MA African Studies
SOAS University of London
Key Information
Campus location
London, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 - 3 year
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 11,980 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* full-time fees: UK £11,980; Overseas £23,400. Part-time 2 years fees: UK £5,990/year; Overseas £11,700/year. Part-time 3 years fees: UK £3,955/year; Overseas £7,725/year
Introduction
Mode of Attendance: Full-time or part-time
The MA in African Studies provides an unrivalled programme of advanced modules on Africa; one of the world’s most fascinating and challenging regions. The opportunity for an 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 the 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.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Structure
NB: In Area Studies degrees:
- a maximum of 60 credits can be taken in any one discipline.
- a minimum of three disciplines must be covered.
- for students opting to take two language acquisition modules, only one of these can be at an introductory level.
Dissertation
Students must complete a Dissertation (10,000 words) in African Studies
- Dissertation in African Studies
Taught Component
Guided Option
Choose modules from the List of Modules below to the value of 90 credits.
and
Choose a module(s) from the List of Modules below to the value of 30 credits
or
Open Option
Choose a module(s) from Postgraduate Open Options to the value of 30 credits
List of Taught Modules (subject to availability)
- Anthropology (minor only)
- Culture and Society of West Africa
- Culture and Society of East Africa
- African and Asian Diasporas in the Modern World
- African and Asian Cultures in Britain
- Art
- Modern and Contemporary Arts in Africa
- History
- Colonial Conquest and Social Change in Southern Africa
- Social and Cultural Transformations in Southern Africa Since 1945
- Slavery in West Africa in the 19th and 20th Centuries
- Historical Perspectives on Gender in Africa
- Language (minor only)
- Amharic 1 A (PG)
- Amharic 1 B (PG)
- Amharic 2 (PG)
- Hausa 1 A (PG)
- Hausa 1 B (PG)
- Hausa 2 (PG)
- Somali 1 A (PG)
- Somali 1 B (PG)
- Somali 2 (PG)
- Advanced Somali: Language (PG)
- Swahili 1 A (PG)
- Swahili 1 B (PG)
- Intermediate Swahili 2A (PG)
- Swahili 3 (PG)
- Practical Translation Swahili into English
- Directed Readings in an African Language
- Yoruba 1 A (PG)
- Yoruba 1 B (PG)
- Yoruba 2 (PG)
- Zulu 1 A (PG)
- Zulu 1 B (PG)
- Zulu 2 (PG)
- Law
- Islamic Law (MA/LLM)
- Linguistics
- The Structure of Bantu Languages (PG)
- Literature
- Sci-fi and Afrofuturism in the African Novel (PG)
- Advanced Somali: Literature (PG)
- African Philosophy (PG)
- Philosophy and Decolonisation (PG)
- Literature in African languages
- Realism and Magical Realism in the African Novel (PG)
- Travelling Africa: Writing the Cape to Cairo
- Media
- The Story of African Film: Narrative Screen Media in Africa
- Curating Africa: African Film and Video in the Age of Festivals
- Photography and the Image in Africa
- Politics
- Government and politics in Africa
- Religious Studies
- Colonialism and Christian Missions in Africa: Readings from the Archives
- Religions and Development
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.
Career Opportunities
Employment
A postgraduate degree in African studies from SOAS provides students 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.
Postgraduate students gain linguistic and cultural expertise enabling them to continue in the field of research or to seek professional and management careers in the business, public and charity sectors. They leave SOAS with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek, including written and oral communication skills; attention to detail; analytical and problem-solving skills; and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.
Some MA African Studies graduates leave SOAS to pursue careers directly related to their study area, while others have made use of the intellectual training for involvement in analysing and solving many of the problems that contemporary societies now face. Among a variety of professions, career paths may include Academia; Charity; Community; Government; NGOs; Media; Publishing and UN Agencies.
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
Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:
- Development Producer
- Africa Editor
- Copywriter
- Director of Trade and Investment
- Projects and Fundraising Manager
- Head of Desk, Africa
- Senior Investment Manager
- Sports Writer
- Knowledge Management Projects Coordinator
- Project Director
- Presidential Advisor
- Commodity Manager
- Publisher
- Tutor
- Creative Consultant
- Lecturer in African Arts and Cultures
- East Africa Analyst
- Youth Volunteer Advisor
- Southern Region Educational Manager
- Head Specialists Giving + Insights
English Language Requirements
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