Is SOAS University of London public or private?

SOAS is a public UK university and a founding member institution of the federal University of London, established in 1916 as the School of Oriental Studies and renamed the School of Oriental and African Studies in 1938. It is registered with the UK Office for Students and receives public funding and regulatory oversight alongside tuition income from home and international students.

What language is teaching delivered in?

Every programme in this catalogue is taught in English. SOAS separately offers dedicated language degrees and modules in dozens of Asian and African languages (not part of this catalogue, see the taxonomy-gap note), where language modules are naturally taught partly in the target language as proficiency develops; degrees listed here (Economics, Law, Politics, History, Anthropology, Philosophy, Liberal Arts) have no local-language teaching component.

Can international students get direct undergraduate admission straight after school, or is a foundation year required?

Direct entry depends on meeting SOAS's published A-level, IB or equivalent-qualification grade profile for the specific course, confirmed on each official course page. SOAS also separately offers a Foundation Year route (BA/BSc Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year; BA/BSc Business, Management, Economics and Law with Foundation Year) for applicants who do not directly meet the standard entry profile; this pathway is not itself part of this catalogue.

What is the total cost of studying at SOAS, not just tuition?

International undergraduate tuition for 2026/27 is a flat GBP 23,780/year across all single-honours undergraduate degrees, confirmed on SOAS's official tuition fees page. Postgraduate taught fees are banded by subject: GBP 25,320/year for most master's subjects (Economics, Politics, History, Anthropology, Linguistics, Media), GBP 26,000/year for Public Policy and Management, and GBP 27,840/year for Law LLMs. On top of tuition, SOAS halls range from about GBP 247.76/week to GBP 428.30/week depending on room type and hall, plus daily living, transport and personal costs in one of the UK's most expensive cities.

Undergraduate applicants apply through UCAS, using SOAS's institution code plus the course-specific UCAS code shown on each official undergraduate course page. Postgraduate applicants, including every LLM and MA/MSc route in this catalogue, apply directly through SOAS's own online postgraduate application system rather than UCAS, with a published deadline of 31 July for most taught master's programmes.

What English test score do I need?

SOAS's standard requirement across the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in this catalogue is IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no component below 6.0, or an equivalent UKVI-approved test; some third-country English-medium degrees are exempted if completed within five years of entry to SOAS. Applicants should confirm the exact requirement for their specific course on its official entry-requirements page, since requirements can vary and are reviewed periodically.

Are there programme-specific admission steps beyond grades and English test scores?

Yes for some programmes. LLB and LLM applicants are assessed on academic merit and, for some LLM routes, relevant legal or professional background; SOAS states an LLB or LLM does not itself confer a right to practise law outside England and Wales, so international applicants planning to qualify at home should confirm recognition requirements with their national bar or law society. Some MSc/MA research-adjacent postgraduate routes may require Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance depending on the specific research area.

Is there a stipend or paid-work option while studying?

SOAS does not offer a general study stipend for the programmes in this catalogue, but international students can apply for scholarships including the International Master's Scholarships (GBP 8,000 tuition-fee waiver, over 150 available for 2026/27), Global Excellence Scholarships (GBP 8,000, for applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia), GREAT Scholarships (GBP 10,000) and Undergraduate International Academic Excellence Scholarships (GBP 5,000), all confirmed on SOAS's official scholarships pages. UK Student visa holders can normally work part-time during term and full-time during vacations, subject to current UK Home Office limits.

When do programmes start and when should I apply?

Every programme confirmed for this catalogue has a September intake. UCAS undergraduate applications typically close in mid-January for equal consideration, and SOAS's direct postgraduate application system publishes a 31 July deadline for most taught master's programmes for September entry, though applying well ahead of that date is advisable given visa processing time and scholarship deadlines.

Do I need any special pre-approval certificate to study in the UK?

No APS-equivalent certificate is required for the UK. Once you hold a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from SOAS, a licensed Student visa sponsor, you apply directly for the UK Student visa through GOV.UK, which requires financial evidence and a valid passport. Some postgraduate research-adjacent programmes and doctoral routes may require Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance depending on the specific research area; applicants should confirm this directly with the relevant department.

What accreditation or recognition should I know about?

SOAS is a public, degree-awarding founding member institution of the University of London federation and is registered with the UK Office for Students. SOAS Library is one of only five institutions in England formally designated a National Research Library. Because SOAS is a specialist institution rather than a general research university, applicants should independently verify recognition for professionally regulated fields (for example, an LLB/LLM does not itself confer rights of legal practice outside England and Wales) with their home-country regulator.

What accommodation options are there and what do they cost?

SOAS-managed halls (Dinwiddy House for first-year undergraduates, Paul Robeson House for postgraduates) are officially priced for 2026/27 from about GBP 247.76/week for a standard single room up to roughly GBP 400-428/week for premium ensuite or studio rooms, on 38- or 51-week tenancy contracts; a standard room's full contract cost runs from around GBP 12,600 up to over GBP 21,800 depending on room type and length. Students can also apply through the wider University of London intercollegiate halls system for other central-London accommodation.

How does SOAS compare with other University of London law and social-science schools such as LSE or UCL Laws?

SOAS, LSE and UCL are separate University of London member institutions, each with its own admissions, fees and academic focus. SOAS is a specialist institution concentrated on Africa, Asia and the Middle East across Law, Economics, Politics, Anthropology and area studies, with a School of Law distinguished by Islamic law and comparative non-Western legal scholarship, whereas LSE and UCL offer broader general social-science or law faculties without that regional focus. Compare course content, entry requirements and fees directly rather than assuming the institutions are interchangeable.

Is SOAS University of London public or private?

SOAS is a public UK university and a founding member institution of the federal University of London, established in 1916 as the School of Oriental Studies and renamed the School of Oriental and African Studies in 1938. It is registered with the UK Office for Students and receives public funding and regulatory oversight alongside tuition income from home and international students.

What language is teaching delivered in?

Every programme in this catalogue is taught in English. SOAS separately offers dedicated language degrees and modules in dozens of Asian and African languages (not part of this catalogue, see the taxonomy-gap note), where language modules are naturally taught partly in the target language as proficiency develops; degrees listed here (Economics, Law, Politics, History, Anthropology, Philosophy, Liberal Arts) have no local-language teaching component.

Can international students get direct undergraduate admission straight after school, or is a foundation year required?

Direct entry depends on meeting SOAS's published A-level, IB or equivalent-qualification grade profile for the specific course, confirmed on each official course page. SOAS also separately offers a Foundation Year route (BA/BSc Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year; BA/BSc Business, Management, Economics and Law with Foundation Year) for applicants who do not directly meet the standard entry profile; this pathway is not itself part of this catalogue.

What is the total cost of studying at SOAS, not just tuition?

International undergraduate tuition for 2026/27 is a flat GBP 23,780/year across all single-honours undergraduate degrees, confirmed on SOAS's official tuition fees page. Postgraduate taught fees are banded by subject: GBP 25,320/year for most master's subjects (Economics, Politics, History, Anthropology, Linguistics, Media), GBP 26,000/year for Public Policy and Management, and GBP 27,840/year for Law LLMs. On top of tuition, SOAS halls range from about GBP 247.76/week to GBP 428.30/week depending on room type and hall, plus daily living, transport and personal costs in one of the UK's most expensive cities.

Undergraduate applicants apply through UCAS, using SOAS's institution code plus the course-specific UCAS code shown on each official undergraduate course page. Postgraduate applicants, including every LLM and MA/MSc route in this catalogue, apply directly through SOAS's own online postgraduate application system rather than UCAS, with a published deadline of 31 July for most taught master's programmes.

What English test score do I need?

SOAS's standard requirement across the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in this catalogue is IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no component below 6.0, or an equivalent UKVI-approved test; some third-country English-medium degrees are exempted if completed within five years of entry to SOAS. Applicants should confirm the exact requirement for their specific course on its official entry-requirements page, since requirements can vary and are reviewed periodically.

Are there programme-specific admission steps beyond grades and English test scores?

Yes for some programmes. LLB and LLM applicants are assessed on academic merit and, for some LLM routes, relevant legal or professional background; SOAS states an LLB or LLM does not itself confer a right to practise law outside England and Wales, so international applicants planning to qualify at home should confirm recognition requirements with their national bar or law society. Some MSc/MA research-adjacent postgraduate routes may require Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance depending on the specific research area.

Is there a stipend or paid-work option while studying?

SOAS does not offer a general study stipend for the programmes in this catalogue, but international students can apply for scholarships including the International Master's Scholarships (GBP 8,000 tuition-fee waiver, over 150 available for 2026/27), Global Excellence Scholarships (GBP 8,000, for applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia), GREAT Scholarships (GBP 10,000) and Undergraduate International Academic Excellence Scholarships (GBP 5,000), all confirmed on SOAS's official scholarships pages. UK Student visa holders can normally work part-time during term and full-time during vacations, subject to current UK Home Office limits.

When do programmes start and when should I apply?

Every programme confirmed for this catalogue has a September intake. UCAS undergraduate applications typically close in mid-January for equal consideration, and SOAS's direct postgraduate application system publishes a 31 July deadline for most taught master's programmes for September entry, though applying well ahead of that date is advisable given visa processing time and scholarship deadlines.

Do I need any special pre-approval certificate to study in the UK?

No APS-equivalent certificate is required for the UK. Once you hold a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from SOAS, a licensed Student visa sponsor, you apply directly for the UK Student visa through GOV.UK, which requires financial evidence and a valid passport. Some postgraduate research-adjacent programmes and doctoral routes may require Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance depending on the specific research area; applicants should confirm this directly with the relevant department.

What accreditation or recognition should I know about?

SOAS is a public, degree-awarding founding member institution of the University of London federation and is registered with the UK Office for Students. SOAS Library is one of only five institutions in England formally designated a National Research Library. Because SOAS is a specialist institution rather than a general research university, applicants should independently verify recognition for professionally regulated fields (for example, an LLB/LLM does not itself confer rights of legal practice outside England and Wales) with their home-country regulator.

What accommodation options are there and what do they cost?

SOAS-managed halls (Dinwiddy House for first-year undergraduates, Paul Robeson House for postgraduates) are officially priced for 2026/27 from about GBP 247.76/week for a standard single room up to roughly GBP 400-428/week for premium ensuite or studio rooms, on 38- or 51-week tenancy contracts; a standard room's full contract cost runs from around GBP 12,600 up to over GBP 21,800 depending on room type and length. Students can also apply through the wider University of London intercollegiate halls system for other central-London accommodation.

How does SOAS compare with other University of London law and social-science schools such as LSE or UCL Laws?

SOAS, LSE and UCL are separate University of London member institutions, each with its own admissions, fees and academic focus. SOAS is a specialist institution concentrated on Africa, Asia and the Middle East across Law, Economics, Politics, Anthropology and area studies, with a School of Law distinguished by Islamic law and comparative non-Western legal scholarship, whereas LSE and UCL offer broader general social-science or law faculties without that regional focus. Compare course content, entry requirements and fees directly rather than assuming the institutions are interchangeable.

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SOAS University of London: Programs & Courses

All programs at SOAS University of London — course duration, medium of instruction, annual intake, and official program details.

Written by Students Traffic Research Team·Updated On: 12 Jul 2026

SOAS University of London campus overview

SOAS University of LondonLondon, United KingdomB.A. Anthropology · Public£23,780/yrUniversity of London federation member institution (degree-awarding member since 1916)

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Programs at this university

28 programmes

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BA Social Anthropology