History of Art and and or Archaeology

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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.

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.

Compulsory * 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) - Full Year
* Understanding Art East and West: from Asmat Shields to Tate Modern - 15PARH058 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013

Africa * Diaspora Contexts and Visual Culture - 15PARH042 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Painting and Architecture in Christian NE Africa: 2nd - 17th Centuries - 15PARC012 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
* Modern and Contemporary Arts in Africa - 15PARH048 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Photography and the Image in Africa; and other Regional Perspectives - 15PARC036 (1.0 Unit) - Not Running 2012/13
* Representing Conflict: A Cross-Cultural and Inter Disciplinary Approach - 15PARH039 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* The Art of the African Diaspora - 15PARC018 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013

Near & Middle East * Arab Painting - 15PARH054 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Art and Architecture of Egypt and Syria 13th to 16th Centuries - 15PARC033 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Art and Architecture of the Fatimids - 15PARH035 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Islam and the West: Artistic and Cultural Contacts - 15PARH034 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Ottoman Architecture in Istanbul: 15th-19th Century - 15PARH045 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Ottoman Art - 15PARC011 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
* Persian Painting - 15PARH053 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Studies in Early Islamic Art and Archaeology - 15PARC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year

South and South East Asia * Art of monumental Southeast Asia - 15PARH049 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Arts of contemporary and modern Southeast Asia - 15PARH050 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* 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
* Arts of Koryo and Chosen Korea - 15PARH059 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Ceramics in Chinese Culture: 10th - 18th Centuries - 15PARH046 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Arts of Koryo and Chosen Korea - 15PARH059 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Arts of Modern and Contemporary China (since 1800) - 15PARH055 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Japanese Ceramics Past and Present - 15PARH047 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Painting and Visual Culture in China - 15PARC043 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
* Popular Practice in the Edo Period Arts - 15PARH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Sacred Art and Architecture of Ancient Korea - 15PARH056 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Shogunal Iconography in the Edo Period - 15PARH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Visual Arts of Dynastic China (to 1800) - 15PARH051 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

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

Study of Religions * Readings in Japanese religion - 15PSRH041 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013

Music * Indian Classical Music - 15PMUC027 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
* Music in South Asian Culture (Masters) - 15PMUC005 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* 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

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 requirementsIn 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 English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 TOEFL iBT® test: 105 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

Scholarships and Bursaries

There are some scholarships and bursaries available for postgraduate students. These are very competitive and early application is advised.

* The Ahmad Mustafa Abu-Hakima Bursary (programme must include studying the history of the modern Arab world)
* AKS Postgraduate Bursary (in Korean Studies)
* Bernard Buckman Scholarship (MA Chinese Studies, for UK/EU fee paying students)
* The Canon Collins Scholarships at SOAS. There are two scholarships available available in 2013-14 for study at SOAS. These scholarships are for Masters study in any subject field. Open a national of and resident in one of the following countries:
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe. The application process normally opens in December and closes in February, for study commencing in September the following year. Please go to the Canon Collins website and click "Apply for A Scholarship" and then "Canon Collins Scholarship for Masters Study in the UK" for further information on how to apply.
* Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (for students from African Commonwealth countries)
* D.G.Hall Scholarship (Taught Masters programmes at SOAS, for applicants holding a Burma/Myanmar passport)
* Felix Scholarships (for Indian students)
* Ferguson Scholarships (for African nationals from an African Country)
* HSBC SOAS Scholarships (MA Sinology & MA Chinese Literature, for UK/EU fee paying students)
* Kamran Djam Scholarships (MA Iranian Studies)
* Professor Stuart Wilson Scholarship (MA South East Asian Studies)
* Standard Chartered Scholarships (for a range of full-time Taught Masters programmes. The programmes relate to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East/NorthAfrica)
* Tibawi Trust Awards (for Palestinian students currently enrolled in a programme at SOAS)
* SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Arts & Humanities - (for any full-time taught masters programme in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities)
* SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Language & Cultures (for the full-time MA Gender Studies, MA Postcolonial Studies, MA Linguistics, MA Applied Linguistics & Language Pedagogy, MA Language, Documentation and Description, MA Translation Theory and Practice (Asian and African Languages)
* SOAS Master's Scholarships- Faculty of Law and Social Sciences (for any full-time master's programmes in the Department of Development Studies, Economics, Law, Politics & International Studies and Financial & Management Studies)
* Tallow Chandlers and M. W Beer scholarship (MA) (MA Anthropology of Food, for UK/EU fee paying students)
* William Ross Murray Scholarship (LLM, for students from a developing country)