SOAS University of London, UK - Ranking, Reviews, Courses, Tuition Fees

Overview

About SOAS University of London

SOAS University of London is among Europe’s leading higher education providers. SOAS is well-respected for its research quality and ranked in the top 40 in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2024, with 87 per cent of its research ranked ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, according to Research Excellence Framework 2021. The university ranks in the top 30 in the UK, according to The Times Good University Guide 2024, and holds a silver ranking in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.

Some of the university’s top-ranking subjects are anthropology, history, politics, and law. The top ten subjects in the UK, according to The Complete University Guide 2024, include African and Middle Eastern studies, and Asian studies, at SOAS. A range of scholarships are also on offer to help students with their finances.

The institution is based in cosmopolitan Bloomsbury, London and has everything to make international students feel at home. SOAS houses state-of-the-art learning facilities, student breakout spaces and a library that is among the best academic resources in the world for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Outside of classrooms, there are over 100 societies that students can take part in, including ones for dance, drama, film making, hiking, journalism, music, origami and photography. Students can also take advantage of career support services at SOAS should they need help gaining employment.

London is among the best places in the world to graduate, being home to world-class employers. SOAS graduates will also join a network of more than 55,000 alumni from over 130 countries across the globe. SOAS academics, students and alumni are known to work on issues that help create a meaningful impact in today’s multicultural world.

University Ranking

QS World University Rankings

2025 508 3

2024 511 68

2023 443

Times Higher Education World University Rankings

2024 401 100

2023 501 100

2022 401

Graduate outcomes

SOAS students graduate from a world-leading university which provides a truly unique learning environment. SOAS has been ranked sixth in the United Kingdom for employment outcomes in the most recent QS World University Rankings (2023). The university promotes a culture of dynamic social discourse and students will spend several years immersed in an environment which expands their worldview, perspective, and skillets. As such, SOAS graduates are highly desirable to professional employers due to the standard of their education and unique critical skills.

At SOAS there is a dedicated careers service team on hand to help students throughout their time at the university. The careers service offers one-to-one sessions for advice on writing a standout CV and cover letter while helping students prepare for a winning interview. There are also dedicated skills sessions, career fairs, an online CareersZONE, and e-mentoring with alumni offered at the university. Additionally, SOAS students have access to the University of London Careers Group throughout their studies. The service offers expert guidance to help students find out which industry they may want to enter after graduating.

Alongside career support, there are also a number of SOAS-exclusive paid internships available to students at the university. SOAS Careers partners with organisations across a diverse range of sectors to offer summer internship opportunities, while SOAS’s Co-creator Internship scheme provides opportunities for students to work on projects with staff across departments. SOAS graduates have gone on to find work in companies and global charities such as United Nations, Amnesty International, EY, Deloitte, The New York Times, Google, BBC, World Economic Forum, Save the Children and more.

What's new

SOAS is an international, forward-thinking institution committed to developing equitable partnerships with universities throughout the Global South. SOAS and NLUD have recently launched a new joint LLM/MA in Environmental Justice to help address the biggest challenges facing humanity today and the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Global South. The LLM/MA in Environmental Justice marks the first time that a UK university has partnered with a university in the Global South to co-design, deliver, and award a programme on climate change.

SOAS has also recently unveiled a joint programme with Shiv Nadar University in India, introducing an equal-fees joint MA in Global Urban Sociology. Students who enrol on this programme will pay the same fee regardless of where they are from, and the fee is half the international tuition fee typically charged at UK universities.

Finances

How much will it cost?

Average tuition fees per year

14,94,352 Undergraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details

18,83,995 Postgraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details

Living costs

5,88,363 Living costs

8,49,858 To live on campus

Eligibility

Entry requirements

Admission requirements at SOAS generally vary on a course-by-course basis and the entry requirements for specific programmes can be found in full on individual course pages.

SOAS offers places on its programmes on a case-by-case basis. The university accepts a variety of international qualifications, including the European Baccalaureate, AP exams and many more. SOAS provides a list of entry requirements by country, and prospective students are advised to familiarise themselves with any key deadlines or additional requirements associated with the department or programme they are applying for.

International applicants must also be able to demonstrate a degree of English language proficiency before starting a course at SOAS. This generally equates to a level of 6.5 on the IELTS standardised test, although there are a number of accepted assessment providers considered by the university.

Department and Faculty

Teaching quality

SOAS has an outstanding reputation for the quality of its teaching and mentorship. Learning programmes at the university are distinctive and students are able to enrol on modules which feature a unique combination of languages, academic studies and regionally focused modules.

There are more than 5,630 students at SOAS from over 130 countries worldwide. Students are tutored by highly qualified and widely experienced academic staff who operate at the forefront of ground-breaking specialist research areas. Many lecturers at the university have worked and taught internationally, and their teaching is informed by the very latest developments in global research.

SOAS has been widely recognised for the quality of its tutelage and the university was awarded a Silver ranking in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). SOAS’s Silver award in the national TEF designates the student experience and student outcomes at the university as of a typically very high quality.

Department structure

SOAS is home to over 300 academic staff with a range of distinct research interests and profiles. As a result, SOAS provides students with a wide array of subject offerings and degree pathways to choose from. International students are able to study at certificate, undergraduate and postgraduate level. Academic departments at SOAS focus on areas of study which include:

SOAS also has a range of interdisciplinary and collaborative specialist research centres, which operate at the forefront of cutting-edge research cultures. Dedicated research centres currently based at SOAS include:

Centre for AI Futures
Centre for Development, Environment and Policy
Centre for Global Finance
Centre for Global Media Communications
Centre for Gender Studies
Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD)

As a university which is world-renowned for the high quality of its teaching and research excellence, students at SOAS are in the ideal learning environment to thrive academically and develop intellectually and professionally.

Campus and facilities

Facilities

SOAS has a single campus in Bloomsbury equipped with a range of study spaces. On the university campus there is also an on-site cafeteria serving food from around the world, an SU bar, and a junior common room. Students at SOAS additionally enjoy access to University of London facilities including clubs and societies, a gym, a bar, the Senate House Library, and much more.

The SOAS library is one of the world’s most important resources for the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The ever-expanding library houses over 1.3 million volumes, including manuscripts, archives and digital collections. The SOAS library attracts some of the best scholars from around the world and is recognised by Research Libraries UK as one of the top research libraries in the UK. The Brunei Gallery, meanwhile, is the university’s free exhibition space. Located in the centre of SOAS’s campus, the gallery programmes an innovative array of exhibitions and events all year round to promote a better understanding of African, Asian, and Middle Eastern culture, art, and history.

SOAS’s campus is located in Bloomsbury in central London. Both the British Museum and the British Library are within walking distance of SOAS’s campus, as are the world-renowned sights and amenities of the West End. Students at the university will find a vibrant range of cafés, bars, and restaurants on their doorstep, in addition to a number of green spaces, museums, arts venues and bookstores.

The SOAS Students’ Union facilitates a number of societies and sports teams, which include Anime, Desi, Chinese Percussion, Origami, Feminism, World Music Choir, Yoga, Basketball, Football, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, Netball, Rugby, Squash, Volleyball and many more. At SOAS there is also a student newspaper and groups for various religions, cultures, and political ideologies. There is truly something for everyone at SOAS, and getting involved in extra-curriculum activities is a great way to socialise and develop new interests.