Program Overview

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Key Information

Start Date

September

Duration

3 years

Attendance Mode

Full-time

Location

On Campus

Fees

• Home: £9,535
• International: £22,870

Course Code

TT10

Entry Requirements

• ABB
• Contextual: BBB

International Entry Requirements

• Austria: Reifeprufungszeugnis / Maturazeugnis: four subjects at 1, 2, 2, 2
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Belgium: Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs: 75% (7.5/10, 15/20) overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Bulgaria: Diploma za Zavarsheno Sredno Obrazovanie: 5.3 and 5.0 in two State Maturity Exams
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Canada: High School Diploma: 80% with 5 acceptable Grade 12 subjects (most territories). British Columbia: AABBB in Grade 12 courses.
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• China: Senior Secondary Graduation Certificate + Gaokao: 78% overall in Gaokao PLUS 85% overall in Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate (year 11 and 12)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Croatia: Matura Certificate: 4.5 overall with 5 in 1 Higher level subject
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Czech Republic: Matura Certificate: 1, 2, 2, 2
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Denmark: Studentereksamen; Hojere Forberedelseseksamen; Hojere Handelseksamen; Hojere Teknisk Eksamen: 7 plus 10, 7, 7 in three Level A subjects
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Egypt: Thanaweya Amma: 85% overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Estonia: Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus: 4.0 with 85%, 80%, and 80% in 3 state exams
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Finland: Ylioppilastukint / Studentexamen: four subjects at 6, 5, 5, 5
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• France: French Baccalaureat or Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB): 13/20
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Germany: Abitur: 1.8
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Greece: Apolytirion of Geniko Lykeio with Pan Hellenic exams: 18/20
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Hong Kong: Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 544 in two electives and one core (all other subjects grade 3)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Hungary: Matura (Erettségi): 4.5 overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Iceland: Stúdentspróf: 7.5
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• India: Standard XII: 75% (CBSE, CISCE, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra & West Bengal boards), 80% (all other state boards)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Ireland: Irish Leaving Certificate: H1, H2, H2, H3, H3
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Israel: Bagrut: Overall grade of 7, 80% with 3 subjects at 5-unit level
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Italy: Diploma Consequito con L’Esame di Stato: 80% overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Latvia: Certificate of General Secondary Education: 88% in four State subject exams
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Lithuania: Brandos Atestatas: 8.5/10 and 90%, 85%, 85% in three State Exam
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Malta: Advanced Matriculation Certificate: AB (Advanced) + BBB (Intermediate)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Netherlands: Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs: 7.5 overall with 8, 8, 7, 7 in four subjects
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Norway: Vitnemål vidergaende opplaering: 4.3 overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Poland: New Polish Matura: 75% in three Advanced Level subjects
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Portugal: Diploma de Ensino Secundario: overall 17.5/20
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Romania: Diploma de Bacalaureat: 8.5 overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Singapore: Polytechnic Diploma (Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Singapore, Temasek and Republic Polytechnic): GPA 3.3
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Slovakia: Maturitná skúška / Maturita / Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške: four subjects at 1, 2, 2, 2
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• South Africa: National Senior Certificate: 77666
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Spain: Curso de Orientación Universitaria / Título de Bachillerato: 7.5
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Sweden: Slutbetyg / Examensbevis från Gymnasieskolan: A in 1200 credits and no grades below D / 18 / mainly B overall (MVG/VG)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Switzerland: Federal Maturity Certificate: 4.5
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Tanzania: Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education: ACSE with BBB in 3 principle subjects
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Trinidad and Tobago: CAPE: Six CAPE units with grade 2 (+two double-unit courses)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Turkey: Lise Diplomasi: 78-83% (depending on high school)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• USA: High School Diploma plus ACT, SAT, or AP exams:
  • High School Diploma GPA 3.0 plus SAT 1280 or ACT 27 and 2 AP's at 4,4 or
  • High School Diploma GPA of 3.2 plus 2 AP's at 4,4 or
  • High School Diploma GPA 3.4 plus SAT 1300 or ACT 29 or
  • 2-year Associate degree GPA 3.1
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB

Course Overview

The BA Languages and Cultures (Middle East, Africa, South and South East Asia) degree introduces students to the cultures and societies of Africa, the Middle East, South and South East Asia through the study of languages, film, literature and cultural studies.

Structure

Year 1 - Compulsory - Non-Language

• Languages of the World - 15 credits
• Screen Cultures - 15 credits
• The Art of Storytelling - 15 credits
• Humanities Toolkit - 15 credits

Year 1 - Compulsory - Language

• 30 credits from list of Languages

Year 1 - Guided options - List A

• Cross-Cultural Encounters on Film - 15 credits
• The World in London - 15 credits
• Environmental Humanities - 15 credits
• Literatures of Love, Loss and Desire - 15 credits
• Approaches to Phonology - 15 credits

Year 2 - Compulsory

• Film Cities - 15 credits

Year 2 - Guided options - Language

• You may choose up to 30 credits from the available list of languages.

Year 2 - Guided option

• 15 credits guided option OR choose from Languages

Year 2 - Guided options - List B Regional List

• 15-45 credits from Regional List B. Students are encouraged to consider Literatures of Love, Loss and Desire.

Year 3 - Compulsory

• Capstone Project - 30 credits

Year 3 - Guided options - List C Regional List

• Up to 60 credits from List C Regional Options

Year 3 - Guided options - Language

• You may choose up to 30 credits language

Teaching and Learning

Teaching is normally provided by lecture or seminar and students are required to attend such classes. Most modules involve a 50-minute lecture as a key component with linked tutorial classes.

Contact hours

All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, taught in modules of 30 credits (taught over 20 weeks) or 15 credits (taught over 10 weeks). The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others.

In the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, undergraduate modules take various forms. Modules may be taught through 1 or 2 hours of lectures a week, and some may have an additional 1-2 hours of weekly seminars. Languages classes may be 4-5 hours per week in the first and second year, typically less at higher levels.

Year abroad

For those students who choose to take a year abroad, the resulting improvement in all-round language skills will allow students to work at a more advanced range of linguistics competence in their final year work back at SOAS. The culturally immersive experience of the year abroad equips students with key skills which are invaluable for those wishing to go on to work in the region.

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.

Fees and Funding

Fees for 2025/26 entrants per academic year

• Home students: £9,535
• Overseas students: £22,870

Employment

Graduates of the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with skills in written and oral communication, analysis and problem solving.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

• Africa Matters
• Amnesty International
• Arab British Chamber of Commerce
• BBC World Service
• British High Commission
• Council for British Research in the Levant
• Department for International Development
• Edelman
• Embassy of Jordan
• Ernst & Young
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Google
• Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
• Middle East Eye
• Saïd Foundation
• TalkAbout Speech Therapy
• The Black Curriculum
• The Telegraph
• United Nations Development Programme
• UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
• Wall Street Journal

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