Program Overview

---

SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art

Key Information

Start of Programme

September, January, or May

Attendance Mode

Full-time, in-person or online

Location

Russell Square, College Buildings

Course Code

PGOF0001

Course Overview

The SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art at SOAS University of London offers a unique programme renowned for its excellence. We lead you on a journey of object-based study through lectures and contributions from a wide range of leading scholars, curators, and art market professionals. We have a formal association with the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, which allows us to offer exceptional access to the collections and curatorial expertise of both institutions.

The Postgraduate Diploma will appeal to all those with a serious interest in Asian art, regardless of your personal, professional or academic background. It is also a proven pathway to further postgraduate study in Asian art and careers in museums, the commercial art world and academia.

Students can study with us in-person, online or a combination of the two.

Minimum Entry Requirements

• Candidates are expected to hold a good undergraduate degree in any subject or equivalent experience.
• Prior knowledge of Asian art history or archaeology is not a requirement, though candidates are expected to have an interest in the area.

Language Requirements

• All international applicants must be able to show that their English is of a high enough standard to successfully engage with and complete the course.

Structure

The SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art offers ten immersive modules, each eleven weeks in length, either in-person or online.

• You can take any number or combination of modules and you can begin the programme in September, January or May.
• Our in-person modules require full-time attendance in London and feature on-site visits to museum galleries and reserve collections.
• Our online modules are accessible from anywhere in the world and also allow you to study alongside other commitments. They feature bespoke contributions from museum curators bringing the artworks of museum galleries and reserve collections to you virtually.

Upcoming Modules

In-Person Modules

• Arts of India: 29 Sep - 17 Dec 2025 (annually), 30 Credit Points
• Arts of China: 19 Jan - 8 Apr 2026 (annually), 30 Credit Points
• Arts of the Islamic World: 4 May - 22 Jul 2026 (biennially), 30 Credit Points
• Arts of Southeast Asia: 4 May - 22 Jul 2026 (biennially), 30 Credit Points
• Arts of Japan and Korea: May - Jul 2027 (biennially), 30 Credit Points
• Arts of the Buddhist World: May - Jul 2027 (biennially), 30 Credit Points

Online Modules

• Asia’s Art Histories: 29 Sep - 17 Dec 2025 (annually), 30 Credit Points
• Curating Asian Art: 19 Jan - 8 Apr 2026 (annually), 30 Credit Points
• Arts of the Buddhist World (online): 4 May - 22 Jul 2026 (biennially), 30 Credit Points
• Arts of Southeast Asia (online): May - Jul 2027 (biennially), 30 Credit Points

Supporting Courses

• Analysing and Exploring the Arts: Runs termly, in-person and online, 15 Credit Points
• Independent Study Project in Asian Art History: Runs termly, in-person and online, 15 Credit Points
• Asian Art in the Museum: Runs annually (July 2025, April 2026), in-person, 15 Credit Points

Academic Qualifications and Credit Points

• The SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art programme offers two qualifications:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art: Requires 120 Credit Points
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Asian Art: Requires 60 Credit Points

Teaching and Learning

Programme Learning Outcomes

1. Acquire a contextualised understanding of diverse artistic traditions, and visual and material cultures from multiple regions across Asia
2. Develop skills and confidence in object-led visual and material analysis
3. Reflect critically on the contexts in which you encounter objects studied on this course
4. Engage critically with current and past scholarship in relevant fields
5. Develop rigorous academic skills for postgraduate study, research, writing and argumentation, moving toward autonomous, independent study
6. Relate your newly developed skills and knowledge to global opportunities for vocational and voluntary contributions to the arts

Fees and Funding

Fees

2025/26 | In-Person | Online ---------|----------|-------- Postgraduate Certificate (with Asian Art in the Museum) | £5,770 (£6,740) | £3,375 (£4,345) Postgraduate Diploma (with Asian Art in the Museum) | £17,310 (£18,280) | £10,125 (£11,095)

• Fees are calculated based on a single in-person module fee of £5,770 and a single online module fee of £3,375 and can be paid on a module-by-module basis.
• A single module fee includes the two supporting courses, Analysing and Exploring the Arts and an Independent Study Project in Asian Art History.
• Selecting Asian Art in the Museum as a supporting course, as an alternative to the Independent Study Project, requires a supplementary fee of £950 (£970 in 2025/26).

Deposits and Payment Schedules

• Successful applicants must secure their place on each module by making a £500 deposit payment, which will be credited towards your module fee.
• The remaining module fee must be paid four weeks prior to each module start date.
• If you are beginning your studies with Asian Art in the Museum, you will be required to pay a £2,290 fee towards this course (the cost of taking it independently). This will be credited to your total fee and deducted from your initial module balance so that only the £970 supplementary fee is applied.

Alumni Discount

• A 20% reduction in tuition fees is available to all students who have an Undergraduate degree in any subject from SOAS, but no higher qualification.

Auditing

• We also offer spaces on the programme to those who are not seeking an academic qualification. Those who choose to audit the course enjoy full access as a SOAS student but are not required to complete the assessments. Auditors pay the full module fee.

Key Staff

Dr Malcolm McNeill

• Director of the SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art & Senior Lecturer in Arts Education

Dr Melissa Carlson

• Co-Convenor, Arts of Southeast Asia (online) module

Dr Ivy Yi Yan Chan

• Co-convenor, Arts of China module

Ms Chiara De Nicolais

• Co-convenor, Arts of the Islamic World module

Dr David Francis

• Co-convenor, Curating Asian Art module

Dr Monika Hinkel

• Co-convenor, Arts of Southeast Asia and Arts of Southeast Asia (online) modules

Dr Phyllis SY Lau-Casson

• Co-convenor, Arts of Southeast Asia module

Kiyoko Mitsuyama-Wdowiak

• Co-convenor, Arts of Japan and Korea module

Dr Natasha Morris

• Module Co-convenor: Arts of the Islamic World, Asia's Art Histories, Curating Asian Art

Dr Sandra Sattler

• Module Co-covenor: Arts of India, Arts of the Buddhist World

Dr Peter D Sharrock

• Director Regional Partners, Summer Schools and Alumni Liaison, SOAS-Alphawood Group

Dr Emily Shovelton

• Co-Convenor, Arts of India module

Scholarships

• Alphawood Online Scholarships: SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art: Deadline date 21 February 2025
• Ortigia Scholarship: Deadline date 30 April 2025
• Dr Hettie Elgood Scholarship: Deadline date 22 June 2025