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History of Art And/or Archaeology – (M.A.)
School of Oriental and African Studies
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
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- University Website
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- Student experiences about the UK - STeXX.eu
| Application Deadline: | June 30 | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 5,641 - ≈ € 15,134 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | London / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 12 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
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| Education Variants: |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of School of Oriental and African Studies
The Department of Art and Archaeology at SOAS provides a uniquely broad range of courses in the history of art, architecture and material culture of Africa and Asia, from their origins to modern times. The regions covered include China, Japan, Korea, the Islamic world, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Africa (including the African Diaspora). Our aim is to enable students to investigate the cultures of this immensely diverse area, while giving them the opportunity to specialise in fields of their choice.
Students tailor the degree to suit their own interests by selecting three taught courses from a list of twelve or more (the number and content of the courses which are available vary slightly from year to year). The title of the degree reflects the fact that some of the courses deal with painting, sculpture, architecture or the decorative arts - the conventional subject-matter of the History of Art - while others, in both subject-matter and approach, are courses in Archaeology. Obviously there is some overlap, and this conventional separation of disciplines has less relevance in the study of Asia and Africa; but it should be stressed that students make their own choices about whether the emphasis lies on the History of Art or on Archaeology.
In addition to the three taught courses, the fourth component of the degree is a 10,000 word dissertation. Students undertake independent research on a topic of their own choosing, generally related to the area of one of their taught courses, and supervised by a member of the department.
The MA has two main purposes. First, it can be used as a training programme for those who hope to go on to higher independent research (for a PhD), especially if their BA background lies in another field (such as the History of Western Art, or Asian/African area/language studies). For such students, the MA provides the necessary grounding in the material and techniques in the study of Asian and African art or archaeology. Secondly, for those who already have some background in this field, it provides an opportunity to broaden or deepen their knowledge at a higher level.
Contents
The following is a complete list of courses in the programme, not all of which are offered in any single year. Please note that some courses may be taught in other departments of the School.
- Dissertation in Art and Archaeology - 15PARC999 (1 Unit) - Full Year
General
- Approaches to Critical Interpretation & Aesthetic Theories - 15PARC004 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Asia and Africa On Display: Objects, Exhibitions and Transculturism - 15PARH043 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Directed Readings in History of Art and/or Archaeology - 15PARC008 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Directed Readings in Art and Archaeology - 15PARH037 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Africa
- Art and Society in Africa - 15PARC017 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Diaspora Contexts and Visual Culture - 15PARH042 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Painting and Architecture in Christian NE Africa: 2nd - 17th Centuries - 15PARC012 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
- Photography and the Image in Africa; and Other Regional Prospectives - 15PARC036 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
- Representing Conflict: A Cross-Cultural and Inter Disciplinary Approach - 15PARH039 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- The Art of the African Diaspora - 15PARC018 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Near & Middle East
- Art, Archaeology and Architecture of the Arabian Peninsula - 15PARH032 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Archaeology and the Holy Qur'an - 15PARH040 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Art and Architecture of Egypt and Syria 13th to 16th Centuries - 15PARC033 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
- Art and Archaeology of the Indian Ocean Littoral - 15PARH033 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Art and Architecture of the Fatimids - 15PARH035 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Islam and the West: Artistic and Cultural Contacts - 15PARH034 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Islamic Devotional Art and Architecture - 15PARH038 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Ottoman Architecture in Istanbul: 15th-19th Century - 15PARH045 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Ottoman Art - 15PARC011 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
- Painting and Calligraphy of the Islamic World - 15PARC031 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
- Studies in Early Islamic Art and Archaeology - 15PARC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
South and South East Asia
- South east asian art and archaeology - 15PARC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
- The Indian Temple - 15PARC034 (1 Unit) - Full Year
East Asia
- Ancient Chinese Civilisation - 15PARC026 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Art and Archaeology of the Silk Road - 15PARC032 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Art and Religious Experience in Premodern Japan - 15PARH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Ceramics in Chinese Culture: 10th - 18th Centuries - 15PARH046 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Chinese Art History: Critical Writings - 15PARC029 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
- Chinese Painting and Literary Contexts - 15PARH041 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- The Indian City - 15PARC005 ( Unit) - Not Running 2010/11
- Japanese Literature and Drama in Art - 15PARH030 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Japanese Calligraphy: History and Reading Practice - 15PARH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Japanese Ceramics Past and Present - 15PARH047 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Painting and Visual Culture in China - 15PARC043 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012 - The course is structured around 10 sessions on core themes, complemented by sessions on specific artworks, genres or periods of study and museum visits and viewings. Approaching Chinese painting – a practical guide Mapping the field: issues in periodisation, genres, techology and practices Art theories and practices in China Anatomy of a painting: Admonitions and women Collections, canons, objects and the mounting of exhibitions Painting media and mounting formats Significant form: ink outline and calligraphy The art economy: society, values, obsessions Court art & patronage Religious art
- Painting and Literature in China - 15PARC042 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
- Popular Practice in the Edo Period Arts - 15PARH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Shogunal Iconography in the Edo Period - 15PARH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
- Topics in Chinese Art and Archaeology - 15PARH044 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
- Topics in Korean Material Culture - 15PARC035 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
Minor Options in Other Departments
Anthropology
- Culture and Society of China - 15PANC089 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of East Africa - 15PANC084 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of Japan - 15PANC086 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of South Asia - 15PANC087 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of South East Asia - 15PANC088 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of West Africa - 15PANC083 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Culture and Society of the Near & Middle East - 15PANC097 (1 Unit) - Full Year
History
- Origins and Development of Islam in the Middle East: Problems and Perspectives - 15PHIC040 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Islam in South Asia - 15PHIC042 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- West African Coastal Societies and Cultures, 1786-1930 - 15PHIC054 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
- Readings in Japanese religion - 15PSRH041 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2011/2012
Music
- Indian Classical Music - 15PMUC027 (1 Unit) - Full Year
- Music in South Asian Culture (Masters) - 15PMUC005 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2011/2012
- Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters) - 15PMUH014 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
- Music of the Near and Middle East and North Africa - 15PMUC033 (1 Unit) - Full Year
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test if you come from a non-English speaking country.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
More informationRequirements
The normal qualification for admission to the MA programme is an upper second class honours degree. Other qualifications, however, may be acceptable and the Department welcomes mature students. Students taking the MA degree may or may not have previous experience of our subjects. While knowledge of a relevant Asian or African language is not a requirement, for some courses it is an advantage for admission (see individual course descriptions for details). It is possible to include an element of language training within the MA programme by taking an Asian or African language as one of the two ‘minor’ courses. This option may be particularly desirable for those intending to progress to the PhD, who do not already have the necessary language skills.
English language requirements
In order to ensure that SOAS students have a sufficient standard of English to study effectively, we require overseas students to submit evidence, during the application process, of their current level of proficiency.
Score for Unconditional Entry
- IELTS: Overall 7+ with at least 7 in all sub scores
- TOEFL: iBT105+ with at least 25 in all sub scores
- Pearson Test of English - Academic: Score of 75 or above with at least 70 in all sub scores
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 7.0 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 105 |
Funding details
Scholarships and BursariesThere are some scholarships and bursaries available for postgraduate students. These are very competitive and early application is advised.
Loans
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Other Sources of Funding
Useful funding information can also be found at:
- Hotcourses Scholarship Search
- HERO funding information for research students
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