As the major national centre for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, SOAS has a global reputation in subjects relating to two thirds of the world’s population. Originally only a specialist Oriental college, the school now covers a much wider range of subjects. The library, with more than 1 million volumes, periodicals and audiovisual materials in 400 languages, attracts scholars from around the world. It is in the top 50 in the Times Higher Education/QS world rankings for the arts and humanities and has been strengthening its academic staff in a variety of disciplines.

The 4,600 students on campus, plus 2,200 studying distance learning programmes, come from over 130 countries. However, two thirds are from Britain and the rest of the EU – and the proportion is higher still among the undergraduates.

Courses

The school has a much wider portfolio of courses than its name would suggest, with more than 350 degree combinations on offer and 100 postgraduate programmes. Degrees are available in familiar subjects such as law, music, history or the social sciences, but with a different emphasis. There is also a more limited portfolio of foundation programmes and language courses. Over 5,000 students (from inside and outside SOAS) take courses in one of the 50 languages on offer. The school was chosen to house a national teaching centre for languages.

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• School of Oriental and African Studies

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• SOAS website

Student recruitment remains healthy, especially among independent school candidates, who account for a quarter of the British entrants to undergraduate courses. Undergraduate applications grew strongly earlier in the decade, but there has been a decline in the last two years. The main growth area is in postgraduate courses, which have helped to tackle a financial deficit.

In addition, more than 2,000 students are now taking distance learning courses, mainly outside the UK. Numbers have risen with the transfer of University of London postgraduate programmes previously taught by Imperial College, making SOAS one of the world’s largest providers of distance learning at this level.

Postgraduates

Postgraduates are attracted by a research record which saw more than half of the work submitted for the Research Assessment Exercise rated world-leading or internationally excellent. SOAS was ranked top in the UK for Asian studies and did well in anthropology, politics, history and music.

There is an option of spending one, two or three terms of a degree course in one of the school’s many partner universities in Africa or Asia. More than a fifth of the British undergraduates come from working-class homes. The dropout rate has fluctuated over recent years, but had risen to more than 17 per cent in the latest statistics, rather more the UK average for the subjects and entry qualifications at SOAS.

Location

The school is located in Bloomsbury, but in 2001 opened a second campus at Vernon Square, Islington. Less than a mile from the main Russell Square site and adjacent to two of the three student residences, it provides student-orientated facilities such as an internet café. The centrepiece of the main campus is an airy, modern building with gallery space as well as teaching accommodation, a gift from the Sultan of Brunei. There is no separate students’ union building, although the students do have their own bar and catering facilities. The well-equipped and under-used University of London Union is close at hand, with swimming pool, gym and bars. The West End is also on the doorstep.

Student scene

Nearly 1,000 residential places accommodate both undergraduates and postgraduates, and are within 15 minutes’ walk of the school. Another 119 places are planned in flats in Vernon Square. However, the school has few of its own sports facilities and the outdoor pitches are remote, with no time set aside from lectures. The ethnic and national mix has led to inevitable tensions at times, but SOAS is small enough for most students to know each other, at least by sight, and the atmosphere is normally friendly. Students tend to be highly committed – not surprising since many will return to positions of influence in developing countries – and the variety of cultures makes for lively debate.

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