Program Overview

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Key Information

Duration

2-years (Max. 3-years)

Start of Programme

April / October

Attendance Mode

Online Learning (part-time)

Fees

MA/MSc: £12,000 PGDip/PGCert: available as exit awards.

Entry Requirements

A minimum lower second class honours degree (or equivalent). We welcome applications from academically strong individuals from a wide variety of fields and backgrounds.

Course Overview

The MA Global Diplomacy: South Asia online programme will deepen your understanding of international affairs and contemporary diplomatic practice with a regional focus on South Asia and Afghanistan.

This MA programme will give you a theoretically and historically informed understanding of the practice of international diplomacy, broadly conceived, and its applications in South Asia.

Research is a key component of this programme and upon completion students will have the skills to:

• think critically, with reference to theoretical and empirical (historical and/or contemporary) content about international studies, diplomacy, and political economy in South Asia
• develop and practice the ability to see – and to comment on – the strengths and the weaknesses of others’ ideas and arguments.

The MA Global Diplomacy: South Asia programme is delivered by the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) and the SOAS South Asia Institute (SSAI), using a combination of multi-disciplinary teaching, cutting-edge research and public discussion of diplomacy and international politics in a globalised world.

This programme is available as a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate level.

Who Should Apply

The MA Global Diplomacy: South Asia course is for those engaged in or embarking on a career in diplomatic or related fields in South Asia requiring international expertise in government, not-for-profit, corporate or academic environments.

Structure

The Global Diplomacy: South Asia programme is available as a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate level.

Please note, The PG Certificate and PG Diploma are offered as exit awards, you must apply for the MA degree and then request to exit when you have the correct credits.

Masters

• 2x core modules (30 credits each)
• 2x elective modules (30 credits each)
• 4x research mini modules
• 1x dissertation on a topic related to South Asia (60 credits)

Of the delivered modules, one core module and one elective module must be from the South Asia list, while one core module and one elective module must be from the Diplomacy list.

PG Diploma

• 2x core modules (30 credits each)
• 2x elective modules (30 credits each)
• 4x research mini modules

Of the delivered modules, one core module and one elective module must be from the South Asia list, while one core module and one elective module must be from the Diplomacy list.

PG Certificate

• 2x core module (60 credits)
• 2x research mini modules

Module|
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The Art of Negotiation| Core
Economics, Politics and Society in South Asia| Core
Afghanistan: Strategic and Geopolitical Perspectives| South Asia Elective
America and the World: US Foreign Policy| Diplomacy Elective
Cultural Diplomacy| Diplomacy Elective
Digital Diplomacy| Diplomacy Elective
Diplomatic Systems| Diplomacy Elective
Ethnic & Religious Conflict in South East Asia in Historical Perspective| Diplomacy Elective
Evolution of Warfare| Diplomacy Elective
Foundations of International Law| Diplomacy Elective
Global Challenges: Science Diplomacy| Diplomacy Elective
Global Citizenship and Advocacy| Diplomacy Elective
Global Energy and Climate Change| Diplomacy Elective
Global International Organisation: United Nations in the World| Diplomacy Elective
Global Media| Diplomacy Elective
India's Foreign and Security Policy| South Asia Elective
International Economics| Diplomacy Elective
International Security| Diplomacy Elective
Islamic Law in a Global Context| Diplomacy Elective
Modern Africa: History, Politics and Society| Diplomacy Elective
Muslim Minorities in a Global Context| Diplomacy Elective
Pakistan: Religion, Politics and Security| South Asia Elective
Political Economy of Violence, Conflict and Development| Diplomacy Elective
Political History, Culture and Diplomacy in Iran| Diplomacy Elective
Sport and Diplomacy| Diplomacy Elective
Strategic Studies| Diplomacy Elective
Trade Diplomacy| Diplomacy Elective

Teaching and Learning

This programme is delivered 100% online through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

In the VLE you will have access to learning materials and course resources anytime so you can fit your studies around your existing commitments. For each module, students will be provided with access, through the SOAS Library, to all necessary materials from a range of appropriate sources.

A key component of the student experience will be peer to peer learning, with students enrolled in discussion forums.

Study Timetable

In addition to a dedicated Associate Tutor, a Study Timetable is provided for each module and for the overall programme to help you to organise your time.

The programme is broken down into two study sessions per year. Each subject module lasts 16 weeks, followed by a research mini module lasting 8 weeks.

Sample Study Timetable

Activity| Duration
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Substantive module| 16 weeks
Reading weeks| 2 weeks
Research mini module| 8 weeks
Reading weeks| 2 weeks

Assessment

Each module is assessed by five written online assessments (‘e-tivities’) comprising of 30%, the remaining 70% is formed of a 5,000 word essay. The e-tivities provide formative and summative feedback to students as a means of monitoring their progress and encouraging areas in which they can improve.

Research Training and Dissertation

Research training is a key feature of this programme, the dissertation module is presented in four development parts, which will follow each of your module sessions. Research modules one and three are formative modules only, and are not assessed.

The dissertation is assessed by the submission of a written dissertation of no more than 15,000 words, excluding the bibliography and appendices, which will account for 85% of the mark awarded for the module (research module four). The remaining 15% of the module mark will be based on the mark obtained for a 1,500 word research proposal (research module two).

The research proposal is compulsory for students going on to do a PGDip or MA; MA students must submit a dissertation at the end of research module four.

Fees and Funding

MA/MSc| PGDip| PGCert
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£12,000| See below| See below

*Only applicable to Global Diplomacy: South Asia and Global Diplomacy: Middle East & North Africa

PG Dip and PG Cert are available as exit awards and interested students should be in touch directly with the course team.

See online learning fees for further information.

Pay as You Learn

Our online learning programmes can be paid in full at the time of enrolment or on a pay as you learn basis. Pay as you learn means you pay for modules prior to enrolment.

Postgraduate Loans

If you have been a resident in England for 3 years you may be eligible. For more information, see please fees and finance.

Employment

Students from SOAS’s Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) develop an in-depth understanding of international affairs, contemporary diplomatic practice and policy-makers. Graduates leave with a portfolio of transferable skills such as critical analysis, problem solving, negotiation and communication, all of which are valued by employers across a number of sectors.

Recent CISD graduates have been hired by:

• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• Ernst & Young
• European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights
• Government of India
• International Rescue Committee
• Medical Aid for Palestinians
• NHS
• The Commonwealth
• UK National Commission for UNESCO
• UNHCR
• United Nations
• World Food Programme

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