Postgraduate work placement

Enhance your career prospects with a Postgraduate work placement year.  

Gain professional skills and practical UK work experience, as part of a 2-year degree at SOAS. A work placement is a chance to apply academic knowledge to a practical, real-world setting in an organisation of your choice. Develop your professional skills, teamwork, collaboration, critical analysis and problem-solving skills while studying, to help you prepare for your next career step.

You will be expected to secure the work placement yourself, to be approved by the academic department. The SOAS Careers team are on hand to help you with your CV, interview skills and finding the right organisation for you.  

After the taught part of your master's programme in year one, you will have the opportunity to take part in a full-time, 10–12 month work placement at an organisation of your choice. The placement can be paid or unpaid but should be relevant to your degree.

Once the placement finishes, you will then write your dissertation, applying what you’ve learnt throughout your course so far.   

You should apply for the 2-year ‘with Work Placement’ version of your degree. If for any reason you change your mind or are unable to secure a placement, you will start your dissertation in the summer and complete your degree in 1-year.