MA History

Learn a language as part of this programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.

Students must take 180 credits comprised of 120 taught credits (including core and option modules) and a 60 credit dissertation

The programme consists of five units in total: four units of taught courses and a 10,000 word dissertation with a detailed 2,500 word dissertation plan worth 10% of this mark, worth one unit. One of the taught courses will be recognised as the student’s Major course and normally the dissertation will be on a topic linked to that course. Apart from the History courses, approved courses from other departments, language courses, and in some cases intercollegiate courses are available as additional options (see lists A to D below).

The syllabus of the MA History includes the following elements:

1. Debating Pasts, Crafting Histories (core course)
2. Courses totalling at least two units from List A, including a half or full unit designated as the Major course;
3. Minor courses totalling one unit from Lists A [Major and minor history courses], B [Courses from other departments], C [Language courses], D [PG School Open Options]
4. Dissertation in History (one unit) written in conjunction with the Major course.

There are five regional pathways within the MA History: Africa, East Asia, Near and Middle East, South Asia and South East Asia. To meet the pathway requirement, students must choose courses from the relevant regional section in List A to the minimum value of 1.5 units (including their Major). If you have questions about pathway requirements, please contact the programme convenor.

Students can take this programme part-time over 2 or 3 years. Students usually complete their core modules in Year 1, and their option modules and dissertation in subsequent years.’

Please note that not all the courses listed here will be available every year, and some new courses are likely to be added. For up-to-date information consult the Convener of the History MA programme, who will also be happy to provide more detailed information on individual courses.

• Debating Pasts, Crafting Histories
• Dissertation in History
• Dissertation in History: Africa
• Dissertation in History: East Asia
• Dissertation in History: Near and Middle East
• Dissertation in History: South Asia
• Dissertation in History: South East Asia

• The Making of the Contemporary World
• Environmental History of Asia

• Slavery in West Africa in the 19th and 20th Centuries
• Historical Perspectives on Gender in Africa
• Social and Cultural Transformations in Southern Africa Since 1945
• Colonial Conquest and Social Change in Southern Africa
• Warfare and the Military in Precolonial Africa
• Warfare and the Military in Modern Africa

• The Early Development of Islam: Emerging Identities and Contending View
• Iran and the Persianiate world, 1400 to 1800
• Iran and the Persianiate world, 1800 to 1979
• Encountering the Other: the Middle East during the Crusading Period
• Modernity and the Transformation of the Middle East I
• Modernity and the Transformation of the Middle East II
• The Origin of Islam: Sources and Perspectives
• Outsiders in Medieval Middle Eastern Societies: Minorities, Social Outcasts and Foreigners
• The End of Empire in the Middle East and the Balkans II

• Islam in South Asia
• Gender, law and the family in the history of modern South Asia
• Colonialism and Nationalism in South Asia
• The Body and the Making of Colonial Difference in British India

• Japanese Modernity I
• Japanese Modernity II
• Knowledge and Power in Early Modern China
• Nationhood and Competing Identities in Modern China

• Asian Armies and National Development
• Asian Wars: World War II and the End of Empire (1942-1960)
• Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia 1 - Making States and Building Nations
• Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia 2 - Non-National Perspectives

• Colonialism and Christian Missions in Africa: Readings from the Archives
• International Politics of Africa
• Government and politics in Africa
• State & society in Asia & Africa
• Culture and Society of East Africa
• Culture and Society of West Africa

• Comparative politics of the Middle East
• Culture and Society of Near and Middle East
• Modern Trends in Islam
• Reading Classical Arabic Historians: Themes and Trends in Islamic Historiography
• Israel and the Palestinians

• The Indian Temple
• Pakistan: History, Culture, Islam
• Government and politics of modern South Asia
• Culture and Society of South Asia
• Literature & Colonialism in North India (Masters)

• State and society in the Chinese political process
• Culture and Society of China
• Culture and Society of Japan

• Jawi and the Malay Manuscript Tradition (Masters)
• Government and politics of modern South East Asia
• Culture and Society of South East Asia

Please contact the Faculty of Languages and Cultures for more information. Note that all applicants must be able to demonstrate some prior competence in learning languages, and for certain languages other restrictions apply.

Full list of Postgraduate Module Open Options

If you are a current student you can find structure information on Moodle or through your Department.

• MA HISTORY SPECIFICATION FROM 2017-2018 (pdf; 136kb)
• MA HISTORY SPECIFICATON FROM 2017-2018 (pdf; 93kb)

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules