Program Overview

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MA African Studies

Key Information

Start Date

September

Duration

1 year

Attendance Mode

Full-time or part-time

Location

On Campus

Fees

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

Course Code

Y4S2

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

• Rwanda: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor (4-year). Equivalent to 2:ii: Lower Second Class Honours or 65-69% or 14/20.
• Saudi Arabia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 or overall 70%.
• Singapore: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: CAP 3.5/5.0 or 3.0/4.0.
• Slovakia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bakalár / Bachelor. Equivalent to 2:ii: 70% or 2.0 overall or C.
• South Africa: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor (4-year). Equivalent to 2:ii: 60%.
• South Korea: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 2.7/4.0 or 3.0/4.3 or 3.3/4.5.
• Spain: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Título de Grado / Título de Licenciado / Título de Ingeniero / Titulo de Arquitecto. Equivalent to 2:ii: 6.5/10 or GPA 1.75/4.0.
• Sri Lanka: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor Special Degree or Professional Degree (4-year). Equivalent to 2:ii: 55% or 2:2 or GPA 3.0/4.0.
• Sudan: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor (5-year). Equivalent to 2:ii: 65%+ or B.
• Sweden: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree / Kandidatexamen / Yrkesexamen. Equivalent to 2:ii: B (90 credits) and C (90 credits) or Very Good (70 credits) and Good (110 Credits) or C (180 credits).
• Switzerland: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Diplom / Diplôme / Lizentiat / Staatsdiplom / Diplôme d’Etat. Equivalent to 2:ii: Overall 4.5/6 or 7/10 or 2.5/5.
• Syria: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Licence / al-ijaza-fi / Bachelor. Equivalent to 2:ii: 70%+ or 'Good'.
• Taiwan: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: 68-70% or GPA 2.8/4.0-3.0/4.0.
• Thailand: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.0/4.0.
• Tunisia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Diplôme National d'Ingénieur / Diplôme National d'Architecture / Licence / Maîtrise. Equivalent to 2:ii: 12 out of 20.
• Turkey: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Lisans Diplomasi. Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 2.6/4 from the top universities and 3.0/4 from all others.
• Uganda: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: 2:2 (Lower Second) or B or GPA 3.0/5.0.
• Ukraine: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree or Specialist Diploma. Equivalent to 2:ii: 8/12 or 3.8/5.
• United Arab Emirates: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/5.0.
• United States of America: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: GPA 3.0/4.0.
• Vietnam: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree (4-year). Equivalent to 2:ii: Overall score of 6.5/10.
• Yemen: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Master's degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: Overall 'Good' (71-77%) or Aden University 80-83% (or 3.0/4.0).
• Zambia: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Master's degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: 65% or B or Credit or GPA 1.7/2.5 or 3.3/5.0.
• Zimbabwe: Qualifications (Bachelor equivalency): Bachelor degree. Equivalent to 2:ii: 2:2 or 65%.

Course Overview

The MA African Studies at SOAS provides an unrivalled programme of advanced modules on Africa - one of the world’s most fascinating and challenging regions.

The opportunity for interdisciplinary study of the continent is a particular advantage of the degree. Our former students have chosen to study Africa at this level for a wide range of reasons. For some a deep interest in the history and culture or political economy of a particular region is sufficient motivation, but for many students the programme has, in addition, been followed with the intention of furthering their career opportunities.

Some go on to work either in Africa or in fields related to Africa. The opportunity to combine study of particular African subjects with an African language is very useful, although some evidence of competence in learning a foreign language is usually required.

Why Study MA African Studies at SOAS?

• SOAS is ranked 7th in the UK for African and Middle Eastern Studies (Complete University Guide 2025).
• We are ranked 13th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2025).
• Modern Languages and Linguistics at SOAS has been ranked 10th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
• 4th for research environment - with 100% of our research ranked as 'internationally excellent' and 85% as 'world-leading' - and 8th for research outputs in the REF 2021.
• Access comprehensive cross-regional expertise and gain an understanding of the interconnectedness of these regions in an increasingly globalised world.
• You will be eligible to apply for internships, available to students starting 2023/24.

Structure

Students take 180 credits in total:

• 60 credit dissertation
• 120 credits of taught modules

All students take the compulsory modules listed below ('Approaches to African Studies' and 'Remapping Area Studies') and select 120 credits from lists A, list B, and list C.

Core Modules

• Dissertation in African Studies - 60 credits
• Approaches to African Studies: Concepts, Methods and Theories - 15 credits
• Remapping Area Studies in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - 15 credits

Guided Options List A

15-60 credits from List A

• Core Themes and Debates in African Philosophy - 15 credits
• Intersecting Worlds: Race and Gender in the Contemporary Postcolonial Novel - 15 credits
• Contemporary African Literature (PG) - 15 credits
• Language, Identity and Society in Africa (PG) - 15 credits
• African and Asian Diasporas: Culture, Politics, Identities - 15 credits
• Migration, Borders and Space: Decolonial Approaches - 15 credits
• Asia and Africa On Display - 15 credits
• Art and Politics in Africa - 15 credits
• Global Film Industries - 15 credits
• Postcolonial Critical Thought - 15 credits
• Decolonial Practices - 15 credits
• Debating Pasts, Crafting Histories - 15 credits
• Language, Society and Communication (Masters) - 15 credits
• Concepts and Practice of Subtitling - 15 credits

Guided Options List B

15-60 credits from List B

• Gender and Development - 15 credits
• Structural Change and Economic Development in Africa - 15 credits
• Queer Politics in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - 15 credits
• Gender and Security in Africa - 15 credits
• Colonialism, Empire and International Law - 15 credits
• Law and Postcolonial Theory - 15 credits
• Law and Development in Africa I: Theories and Concepts - 15 credits
• Law and Development in Africa II: Thematic Topics - 15 credits
• Violence, Justice and the Politics of Memory - 15 credits

Guided Options List C

Up to 60 credits from List C. Students are strongly encouraged to select a language module as part of the programme.

• Zulu 1 A (PG) - 15 credits
• Zulu 1 B (PG) - 15 credits
• Amharic 1 A (PG) - 15 credits
• Amharic 1 B (PG) - 15 credits
• Swahili 1 A (PG) - 15 credits
• Swahili 1 B (PG) - 15 credits
• Swahili 2 A (PG) - 15 credits
• Swahili 2 B (PG) - 15 credits
• Practical Translation: English into Other Languages - 15 credits
• Practical Translation: Other Languages into English - 15 credits

Teaching and Learning

One-year Masters programmes consist of 180 credits. 120 credits are taught in modules of 30 credits (taught over 20 weeks) or 15 credits (taught over 10 weeks); the dissertation makes up the remaining 60 units. 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 one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

Learn a Language as Part of this Programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

• Students will acquire knowledge and critical awareness of current issues and/or insights into Africa from the perspective of at least two social sciences and/or humanities disciplines.
• The student will have the opportunity of gaining knowledge or further knowledge of an African language.
• The student will gain specialized and in-depth knowledge in one particular area of the study of Africa and from disciplinary perspective.

Intellectual (thinking) skills

• Students will develop a critical and analytical approach to issues relating to Africa in the disciplinary areas chosen.
• Students will develop skills of synthesizing materials from a variety of sources and presenting these in writing and orally in an academic context.
• Students will have the opportunity of researching topics which have been little commented on in the secondary literature and thus develop research skills by working on primary sources.

Subject-based practical skills

• Students will gain specific knowledge of aspects of African life, which will prepare them for working in Africa.
• The specialist knowledge developed in the individual courses will allow students to add an academically grounded perspective to their particular subsequent work context.
• If a student takes an African language they will have a strong practical skill, which will help them in any context where the language is used and which will also be of benefit if they need to learn another language in the future.

Transferable skills

• Through managing their studies students will develop the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility.
• In researching and writing coursework and the dissertation students will develop research and writing skills.
• Students will develop the skills of independent learning required for continuing onto a research degree or for professional development.

Learning Resources

• Useful resources from the African Languages, Cultures and Literatures section
• 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.

Scholarships

• Tibawi Trust Award
• Felix Non-Indian Scholarship - Deadline date: 31 January 2025
• Felix Scholarships - Deadline date: 31 January 2025

Employment

A postgraduate degree in African studies from SOAS provides you with competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, literature, history, cinema, politics, economics or law.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:

• BBC News
• British Embassy
• Canon Collins Educational Trust for Southern Africa
• Goal Nigeria
• Government of Canada
• Hogan Lovells International LLP
• International Institute for Environment and Development
• Kenyan Government
• Mercy Corps
• Migrant Resource Centre
• Mo Ibrahim Foundation
• The London MENA Film Festival
• The University of Tokyo
• The World Bank
• Think Africa Press
• U.S. Embassy
• United Nations
• University of Namibia
• World Vision UK
• Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts

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