SOAS University of London is a specialist university in Bloomsbury focused on Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It is best known for development studies, politics, law, economics, languages and anthropology, taught with a global-south perspective found almost nowhere else. Choose it for a distinctive social sciences degree in the centre of London.
London, United Kingdom
Official website: soas.ac.uk
#443
Top 5 in the world (QS by Subject)
Top 20 in the world (QS by Subject)
Over half of students come from outside the UK
£22,000 – £26,000
International students, undergraduate and taught Master's
£14,000 – £18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on soas.ac.uk before you apply.
MSc Development Studies
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 105
MSc Economics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 105
LLM International Law
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 105
MSc International Politics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 105
MSc Finance and Financial Law
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 105
BA International Relations
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 105
Development studies ranked in the world's top 5.
The only UK university specialising in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
SOAS Library — one of the world's largest collections on the regions it studies.
Bloomsbury location — next to the British Museum and the University of London's Senate House.
Graduates join the UN, World Bank, Oxfam, the Foreign Office, think tanks and NGOs worldwide.
Law alumni enter City law firms, international arbitration and human rights organisations.
Economics and finance graduates work in development banks, consultancies and the City.
Many graduates enter diplomacy, journalism and international organisations in their home regions.
Undergrad
14 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Rolling
The campus is a cluster of buildings around Russell Square in Bloomsbury, with the library, students' union and teaching within a two-minute walk and the British Museum next door.
Bloomsbury is London's university quarter, with parks, bookshops and the Tube on the doorstep. Rent is high, as anywhere in central London, but the location is unmatched.
CAS from SOAS
Proof of funds at London rates
English test at B2 level or above
TB test certificate, if required
Immigration Health Surcharge payment
Valid passport with blank pages
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS with an equal-consideration deadline of 14 January 2027 for September 2027 entry. Taught Master's courses accept applications on a rolling basis, but popular development, law and economics programmes often close by June, and scholarship deadlines fall earlier.
SOAS has a single main intake in September for both undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses. A small number of distance-learning programmes offer additional start dates. Check the course page if you need a different start.
You need a Student route visa. SOAS issues your CAS once you accept an unconditional offer and pay the deposit. Apply online up to six months before your course starts, showing funds at the higher London maintenance rate, and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Development studies, economics, international law, international politics and finance are the most applied-for programmes. Most Master's courses ask for a 2:1 or equivalent and IELTS 7.0 with no band below 6.5. Undergraduate offers typically range from AAB to ABB.
Yes. SOAS offers a large number of named scholarships for international students, including regional awards for applicants from South Asia and Africa and full-fee scholarships for some Master's programmes. Most need a separate application by a spring deadline, so check the scholarships page early.
