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Academic staff and their research areas

  • Dr Alyosxa Tudor 
    Trans-feminism, Racism, Migratism and Constructions of Europeanness; Critical European Studies, Postcolonial Studies, Critical Migration Studies, Interdependencies/Intersectionality, Diaspora Studies.
  • Dr Awino Okech 
    Africa - Critical gender theory on sexuality, queer politics, security and violent extremism, gender in nation and state making, social movements.
  • Qualitative research methods and feminist research methodology.
  • Dr Gina Heathcote 
    International feminist legal theories, International Law especially laws on the use of force, collective security, political and legal theories, law of the sea, gender and conflict.
  • Dr Samia Khatun 
    Feminist History, British Empire, Indian Ocean Knowledges, South Asian history, Islam in South Asia, Settler Colonialism, Diaspora Studies, Politics of Knowledge Production.

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