SOAS University of London
A small Bloomsbury college of the University of London devoted to Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
- Students
- 5,395
- International
- 41%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £23,780
- 2027-28
- Founded
- 1916
About SOAS
SOAS was founded in 1916 as the School of Oriental Studies and is now a specialist college of the University of London in Bloomsbury, focused on the languages, cultures, politics, economics, law and development of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. With a student and academic community from more than 130 nationalities, it is one of the most international small universities in the UK.
Its reputation rests on regional depth rather than size. In the QS subject rankings 2026, Development Studies is 2nd in the world and Politics 16th, and SOAS teaches languages from Japanese and Arabic to many that are rarely offered elsewhere, often with a year abroad in the region. Teaching is organised in a College of Law, departments of Development Studies, Economics, and Politics and International Studies, and schools of Anthropology, Media and Gender; Arts; Finance and Management; History, Religions and Philosophies; and Languages, Cultures and Linguistics.
Typical offers are ABB for most degrees, including Politics, International Relations, Economics and languages, and AAB for Law, with contextual offers one grade lower. SOAS suits students who want to study the world beyond Europe and North America in depth, in central London, in a small, politically engaged community.
Knowledge is Power
University motto
Why students choose SOAS
Development Studies at SOAS is ranked 2nd in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
Language degrees such as the BA Japanese take absolute beginners and include a year studying in the region.
SOAS Library is one of only five National Research Libraries in England, with over 1.3 million volumes on Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
The Bloomsbury campus sits among the University of London's colleges, and SOAS undergraduates can live in intercollegiate halls such as College Hall and Connaught Hall.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
SOAS does not publish an overall offer rate. Typical offers are ABB for most programmes and AAB for Law, with contextual offers (for example BBB for Politics and ABB for Law).
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | ABB for most programmes (e.g. Politics, International Relations, Economics, Japanese); AAB for Law; contextual offers one grade lower (BBB, or ABB for Law). BSc Economics also needs A-level Mathematics at B. |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | 32 points with 16 at Higher Level (ABB equivalent); 34 points with 17 at Higher Level (AAB equivalent); no HL subject below 3 |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 95 Direct entry: IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in all subscores, or TOEFL iBT 95 with 23 in writing and 20 in other sections (old scale; 5.0 on the new scale). Lower scores are accepted with a 4- or 8-week pre-sessional English course. |
Deadlines
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Most courses.
- UCAS last date before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received after this are entered into Clearing, which opens on 2 July 2027; places depend on availability.
SOAS refers applicants to UCAS for deadlines; these are the UCAS dates for 2027 entry. Courses start in September.
How to apply
All full-time undergraduate applications, including international ones, go through UCAS (institution code S09), with a personal statement, reference and predicted grades. After applying you get a SOAS applicant ID and use the applicant portal to upload documents and see decisions.
What admissions looks for
- Grades at the programme's A-level equivalent, usually ABB (AAB for Law).
- Subject-specific requirements, such as A-level Mathematics at B for BSc Economics and GCSE Mathematics at 6/B for BA Economics, Accounting and Finance and Management.
- For Law, strong A-level or IB results; the LNAT is required for BTEC, Access and other non-standard qualifications.
- A personal statement and reference that show genuine interest in the region, language or discipline.
Tips for applying to SOAS
- 1 Law applicants with A-levels can choose to sit the LNAT: a promising score can bring a lower offer, such as ABB instead of AAB.
- 2 You can start most SOAS languages from scratch; if you already know some, expect a placement test in welcome week.
- 3 Check contextual offer eligibility: most programmes drop from ABB to BBB.
- 4 International students still apply through UCAS, not directly, so plan around the 13 January 2027 deadline.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
The SOAS Bursary gives Home students from England with household income of £25,000 or less up to £4,500 in cash over their degree (£1,500 a year), assessed automatically through Student Finance and prioritised for students with the greatest need. SOAS also runs scholarships such as the Undergraduate International Academic Excellence Scholarship (£5,000 for overseas students) and the SOAS Hong Kong Alumni Association Bursary (£5,000); availability varies by year.
- £1,500 a year, £4,500 over the degree
- SOAS Bursary (Home, 2026 entry)
- £5,000 (overseas students)
- Undergraduate International Academic Excellence Scholarship
- From about £185 to £431 per week
- Undergraduate halls 2026/27
Academics
Academic calendar: Terms (September start)
Global Development (BA) / Development Economics (BSc)
Development Studies at SOAS is 2nd in the world in the QS subject rankings 2026.
Politics (BA)
ABB typical offer; Politics is 16th in the world in the QS subject rankings 2026, taught with a focus on Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
International Relations (BA)
ABB typical offer, with the option of a year abroad for students who score 55% or more in year one.
Law (LLB)
AAB typical offer, with a focus on law in Asia and Africa, human rights and pro bono placements through Access to Justice modules.
Japanese (BA)
Open to absolute beginners, with the third year spent in Japan.
Economics (BSc)
ABB with A-level Mathematics at B, taught with a political economy and development perspective.
Research
- SOAS Library is one of five National Research Libraries in England and holds the UK's leading special collections on Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
- More than 50,000 digitised and born-digital items are available through SOAS Digital Collections.
- Thirteen SOAS subjects are in the global top 100 of the QS subject rankings 2026, including Linguistics and Modern Languages.
Schools & faculties
- College of Law
- Department of Development Studies
- Department of Economics
- Department of Politics and International Studies
- School of Anthropology, Media and Gender
- School of Arts
- School of Finance and Management
- School of History, Religions and Philosophies
- School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
Student life
SOAS is a compact campus in Bloomsbury, next to Russell Square and the other University of London colleges, so students share the wider university's libraries, halls and sports facilities. Its community is small, international and politically engaged, with galleries such as the Brunei Gallery on site. First-years live in SOAS-allocated halls, including catered intercollegiate halls like College Hall, Connaught Hall and International Hall and self-catered options further out, such as Wood Green.
- Brunei Gallery exhibitions on the Bloomsbury campus.
- Access to University of London intercollegiate halls.
- A student community from more than 130 nationalities.
- SOAS Library, open seven days a week.
Housing. Undergraduate halls for 2026/27 range from about £185 a week (Wood Green Hall) to about £431 a week (catered en-suite rooms at the Garden Halls); catered intercollegiate halls such as College Hall and Connaught Hall cost about £218 to £431 a week on 40-week contracts.
Location
SOAS is in Bloomsbury, central London's university quarter, a short walk from the British Museum, Russell Square and King's Cross. Senate House, UCL and Birkbeck are neighbours, and the area is full of bookshops, museums and garden squares. London offers huge cultural and career opportunities, including embassies, NGOs and international organisations relevant to SOAS subjects, but it is expensive, and rent is the biggest cost for students.
Nearest airport: London Heathrow (LHR)
Notable alumni
- DL David LammyLabour politician; LLB 1993
- MI Maro ItojeEngland and British and Irish Lions rugby player; BA Politics 2018
- ZB Zeinab BadawiJournalist and broadcaster, SOAS President; MA Middle East History and Anthropology 1989
- FB Fatima BhuttoWriter; MA South Asian Studies 2005
- NM Nick MulveyMercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter; BA Music Studies 2007
- AS Aung San Suu KyiNobel Peace Prize laureate and Myanmar State Counsellor
- PR Paul RobesonSinger, actor and civil rights activist; studied at SOAS in the 1930s
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for SOAS?
Most SOAS degrees ask for ABB at A-level (32 IB points), and Law asks for AAB (34 IB points). Contextual offers are one grade lower.
How much are SOAS fees for international students?
The overseas fee for new full-time undergraduates in 2026/27 is £23,780 a year; the 2027/28 rate had not been published, and overseas fees rise by up to 5% a year. Home students pay £10,050 in 2027/28.
Do international students apply to SOAS through UCAS?
Yes. All full-time undergraduate applications, including international ones, go through UCAS using institution code S09.
Do I need the LNAT for Law at SOAS?
Not if you have A-levels or the IB, though a strong LNAT can lead to a lower offer. Applicants with BTEC, Access or other non-standard qualifications must take it.
What is SOAS best known for?
The study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East: its languages, politics, development, law, economics, anthropology and arts. Development Studies is ranked 2nd in the world by QS (2026).
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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