SOAS University of London (伦敦大学亚非学院) | International Student Guide: 2026 Programs, Entry Requirements, Costs and Application Support — Ranking, Fees, Admission
Direct Answer
You are looking at SOAS University of London (伦敦大学亚非学院), a public research university within the University of London, founded in 1916 and based in Bloomsbury. This SOAS University of London international student guide covers what you need to know about its academic focus, subject strengths, entry requirements, and the application process. The institution concentrates on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and its student and academic community represents over 130 nationalities. UNILINK is suitable for providing application information and support based on your background. If you are considering a taught postgraduate programme, SOAS offers over 200 such courses, and its research degrees require a relevant master’s qualification. The university’s overseas study and exchange network includes more than 70 global destinations, and campus draws students from over 135 countries.
UNILINK provides application information and support based on the applicant’s background. This does not constitute an admission or visa promise. We do not guarantee offers, progression, or outcomes, and all admission decisions rest with the institution. If you submit an enquiry, a team member will contact you within one business day.
What SOAS University of London Is
SOAS University of London is a constituent college of the University of London, specialising in the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It was established in 1916 and sits in the Bloomsbury area of central London. The institution operates as a public research university, and its academic community draws students and staff from more than 130 nationalities. The campus itself hosts students from over 135 countries, reflecting the international character that runs through its teaching and research.
As a member of the University of London federation, SOAS awards University of London degrees. Its identity is shaped by regional and linguistic expertise rather than a generalist curriculum. This means that whether you are looking at undergraduate study, a taught master’s, or a research degree, the programmes tend to connect back to the regions the university was founded to study.
Subject Strengths and Recent Rankings
SOAS appears in several QS World University Rankings by Subject for 2026 with five subjects placed inside the global top 40. These are Development Studies (ranked 2nd), Politics (ranked 16th), Anthropology (ranked 19th), History of Art (ranked 24th), and History (ranked 36th). Beyond those, a further 13 subjects sit within the global top 100, including Linguistics, Literature, and Modern Languages.
In the broader QS World University Rankings for 2027, SOAS is tied for first in the UK for international faculty. The same ranking places its employment outcomes among the top 15 in the UK. These indicators point to a faculty drawn from many countries and a graduate destination record that prospective international students may find relevant when comparing options.
Study Options and Pathways
SOAS structures its offering across undergraduate degrees, taught postgraduate programmes, and research degrees. For taught postgraduate study, the university lists more than 200 programmes. Applicants considering a research degree, such as a PhD, need to hold a good master’s degree in a relevant subject, or an overseas qualification the university considers equivalent. The exact threshold for what counts as a good master’s varies by department, and you should confirm the current requirement on the official programme page before applying.
The university also runs overseas study and exchange arrangements with over 70 destinations worldwide. This can be a relevant factor if you want a degree that includes a period of study outside the UK. For students who need to understand how different qualification routes compare, the UNILINK post on pathway comparisons explains common entry routes in more detail.
Entry Requirements
SOAS sets entry requirements at the programme level, and there is no single set of criteria that applies across all courses. For research degrees, the university states that applicants must hold a good master’s degree in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification deemed equivalent. For taught postgraduate programmes and undergraduate degrees, the required academic background, subject prerequisites, and English language scores vary. You should treat the figures and thresholds published on the course page for your chosen intake year as the authoritative source.
Because entry requirements can shift between cycles, UNILINK recommends checking the official programme page at the time of application. The application guide on this site walks through the documents and steps typically needed when applying to UK universities, which can help you prepare before you submit anything.
Tuition Fees and Costs
Tuition fees at SOAS depend on the programme, level of study, and your fee status. The university publishes programme-specific fees on its course pages, and international students should refer to the international fee listed for their chosen course and intake year. Living costs in London are an additional consideration, and SOAS is located in Bloomsbury, a central area where accommodation and daily expenses tend to be higher than in other parts of the UK.
Because fee schedules are updated annually, UNILINK does not quote fixed amounts here. You can find the current figures on the official SOAS course page. If you need help organising your application documents before a deadline, the document service guide explains what UNILINK can assist with.
Application Decision and Support
When you apply to SOAS, the decision rests entirely with the university’s admissions team. UNILINK does not influence outcomes or offer any guarantee of admission, progression, or visa approval. What we provide is information and support tailored to your background, helping you understand which documents to prepare, what the entry requirements mean in practice, and how to present your qualifications clearly.
After you submit an enquiry, a team member will contact you within one business day. You can read more about how UNILINK handles follow-up and communication in the follow-up commitment guide. If you want to understand the organisation behind this site, the about page gives further context.
Notable Alumni
Among SOAS alumni, David Lammy graduated with an LLB in 1993, and Maro Itoje completed a BA in Politics in 2018. Their paths illustrate the range of sectors that SOAS graduates enter, from law and public life to professional sport.
FAQ
Q1: What does SOAS University of London specialise in?
SOAS focuses on the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It is a public research university and a constituent college of the University of London. Its programmes span the humanities, social sciences, and languages, with particular depth in Development Studies, Politics, Anthropology, History of Art, and History.
Q2: How many international students study at SOAS?
The campus hosts students from over 135 countries, and the wider student and academic community represents more than 130 nationalities. The university is tied for first in the UK for international faculty in the 2027 QS World University Rankings.
Q3: What are the entry requirements for a research degree at SOAS?
SOAS requires research degree applicants to hold a good master’s degree in a relevant subject, or an overseas qualification the university considers equivalent. The exact threshold varies by department, so you should check the specific programme page for the current requirement.
Q4: Does SOAS offer exchange or study abroad options?
Yes. SOAS runs overseas study and exchange programmes with over 70 destinations worldwide. These options are available to students who want to include a period of study outside the UK as part of their degree.
Q5: Where is SOAS located and what is the campus like?
SOAS is located in Bloomsbury, central London. The campus draws students from more than 135 countries, and the institution has been based there since its founding in 1916. Being in Bloomsbury places it close to other University of London colleges and major cultural institutions.
信息来源
- SOAS University of London, “Welcome to SOAS,”
- SOAS University of London, “About,”
- SOAS University of London, “Study,”
- SOAS University of London, “International,”
Last updated: July 2026. Programmes, fees and entry requirements are subject to the institution’s current official pages and offer documentation.