MA South Asian Studies and Intensive Language

Program Overview

Key Information

Duration

2-years (full-time)

Start of Programme

September

Attendance Mode

Full-time or part-time

Location

On campus

Fees

• Home: £12,220
• International: £25,320

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.

International Entry Requirements

• Afghanistan: Master's degree, 80% or 3.3/4.0
• Argentina: Titulo / Grado de Licenciado, 7/10
• Australia: Bachelor degree, 2:2 or Credit or 65%
• Austria: Bachelor degree, 2.5/5.0 and overall Pass (Bestanden)
• Bahrain: Bachelor degree, 75% or GPA 3.0/4.0
• Bangladesh: Bachelor’s from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or Master's degree, 60% or GPA 3.0/4.0
• Belgium: Licentiaat or Licencié, 13/20 or 65%
• Botswana: Bachelor degree (5-year) or Master's from University of Botswana, GPA 3.5/5.0 or 65% or B- or Good
• Brazil: Título de Bacharel / Título de Licenciado (4-year), 7/10 or 70%
• Brunei: Bachelor degree, Lower Second Class Honours with 50% overall
• Bulgaria: Bachelor degree, 4.3/6
• Cameroon: Diplôme d'Ingénieur/ Diplôme d'Études Supérieures de Commerce (5-year), 12-13 assez bien (fair); 70-74; or B+
• Canada: Bachelor degree, GPA 3.0/4.0 or 74-77% or overall B
• China: Bachelor degree (4-year), 73% or 2.6/4.0 (C9 unis), 75% or 2.8/4.0 (Double First unis), 80% or 3.25/4.0 (all other unis)
• Colombia: Licenciado / Titulo (4-year), 3.5/5.0
• Croatia: Baccalaureus / Baccalaurea (Bachelor degree), Overall score 3/5
• Cyprus: Bachelor degree, 6.5/10
• Czech Republic: Bachelor degree (180 ECTS), 1.75/4.0 or High C 'dobre’ (good)
• Denmark: Bachelor degree, 7/12 or 8/13 or grade C
• Egypt: Bachelor degree, 70% or 3.0/4.0
• Estonia: Bakalaurusekraad / University Specialist's Diploma / Professional Higher Education Diploma, 4.0/5.0
• Finland: Bachelor / Kandidaatti / Kandidat (180 ECTS credits), 3/5 or 2/3
• France: Licence or Diplôme from a grande école, 11.5 out 20
• Gambia: Master's degree (2-year), GPA 3.0/4.3 or 64% or B
• Germany: Bachelor degree (180 ECTS), 2.6/5
• Ghana: Bachelor degree, 2:2 (Second Class Lower Division) or GPA 3.25/5.0 or 60%
• Greece: Bachelor degree, 6.50/10
• Hong Kong: Bachelor degree, Upper second class or GPA 2.7/4.0 or 75% or B Minus
• Hungary: Bachelor (Alapfokozat) or Diploma (Egyetemi Oklevél), 3.5/5.0
• Iceland: Bachelor degree (Baccalaureus or Bakkalarprof), 7.0 out of 10
• India: Bachelor degree, CGPA: 55-60% or 5.5/10 - 6.0/10
• Iraq: Bachelor degree (Licence/Karshani), 0.7
• Israel: Bachelor degree, 70% or C+
• Italy: Laurea (180 ECTS), 100/110
• Japan: Bachelor degree, 70% or C+ or 3.0
• Jordan: Bachelor degree, 3.0/4.0 or 70%
• Kazakhstan: Bachelors (Bakalavr Diplomi) or Specialist Diploma, GPA 3.0/4.0 or GPA 4.0/5.0 or B
• Kenya: Bachelor degree, 2:2 or 60%
• Kuwait: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.67/4.0
• Kyrgyzstan: Bachelor's degree or specialist diploma (min 4 years) from a recognised institution, 3.5/5.0 or 2.67/4.0
• Latvia: Bakalaura Diploms (Bachelor's) or Profesionālā Bakalaura Diploms (Professional Bachelor's) from a recognised institution, 6/10
• Lebanon: Bachelor's degree / Licence from a recognised institution, 70% or C or 2.7/4.0 or 12/20
• Liberia: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 75% or 2.8/4.0
• Libya: Bachelor's degree from selected institution, 65% or 2.8/4.0
• Lithuania: Bachelors/Bakalauro (180 ECTS) from a recognised institution, 7/10
• Luxembourg: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 12/20
• Macedonia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 7/10 or 2:2
• Malawi: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 60% or 2.4/4.0
• Malaysia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.6/4.0 or B- (Class 2 Division 2)
• Maldives: Bachelor's degree from the Maldives National University (MNU), 50%
• Malta: Bachelor degree from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class / 60% / Category IIB
• Mexico: Titulo de Licenciado from a recognised institution, 7.5/10
• Morocco: Licence/Licence d'Etudes Fondamentales/Licence Professionnelle from a recognised institution, 11/20
• Namibia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 60% or 2.5/4.0
• Nepal: Master's degree / Bachelor's (4-year) from select institutions, 55% or 2.4/4.0
• Netherlands: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 6/10 or 2.7/4.0
• New Zealand: Bachelor's degree (3 or 4 years) from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons
• Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons
• Norway: Bachelors/Bachelorgrad (180 ECTS) or Candidatus/a magisterii from a recognised institution, Overall C
• Oman: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.7/4.0
• Pakistan: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from HEC recognised institution or 2 year BA + 2 year MA from HEC recognised institution, CGPA 2.7 or 55%
• Palestine (State of): Bachelor degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 75% or or 2.7/4.0
• Papua New Guinea: Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised institution, Class II Division B
• Peru: Licenciado or Professional Title from a recognised institution, 12/20
• Philippines: Master’s from recognised institution or Centre of Excellence; or Bachelor's from prestigious institution or Centre of Excellence, 2.5/4.0 or 80% or 2.5/5.0 or Cum Laude
• Poland: Licencjat or Inżynier from a recognised institution, 3.8/5.0
• Portugal: Licenciado (180 ECTS) from a recognised institution, 12/20
• Qatar: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.7/4.0 or 3.3/5.0
• Romania: Diplomă de Licenţă/Diplomă de Inginer/Diplomă de Urbanist Diplomat from a recognised university, 7/10
• Russia: Diplom Bakalavra or Specialist Diploma from a recognised institution, 3.5/5.0
• Rwanda: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons; 60%; or 13/20
• Saudi Arabia: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 3.5/5.0 or 2.7/4.0 or 70%
• Serbia and Montenegro: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 7 / Good
• Sierra Leone: Bachelor's Honours degree from a recognised institution, Lower Second Class Hons; 55%; 3.4/5.0; 2.75/4.0
• Singapore: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 3.3/5.0 or 2.8/4.0
• Slovakia: Bachelor's degree (Bakalár) from a recognised institution, 70%; or 2.0 overall; or C
• Slovenia: Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (University Degree) or Diploma o pridobljeni visoki strokovni izobrazbi / Diplomirani (Diploma of Professional Higher Education) or Diplomant or Univerzitetni diplomant (first degree), 7 out of 10
• Solomon Islands: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from the University of the South Pacific, B/3.0
• Somalia: Do not accept national qualifications for direct entry, N/A
• South Africa: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 60%
• South Korea: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.5/4.0; or 2.8/4.3; or 3.0/4.5
• Spain: Título de Grado / Título de Licenciado / Título de Ingeniero / Titulo de Arquitecto from a recognised institution, 6/10 or 1.5/4.0
• Sri Lanka: Bachelor Special Degree or Professional Degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 55% or 2:2 or 3.0/4.0
• Saint Kitts and Nevis: Bachelor's degree from the University of the West Indies, 2.7/4, B-, 60% or Lower Second Class Hons
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Bachelor's degree from the University of the West Indies, 2.7/4, B-, 60% or Lower Second Class Hons
• Sudan: Bachelor's degree (5-year) from a recognised institution, 60% or B
• Sweden: Bachelor's Degree/Kandidatexamen/Yrkesexamen from a recognised institution, Pass OR Godkänd (with a minimum of 90 credits at Good - C)
• Switzerland: Diplom/Diplôme;Lizentiat;Staatsdiplom/Diplôme d’Etat from a recognised institution, 4/6; or 6/10: or 3/5
• Syria: Bachelor's degree (Licence/ al-ijaza-fi) from a recognised institution, 65%+ or 'Good' from a public university
• Taiwan: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 65-70% or GPA 2.6/4.0 - 2.8/4.0
• Tanzania: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2:2; or Lower Second; or GPA 2.7/5.0
• Thailand: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2.6/4.0
• Trinidad and Tobago: Bachelor's Degree from UWI, B-, 60% or 2.5; or Lower Second Class Hons
• Trinidad and Tobago: Diplôme National d'Ingénieur/ Diplôme National d'Architecture/ Docteur en Médecine / Vétérinaire/ Licence/ Maîtrise from recognised institution, 11 out of 20
• Turkey: Lisans Diplomasi from a recognised institution, Top Unis: 2.5/4.0 All others: 2.8/4.0
• UAE: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.6/4.0 or 75% or C+
• Uganda: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, 2:2 (Lower Second) or 3.0/5.0 or B
• Ukraine: Bachelor's degree or specialist diploma from a recognised institution, 7 out of 12; or 3.5 out of 5
• USA: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, GPA 2.7/4.0
• Vietnam: Bachelor's degree (4-year) from a recognised institution, 6.0/10 or 2.5/4.0
• Yemen: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 70% or 2.7/4.0
• Zambia: Master's degree from a recognised institution, 65%; B; Credit; 1.7/2.5; or 2.7/4.0; or 3.3/5.0
• Zimbabwe: Bachelor's degree (3 or 4 years) from a recognised institution, 2:2 (60%)

Course Overview

The MA South Asian Studies and Intensive Language 2-year programme (or part-time, 4-year) is directed at students with a professional and academic interest in South Asia.

It provides students with exceptional opportunities for advanced study of one of the world’s most diverse and important regions, with an opportunity for an intensive training in a South Asian language (Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit) as well as studying a range of modules across the disciplines.

Knowledge of a South Asian language is not a pre-requisite for admission to this programme which is designed primarily for ab initio language study. Students with intermediate or advanced language levels are advised to contact the programme convenor before applying. If necessary, proficiency levels will be assessed.

This MA South Asian Studies programme includes a summer of intensive language which is currently only offered in India (students must note that SOAS cannot take responsibility for obtaining visas for travel to India). Students bear the costs of travel to and from India, as well as all living expenses (including accommodation) during the period of their stay.

Students come from a wide range of backgrounds: some will have acquired an interest in South Asia during their undergraduate career or as a result of travelling in the region, while others will be keen to explore personal connections. The programme will also attract mature students: some may take the MA as a partial preparation for employment in the region; others, having lived in South Asia for a number of years, may seek to place their experience and impressions into a more structured, analytical framework.

Teaching and Learning

Two-year Masters programmes consist of 315 credits in total, comprised of 255 taught credits (45 of which are taught abroad as part of a Summer School) and a 60-credit dissertation in the selected discipline.

The 215 credits taught at SOAS are 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.

Contact Hours

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework and revising for examinations. 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.

At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a 1-hour lecture and a 1-hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

Summer Abroad

The programme includes a summer of intensive language which is currently only offered in India (students must note that SOAS cannot take responsibility for obtaining visas for travel to India). Students bear the costs of travel to and from India, as well as all living expenses (including accommodation) during the period of their stay.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

• How to assess data and evidence critically from printed and digital sources, solve problems of conflicting sources and interpretations, locate materials, use research sources (particularly research library catalogues) and other relevant traditional sources.
• Subject specific skills, for instance familiarity with a South Asian language and the ability to read texts in that language, or advanced study of a South Asian literature in its original language.
• Aspects of South Asian history, economics, political, management and legal systems, art and archaeology, literature, visual and popular culture, anthropology and music.

Intellectual (thinking) skills

• Students should become precise and cautious in their assessment of evidence.
• Students should question interpretations, however authoritative, and reassess evidence for themselves
• Apply language learning skills to new linguistic challenges, or to new oral or written texts.

Subject-based practical skills

• Communicate effectively in writing.
• Retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources.
• Present seminar papers.
• Participate constructively in the discussion of ideas introduced during seminars.
• Work to strict deadlines.
• Use and apply foreign language skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Transferrable skills

The programme will encourage students to:

• Write good essays and dissertations.
• Structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing.
• Understand unconventional ideas.
• Study a variety of written and digital materials, in libraries and research institutes of a kind they will not have used as undergraduates.
• Present (non – assessed) material orally.
• Communicate in a foreign language.

Scholarships

• Tibawi Trust Award
• Felix Non-Indian Scholarship
• Felix Scholarships

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

Find out about our Careers Service.

Program Outline

Students must take

315 credits in total

255 taught credits

60-credit

In their first year, students take:

Plus

These modules should be chosen in close consultation with the programme convenor. They also take:

Plus

And either

Or

Over the summer between year 1 and 2, students study at one of our partner institutions in India (Study Abroad module - worth 45 credits), before returning to take another 30 language credits as well as 60 credits in the discipline. They also write their 10,000-word dissertation (

Dissertation in South Asian Studies

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.

Year 1

Taught component

All students will take language modules in Hindi, Sanskrit or Urdu to the value of 30 credits from the list below

Language

[up to 30 credits as a minor only; additional language may exceptionally be taken, but only one at beginner's level]

And

And Intensive Summer abroad study worth 45 credits.

Students will take optional modules to the value of 60 from the list below (subject to availability)

Anthropology (minor only)

Art and Archaeology

Cinema

Culture

Development Studies

Economics

(some background in economics is a prerequisite for these modules; please contact the convenor for details)

History

Interdisciplinary Studies

Law

Literature

Music

Politics and International Studies

Study of Religions and Philosophies

Year 2

Taught component

Students will take optional modules to the value of 60 from the list above (subject to availability)

And

And Intensive Summer abroad study worth 45 credits.

Two-year Masters programmes consist of

315 credits in total

The 215 credits taught at SOAS are 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.

Contact hours

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework and revising for examinations. 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.

At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a 1-hour lecture and a 1-hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

Summer abroad

The programme includes a summer of intensive language which is currently only offered in India (students must note that SOAS cannot take responsibility for obtaining visas for travel to India). Students bear the costs of travel to and from India, as well as all living expenses (including accommodation) during the period of their stay.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Intellectual (thinking) skills

Subject-based practical skills

Transferrable skills

The programme will encourage students to:

SOAS Library

SOAS Library

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:

Find out about our

Careers Service.