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SOAS, University of London University SOAS, SOAS, University of London Thornhaugh Street Russell Square The world’s London WC1H 0XG Student Recruitment Oce leading institution Tel: +44 (0)20 7898 4034 Fax: +44 (0)20 7898 4039 Email: [email protected] for the study of Asia, Switchboard Tel: +44 (0)20 7637 2388 Africa and the Middle East Facebook www.facebook.com/ soasunioflondon Twitter @soas YouTube www.youtube.com/ soasuniversity Weibo SOASLondon Postgraduate Prospectus Postgraduate Postgraduate 2014/15 Prospectus www.soas.ac.uk 2014/15 LifeSOAS, and University Study at ofSOAS London Welcome SOAS, University of London is the world’s leading institution for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. While other universities have mission statements, SOAS has a real mission – to analyse, understand and explain a globalised world in which, nevertheless, difference and regionalism present themselves acutely. Students and scholars from across the globe continually choose SOAS because of its international reputation and unrivalled concentration of expertise in these regions. SOAS is a guardian of specialised knowledge in languages and periods and regions not available anywhere else in the UK but, equally, SOAS scholars grapple with pressing issues – democracy, development, human rights, identity, legal systems, poverty, religion, social change – confronting two-thirds of humankind. SOAS is renowned for its diverse and vibrant community. Almost half the student body is international, which according to the 2012 QS World University Rankings, places SOAS as having the ninth highest percentage of international students in the world. More importantly for SOAS, the exchange of ideas takes place on a world stage, crucial to deepen research, sharpen scholarly debate and, ultimately, nurture, challenge and inspire. SOAS is located right in the heart of London – one of the best cities in the world for students, according to QS – and it’s easy to see why. World-famous cultural sites such as the British Museum, the British Library and Covent Garden are all nearby, offering a range of music, art and architecture to explore. By choosing SOAS for your postgraduate study, you will be joining us at a very exciting time. As we plan for our centenary in 2016 and our future beyond, we hope you will play a part by ensuring SOAS continues to advance the knowledge and understanding of our regions through high-quality research and teaching. Professor Paul Webley Director 2 For more information go to www.soas.ac.uk Contents 5 SOAS at a glance 82 Master’s and Research Degrees 84 Department of the Languages and Cultures 6 Life and Study at SOAS of Africa 8 Why choose SOAS? 87 Department of Anthropology and Sociology 12 Faculties and Departments 99 School of Arts 16 Taught Master’s Programmes 100 Department of the History of Art and 20 Research Archaeology 28 Other Study Opportunities 110 Centre for Film and Screen Studies 34 SOAS Library and Information Services 115 Department of Music 37 Student Support Services 121 Department of the Languages and Cultures 42 Living in London of China and Inner Asia 44 Accommodation 125 Centre for Cultural, Literary and 46 Regional Centres Postcolonial Studies 52 A–Z of Postgraduate Degrees 134 Department of Development Studies 55 New Programmes 145 Department of Economics 154 Department of Financial and 56 Interdisciplinary Area Studies Management Studies Master’s 160 Centre for Gender Studies 164 Department of History 58 Introduction 170 Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy 59 MA African Studies 176 Department of the Languages and Cultures 60 MA Chinese Studies of Japan and Korea 62 MA Iranian Studies 181 School of Law 63 MA Islamic Societies and Cultures 195 Department of Linguistics 64 MA Israeli Studies 204 Centre for Media Studies 66 MA Japanese Studies 213 Department of the Languages and Cultures 68 MA Korean Studies of Near and Middle East 69 MA Near and Middle Eastern Studies 221 Department of Politics and International Studies 72 MA Pacific Asian tudiesS 235 Department of the Languages and Cultures 74 MA Study of Contemporary Pakistan of South Asia 75 MA South Asian Area Studies 238 Department of the Languages and Cultures 78 MA South East Asian Studies of South East Asia 80 MA Taiwan Studies 240 Department of the Study of Religions 248 Coming to SOAS 250 Making your Application 254 Fees 255 Equality and Diversity 256 Freedom of Expression: Statement of Principles 257 Your SOAS Alumni Network 258 Term Dates and Open Days 259 Useful Contacts 261 Address and Principal Officers 262 Campus Map 263 Index SOAS Postgraduate Prospectus 2014 Entry 3 LifeSOAS, and Univeristy Study at ofSOAS London 4 For more information go to www.soas.ac.uk Department / Page Title SOAS at a glance SOAS has more than 2,100 postgraduate students, including 488 on research programmes We have students from more than 130 countries Student:staff ratio 11:1 is one of the best in the UK We have 120 taught Master’s programmes in social sciences, humanities, languages and cultural studies, with a distinctive regional focus Our library has more than 1.5 million items and extensive electronic resources on Asia, Africa and the Middle East and attracts scholars from all over the world SOAS Postgraduate Prospectus 2014 Entry 5 Life and Study at SOAS Life and Study at SOAS Key information about coming to study a degree at SOAS 8 Why choose SOAS? 12 Faculties and Departments 16 Taught Master’s Programmes 20 Research 28 Other Study Opportunities 34 SOAS Library and Information Services 37 Student Support Services 42 Living in London 44 Accommodation 46 Regional Centres 52 A–Z of Postgraduate Degrees 55 New Programmes 6 For more information go to www.soas.ac.uk SOAS Postgraduate Prospectus 2014 Entry 7 Life and Study at SOAS Why choose SOAS? • SOAS, University of London is the world’s • SOAS is rated first for its political scene, a score leading institution for the study of Asia, Africa of 98 per cent, by Which? University. and the Middle East. Its research expertise in languages, political and social sciences and • With 54,000 alumni worldwide, the global arts and humanities provides the resources reach and global perspectives of SOAS and knowledge to equip people for a global graduates empowers them to work in a wide economy and a multicultural world. range of sectors, from government and inter- governmental institutions, NGOs and charities, • SOAS is an exceptionally cosmopolitan through think tanks and academia, to business university. Almost half the student body and social enterprise. is international giving it the ninth highest percentage of international students at a • SOAS has the largest concentration of specialist university in the world (QS World University staff (400+ academics) concerned with the Rankings). study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East of any university in the world. Students benefit • The 2012 QS World University Rankings placed from small-group teaching, which remains SOAS joint fifth best in the UK for modern an important feature of study at SOAS – languages. It also ranked SOAS 52nd in the Our student-staff ratio (11:1) is one of the best world for arts and humanities and 51st for in the UK. This concentration of expertise is modern languages. further enforced by its world-leading library, which attracts scholars from across the globe. • Our academic excellence is recognised in Research Assessment Exercises. In the most • While student numbers are growing and recent exercise, SOAS submitted more than programmes expanding, SOAS retains a 92 per cent of its eligible staff and was friendliness and warmth. Students can question ranked first in Asian Studies with four other and challenge conventional thinking, widen departments, Anthropology, History, Music their horizons and put preconceptions of Asia, and Politics, performing exceptionally well. Africa and the Middle East to the test. World-class library and facilities Excellent career prospects We have well-equipped facilities including a world- Whether you are an aspiring UN envoy, a researcher renowned library. With more than 1.5 million items eager to document endangered Nigerian dialects or and extensive electronic resources in more than a passionate champion of human rights, studying at 400 languages, the SOAS Library is the national SOAS will give you the skills and contacts to allow library for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle you to hit the ground running after completing your East and attracts scholars from all over the world. further degree. We also have our own exhibition and conference Our graduates have built careers in academia, space, the Brunei Gallery. In addition to a changing the public and private sectors, including the civil programme of visiting exhibitions and events service, business and finance and arts and cultural reflecting the broad teaching and research interests institutions. They also work for international here, a permanent rotating display of SOAS’s own agencies, charities, NGOs and the media. For rich collections of manuscripts and artifacts is example, they have secured highly sought-after on show in the Foyle Special Collections Gallery. internships with the UN Refugees Agency, the For details see page 36. European Union and Action Against Hunger. Many have also taken up PR and consultative functions with Médecins Sans Frontières, Amnesty International, UNESCO, the World Bank and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, or joined the BBC or Al-Arabiya News. 8 For more information go to www.soas.ac.uk Why choose SOAS? A great number of SOAS alumni have excelled in their chosen field, including: • Professor John Atta Mills (PhD Law 1970) Former President of Ghana (21 July 1944– 24 July 2012). • Aung San Suu Kyi (Research student 1987–8) Leader of the National League for Democracy, Burma, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, 1991.