Program Overview

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Key Information

Duration

3 years

Start of Programme

September

Attendance Mode

Full-time

Location

On Campus

Fees

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

Entry Requirements

• AAB-ABB
• For joint degrees, the offer is based on the subject with the higher entry requirements
• Contextual: ABB-BBB

Course Overview

Philosophy has been a significant activity in every society for several thousand years. It is a basic aspect of all human cultures to ask “big questions” about the fundamental nature of reality, about what it is to be human, what constitutes a good life, beauty, justice, knowledge, and how to confront and resolve ethical quandaries.

The BA World Philosophies combined degree is one of the only programmes in the world to provide the opportunity to ask these questions and examine answers from a global, cross-cultural, and decolonial perspective. This degree offers rigorous training in the epistemological standpoints, moral philosophical approaches, metaphysical systems, and socio-political thought of a range of Global North and Global South traditions in dialogue with each other. Because of this, the BA World Philosophies programme at SOAS is truly unique and state-of-the-art.

In addition to the ability to think critically and rigorously, studying philosophical traditions from Asia, Africa, the Middle East in dialogue with Continental European and Anglophone traditions enables you to take a broad and comprehensive view of the world and to think more deeply, sensitively, and insightfully about humanity, (in)justice, ethics, and real-world problems.

Why Study BA World Philosophies Combined Degree at SOAS?

• SOAS is ranked top 20 in the UK for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• We are ranked top 10 in the UK for Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• BA World Philosophies scored above sector in the following categories: teaching quality, learning opportunities, assessment & feedback (NSS 2024)
• We are home to the world’s first ever Decolonising Philosophy Curriculum Toolkit and Handbook
• Our average 20/21 Graduate Outcome Departmental score is 82.85% (HESA)

Combined Courses

• BA Arabic and World Philosophies (Year Abroad)
• BA Chinese and World Philosophies (Year Abroad)
• BA East Asian Studies and World Philosophies
• BA Global Development and World Philosophies
• BA History and World Philosophies
• BA History of Art and World Philosophies
• BA International Relations and World Philosophies
• BA Japanese and World Philosophies (Year Abroad)
• BA Korean and World Philosophies (Year Abroad)
• BA Languages and Cultures (Middle East, Africa, South and Southeast Asia) and World Philosophies
• BA Languages and Cultures (Middle East, Africa, South and Southeast Asia) and World Philosophies including year abroad
• BA Music and World Philosophies
• BA Politics and World Philosophies
• BA Social Anthropology and World Philosophies
• BA World Philosophies and Africa and Black Diaspora
• BA World Philosophies and Africa and Black Diaspora including year abroad

Teaching and Learning

The BA World Philosophies and ... is examined through written and oral examinations and coursework. In addition, the Independent Study Project (ISP) in year 3 facilitates supervised student research in a prominent topic or debate in the field of World Philosophies.

Contact Hours

Most courses involve a 50- 100-minute lecture as a key component with linked tutorial classes.

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

Programme	Full-time
Home students	Overseas students
BA, BSc, LLB	£9,535	£22,870
BA/BSc Language year abroad	£1,385	£11,430

Employment

Graduates from the Department of Religions and Philosophies develop the skills to analyse and communicate ideas in a clear, and comprehensive manner. A degree in philosophy is highly regarded by employers of many kinds. Philosophy teaches the student how to analyse and communicate ideas in a clear, rational and comprehensive manner.

Students of philosophy learn solid argumentation skills and critical analysis: they learn how to learn, how to think, and how to communicate their ideas effectively and persuasively. Graduates develop into well-rounded, mature, thoughtful and articulate employees. The skills of vision, creativity and analytical power being developed through the study of philosophy are key proficiencies which are valuable in many careers and are transferable to a wide range of sectors and roles.

Research

Material Culture of the Jaina Mendicant Traditions

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Chinese Perspectives on AI in Global Context: Towards a New Ethical Eco-System

A multi-year and interdisciplinary project where diverse scholars and practitioners, from AI engineers to Sci-fiction novelists, from philosophers to Sinologists aim to discuss Chinese perspectives on AI in a global dialogue and explore its implications for humanity and its future.

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An Inclusive Bodhisattva Path: The Taiwanese Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation and their Global Trans-Faith Humanitarianism

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Mapping religious diversity in modern Sichuan: A spatial and social study of communities and networks

A multi-year and interdisciplinary project that explores patterns of religious diversity in Sichuan from the 1800 to today, and relocates Sichuan from the periphery to the centre of the study of Chinese religions.

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The multimedia Yasna

This project produced state-of-the art editions of the core ritual texts of the Zoroastrian religion and an interactive film of a performance of the ritual.

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Seals and sealing practices in Sasanian Iran: New evidence from Taxt-e Solaymān

Dr Yousef Moradi created a catalogue of bullae he excavated at Taxt-e Sulaymān in Iran.

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The multimedia Yasna International image interoperability framework

This project develops a technology for annotating textual structure within IIIF.

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From TEI to JSON within IIIF

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Beyond Discovery: Religion, economics and administration in Sasanian Iran through new clay bullae from Taxt-e Solayman

This project will analyse and publish newly discovered bullae and the seal impression they bear from one of the most important fire temples of Sasanian Iran.

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The non-textuality of knowledge: Orality and symbolism in African philosophy

The project challenges the exclusion in the dominant understanding of philosophical traditions and of philosophical knowledge as essentially textual, exploring the non-textuality of philosophical knowledge in African places with a specific focus on oral and symbolic forms of knowledge.

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Alternative explanations for disability: Inspiring patient-centered care among healthcare practitioners through the arts

A public engagement project that brings together academics, healthcare workers and persons with disabilities to collectively and creatively understand and challenge deeply rooted philosophies and beliefs about disabilities.

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Avestan Ritual in India

Avestan Ritual in India (AVINDIA) is a 5-year project will film the performance of a Visperad ceremony in India and will seek to detect, describe, visualise and analyse how the ritual is structured as systematically organised activity, and to reconstruct its genesis and historical trajectory.

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School of History, Religions and Philosophies

The School specialises in teaching and researching the history, religion, and philosophy of the Global South in a critical, decolonial, and interdisciplinary manner.

Jaina-Prosopography: Monastic Lineages, Networks and Patronage

Exploring the relationships between Jaina mendicant lineages and their supporters.

BA Japanese

BA Japanese at SOAS University of London