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Cultural Studies – (M.A.)
School of Oriental and African Studies
Faculty of Languages and Cultures
- Programme website
- University Website
- City government site
- 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
This Cultural Studies programme focuses on Asian, African and Middle Eastern cultures. The core course will introduce a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to the literature, film and media of these areas. It also complements the Comparative Literature and Gender programmes by offering a focus on anthropological, political, sociological, media, gender and Cultural Studies, as well as cultural theories.
The programme will consist of courses valued at 3 units and a dissertation of 10,000 words. Full-time students will be allowed to enrol for four courses during term one (part-time students two or three), if one of the courses is a language acquisition course. At the end of term one they will have to withdraw from one, leaving three courses (pro rata for part-time students) and a dissertation.
Contents
The Programme will consist of courses valued at 3 units and a dissertation of 10,000 words.
Full-time students will be allowed to enrol for four units during term one (part-time students two or three), if one of the courses is a language acquisition unit. At the end of term one they will have to withdraw from a course, leaving courses to the value of three units (pro rata for part-time students) and a dissertation.
Core Courses
- 15PCSC001: Cultural Studies Theories and the Study of Asia, Africa and The Middle East
Optional units to be chosen from the following groups (maximum courses to the value of 2 units from Group A, and maximum 1 unit from Group B or C):
Options from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
- Culture and Society of China (15PANC089) (Unit Value: 1.0)
- Culture and Society of East Africa (15PANC084) (Unit Value: 1.0)
- Culture and Society of Japan (15PANC086) (Unit Value: 1.0)
- Culture and Society of South Asia (15PANC087) (Unit Value: 1.0)
- Culture and Society of the Near and Middle East (15PANC097) (Unit Value: 1.0)
- Culture and Society of West Africa (15PANC083) (Unit Value: 1.0)
- African and Asian Diasporas in the Modern World (a half-unit running in term 1)
- African and Asian Cultures in Britain (half-unit running in term 2)
Centre for Media and Film Studies
- The Transnational News Environment: issues in production, representation and use (0.5 unit)
- Transational Communities and Diasporic Media: networking, connectivity, identity (0.5 unit)
- Rethinking Audiences (0.5 unit)
- Japanese Transnational Cinema: From Kurosawa to Asia-Extreme and Studio Ghibli (0.5 unit)
- Japanese Post-War Film Genres and the Avant-Garde (0.5 unit)
- Mediated Culture in the Middle East: Politics and Communication (0.5 unit)
- International Political Communication (0.5 unit)
- Studies in Global Media and Postnational Communication (0.5 unit)
Department of Music
- Atlantic Africa: (P)layers of Mediation in African Popular Music (1 unit)
- Popular Music and Politics in Israel (0.5 unit)
- Pop and Politics in East Asia (0.5 unit)
- Gender and Music (0.5 unit)
Department of the Study of Religions
- MA Gender, Post-colonialism and the Study of Religions (1 unit)
- Myth and Mythmaking
- MA Muslim Britain: Perspectives and Realities (1.0)
Department of History
- Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia I-Making States and Building Nations (0.5 unit)
- Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia II-Non-National Perspectives (0.5 unit)
- Social and Cultural Transformations in Southern Africa since 1945 (0.5 unit)
- The End of Empire in the Middle East and the Balkans (1 unit)
- Modernity and Transformation in the Middle East 1839-1958 (1 unit)
- Japanese Modernity I (0.5 unit)
- Japanese Modernity II (0.5 unit)
- Knowledge and Power in Early Modern China (0.5 unit)
- Nationhood and Competing Identities in Modern China (0.5 unit)
Department of Art and Archaeology
- Diaspora Contexts and Visual Culture (0.5 unit)
- Representing Conflict: A Cross-Cultural and Inter Disciplinary Approach (0.5 unit)
- Islam and the West: Artistic and Cultural Contacts (0,5 unit)
- Painting and Visual Culture in China ( 1 unit)
Options from the Faculty of Languages and Cultures
- Travelling Africa: Writing the Cape to Cairo
- Japanese Traditional Drama (0.5 unit) (term 1)
- Modern Japanese Literature (0.5 unit) (term 2)
- Modern Chinese Literature in Translation
- Modern Chinese Film and Theatre (0.5 unit) (term 1)
- Modern Film From Taiwan and the Chinese Diaspora (0.5 unit) (term 2)
- Traditional Chinese Literature in Translation
- Literatures in African Languages
- Survey of Korean Literature
- Literatures of South Asia
- Modern Arabic Literature and the West
- Film and Society in the Middle East
- Post-crisis Thai Cinema (1997-2007) (0.5 unit) (term 2)
- Southeast Asia on screen (0.5 unit)
- War, Revolution, Independence in South East Asian Literatures in Translation (Masters) (0.5 unit) (term 1) (not available 2010-11)
- Postcolonialism and Otherness in SEA on Screen (half unit term 2) (Available as a major)
- Genders and Sexualities in South East Asian Film (half unit) (not available 2010-11)
- Aspects Of African Film And Video 1 (0.5 unit) (Term 1)
- Aspects Of African Film And Video 2 (0.5 unit) (Term 2)
- Indian Cinema: its history and social context (0.5 unit) (Term 1)
- Indian Cinema: key issues (0.5 unit) (Term 2)
Group B. One African or Asian Language unit or one Language-based MA Literature/Film/Media unit may be included as one of the options.
See the relevant language department website for course lists.
Group C. One theory unit may be included as an option
- Gender Theory and the Study of Asia and Africa
- Postcolonial Theory and Practice
- Theory and Techniques of Comparative Literature
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
Applicants should have a first or good second class honours bachelors degree from a UK university, or equivalent, in a subject appropriate to that of the programme to be followed. As an approximate comparison, an equivalent BA from a US university would have a Grade Point Average of either 3.3 or 3.5 depending on the awarding university. If an applicant does not have a bachelors degree in an appropriate field s/he may be required to complete a qualifying year or a one year diploma before entering the masters programme. Relevant work experience may also be taken into consideration. Individual courses may have specific entry requirements, so you are advised to consult the postgraduate prospectus for further information.
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
Another way to fund your studies is through educational loans. Some high street banks offer loans for education. The other option is a career development loan. Before taking out a loan ensure that you understand what the repayments will be and that you will be able to afford them.
Professional and Career Development LoansA Professional and Career Development Loan is a bank loan for UK students designed to help you pay for your course. Repayments start one month after you complete your course. You can borrow between £300 and £8,000. The bank will approve your loan according to your credit rating.
US Federal LoansEligible US students can apply for Stafford Federal Loans, Federal Plus and private loans to cover their tuition and maintenance costs.
The Registry Fees and Scholarship section can also certify student registration for other loans, such as Canadian educational loans.
Please contact:
- Registry Fees Section if you have any queries on educational loans or fees for degree courses.
- Noel Connaughton for fees information for occasional courses, certificates and diplomas.
- CEFIMS for fees information for distance learning courses.
Other Sources of Funding
Useful funding information can also be found at:
- Hotcourses Scholarship Search
- HERO funding information for research students
Interested? Request information!
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