SOAS (the School of Oriental and African Studies) is a globally renowned public university which specialises in the study of the languages, cultures and societies of the Middle East and Asia. It was founded in 1916 and is a member institution of the University of London. It is located in Russell Square, Bloomsbury in Central London and is comprised of three buildings: the Main Building, Senate House and the Brunei Gallery. Each university will have its good and bad, but as a SOASian I’m here to tell you all the things that I think make SOAS a good university.
Why SOAS is a good university
Here’s my 5 top reasons why SOAS is a great uni to consider applying to (or look forward to if you’re already getting ready to go!).
1. The size of campus and student population
SOAS is home to 6,000 students, not only from across the UK but across the globe. With such a small student population, the student community feels incredibly tight-knit. Additionally, the campus is small, only consisting of three buildings. This makes going to a from classes is easy as you don’t have far to travel and rush around. Coming from my secondary school’s tiny sixth form, the thought of going to uni was incredibly intimidating. However, this wasn’t the case when I started at SOAS. Being on campus wasn’t overwhelming or daunting, so I was easily able to settle into uni life. The lecture halls and seminar rooms are intimate and class sizes are often small. The number of students in a seminar can range from 10 to 25 which is useful as it makes sharing thoughts and ideas easy and comfortable. Moreover, with the class sizes being so small it makes it easier for tutors and lecturers to get to know you beyond your student number and on a more personal level.
2. The courses
Being a specialist university, SOAS offers a range of mainly humanities subjects that have a niche syllabus. I believe SOAS’ unique take on traditional humanities, such as history and philosophy, is what sets it apart from other universities.
SOAS is split into three main colleges: the college of development, economics and finance, the college of law, anthropology and politics and the college of humanities. Within these colleges, there are departments that offer around 350 bachelor’s degree combinations, 100 one-year master’s degrees and PHD programmes. The fact I could choose a combination degree is what drew me to SOAS as I could study two different degrees at the same time. Depending on the course you choose, a year abroad is offered in conjunction with the three years of study at SOAS. From the academic year 24/25, students whose course does not offer a year abroad will also have the opportunity to apply to a study abroad programme.
3. It has lots of support and resources
One of my anxieties going into university was that I would get lost amongst my peers, having to fend for myself. However, SOAS ensures this isn’t the case through the resources and support they offer. Each student is assigned an academic advisor, who is a member of their department, at the start of first year. Your academic advisor is there to give you guidance, not only in relation to academic enquiries but personal ones too.
Moreover, SOAS offer a peer mentoring scheme where older students are assigned first years to mentor. This is another method to help students settle into uni life with the guidance of their peers who can relate. SOAS also have great careers services, which send out newsletters every week advertising internships, conferences and employability workshops to help students and graduates with their career journey.
Another, great resource offered by SOAS’ SU are the consent workshops which run at the start of the academic year for freshers. It is a compulsory workshop titled “Enough is Enough” which educates students on consent and aims to tackle issues around sexual and gender based violence.
4. The perfect location
The one thing I knew when I was applying to university was that I wanted to stay in London – but it needed to be the right location. SOAS’ location in Bloomsbury is perfect! It is easily accessible via bus and train with the nearest stations being Euston, Russell Square and Tottenham Court Road. Additionally, it is surrounded by beautiful greenery as it is located right next to the beautiful Russell Square. It is also a short walk away from Soho Square and Regent’s Park.
If shopping and food is more your thing, then you’re in luck! SOAS is a 15 minute walk away from both Coal Drops Yard and Oxford Street and is quite literally down the road from the Brunswick Centre. Although there are plenty of food options in the surrounding area, my favourite thing is the Bloomsbury Farmer’s Market every Thursday which I held right next to SOAS’ main building. There’s plenty of yummy food options and it creates a great community feel and lively atmosphere on campus!
5. The SOAS quirks
The thing I love most about SOAS are its little quirks. The SOAS library is one of the biggest archives of Asian, African and Middle Eastern Studies and is one of the UK’s five research libraries. It was designed by architect Sir Denys Lasdun and has a brutalist design which I love. My favourite floor is Floor B – it’s so peaceful and you can look down at the floors below. A hidden gem at SOAS, is the Japanese Roof Garden at the top of the Brunei Gallery. It is perfect for some quiet studying or just to have some downtime away from the bustling campus. But my ultimate, favourite place to hang out on campus is the iconic SOAS steps inside Senate House in the Paul Webley Wing. It’s the perfect place to eat, catch up with your friends and people watch. The only downside is that it’s everyone’s favourite spot, so it’s hard to nab a seat!
If you’re still not convinced SOAS is the place for you, then check out some other small unis in the UK.
I’m currently a BA Anthropology student so people watching is my favourite thing! I love going to concerts, pop culture and reading. In my free time, I love trying new places to eat.
