Islamic Societies and Cultures

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This MA programme studies many aspects of the world of Islam, from its early development to its modern trends. Its primary objective is to approach the study of Islam through a variety of disciplines, cultural contexts and periods.

The programme examines Islamic tradition, law and art, as well as the place of Islam in modern politics and alongside other religions. The degree may be considered as a preparation for research or as a way of completing a liberal education.

Teaching & Learning
Students take three taught courses (one major and two minor) and write a dissertation of 10,000 words. Each course has its own series of classes and seminars, and in addition students attend general lectures and seminars organised by the Middle East Centre. In most courses there is one two-hour class each week. This may be an informal lecture followed by a discussion or a student presentation. At Masters level there is particular emphasis on seminar work where students may be expected to make full-scale presentations for units they take. The dissertation is on an approved topic linked to one of the taught courses. For further details on the structure of the programme and the courses available, see the menu at left.

Learning resources
SOAS library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Candidates will take three taught courses (one major and two minor) and write a dissertation of 10,000 words. The major must be a course from List A, each of which treats subjects of general interest throughout the Islamic world.

The MA Islamic Societies and Cultures is an interdisciplinary (multi-subject) degree. Therefore applicants must choose their Major in a subject different from their Minors. Both Minors may be in the same subject, but not the same subject as the Major. Students may not take more than one language course, and may not take a language course as their Major. The subjects available are: Development Studies, Economics, Gender Studies, History, History of Art/Archaeology, Islamic Studies, Language, Law, Music and Politics. '

All courses will be taught subject to availability. Courses in relevant languages can be taken as an integral part of the MA where appropriate. This Masters degree may be considered either as a preparation for research or as a way of completing a liberal education.

When applying, applicants are asked to specify their preferred major, and asked to give alternative choices. Once enrolled, students have one week to finalise their choice of subjects and have the opportunity of sampling a variety of subjects through attending lectures etc.

For further information on the courses listed, applicants are advised to consult the Course Descriptions on the website. For more information on the departments which offer the subjects, see the Departments section.

Major Options (List A) * Origins and Development of Islam in the Middle East: Problems and Perspectives - 15PHIC040 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Modern Trends in Islam - 15PNMC228 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Islamic law (MA/LLM) - 15PLAC121 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Law and society in the Middle East and North Africa - 15PLAC130 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Minor Options (List B) Near and Middle East * Problems of development in the Middle East and North Africa - 15PDSH019 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Migration and Mobility in the Middle East and North Africa (Masters) - 15PDSH028 (0.5 Unit)
* Human rights and Islamic law - 15PLAC150 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Islamic Philosophical Theology:studies In Muslim Doctrine & Heresiology - 15PNMC052 ( Unit)
* Economic development of the Middle East - 15PECC341 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Islam and the West: Artistic and Cultural Contacts - 15PARH034 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Art and Architecture of the Fatimids - 15PARH035 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Art and Architecture of Egypt and Syria 13th to 16th Centuries - 15PARC033 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Ottoman Art - 15PARC011 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
* Studies in Early Islamic Art and Archaeology - 15PARC001 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Gender in the Middle East - 15PGNH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Music of the Near and Middle East and North Africa - 15PMUC033 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Comparative politics of the Middle East - 15PPOC026 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Central Asia South Asia * Islam in South Asia - 15PHIC042 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Languages- Only one language option can be chosen N.B. all courses designated PG require the student to attend an extra series of lectures and to write an essay or, for more advanced courses, possibly prepare a translation with commentary to count for 30% of the overall mark for the course

* Introduction to Standard Modern Arabic - 15PNMC032 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Arabic 200 (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC389 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Arabic 300 (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC390 (1 unit - 45 cats Unit)
* Arabic 2 (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC382 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Arabic 3 (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC402 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Arabic 4 (Postgraduate) - 15PNMC391 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Swahili 1 (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC140 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Intermediate Swahili 2A (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC141 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Swahili 3 (Postgraduate) - 15PAFC142 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Urdu Language 1 (Postgraduate) - 15PSAC300 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Urdu Language 2 (Postgraduate) - 15PSAC301 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Indonesian Language 1 (Postgraduate) - 15PSEC032 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Indonesian Language 2 (Postgraduate) - 15PSEC033 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Indonesian Language 3 (Postgraduate) - 15PSEC034 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Indonesian Language 4 (Postgraduate) - 15PSEC035 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Minimum upper second class honours degree (or equivalent)Subjects Preferred: Applicants are not required to have previous academic experience of this subject, although a strong interest in Islamic societies and cultures is of course expected.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)