[sayans.das]

Hi Everyone

My name is Sayan S. Das. I am a lawyer from India with a specialisation in Environmental Law from Pace Law School, USA. I recently graduated from Pace with a GPA OF 3.17/4.00 (Percentile of 86 or a letter grade of B)

I applied and received offers from SOAS and Durham University to study International Relations. I deferred my admission due to financial constraints.

This year I will apply to Science Po, Paris for a place in a similar course.

I wanted to ask which school should I pick if I get through Science Po too? If I have to choose between SOAS and Durham, which one would you recommend.

Please advice.

Thank you so much.

Regards,
Sayan

[Adheen]

King's College London is the best uni for International Relations SOAS is of course Asian-history centric. Between SOAS and Durham, I will choose SOAS..

[saachi]

My brother visited Scienco Po for some time and said that although the courses are taught in English, everyone speaks in French. Don't know about you but that would be a major deciding factor for me. Between Durham and SOAS, I'd say Durham.

[Nathanielle]

I would advise you to think about where you want to end up and on which region you want to specialize. That could already be the decision.

[sayans.das]

(Original post by Nathanielle)
I would advise you to think about where you want to end up and on which region you want to specialize. That could already be the decision.

Hey Nathanielle.... Thank you so much for your advice. I am really grateful for your time.... I want to work in Europe or Asia. If you have any further advice, do let me know....

[sayans.das]

(Original post by saachi)
My brother visited Scienco Po for some time and said that although the courses are taught in English, everyone speaks in French. Don't know about you but that would be a major deciding factor for me. Between Durham and SOAS, I'd say Durham.

Hey Saachi.... Thank you so much for your advice. I am going to start learning French soon. Coul you tell me why Durham and not SOAS? I am grateful for your time. Thank you!

[sayans.das]

(Original post by Adheen)
King's College London is the best uni for International Relations SOAS is of course Asian-history centric. Between SOAS and Durham, I will choose SOAS..

Hey Adheen... Thank you for sharing your thoughts. i am grateful... Could you throw some light on why you picked SOAS? Thank you!

[beefmaster]

Personally I would, and almost did (but was offered too good a job to turn down), pick Sciences Po.

[saachi]

(Original post by sayans.das)
Hey Saachi.... Thank you so much for your advice. I am going to start learning French soon. Coul you tell me why Durham and not SOAS? I am grateful for your time. Thank you!

I'm from India too, (not Chandigarh, though it's one of my favorite places in the country) and learnt french for 8 years... It's not so much the language but the culture shock that can be a bit overwhelming. France is really nice, been there a few times and generally liked the place/ people, but communication is difficult, especially if you've only had very little experience of learning French.

Well, it's up to you of course, both Durham and SOAS are very good, but while SOAS does have a great reputation for law, personally I think Durham edges it. And I don't know about you but I like the idea of the whole collegiate system, and living in a city much smaller (and safer!) than London. But that's just me.

Also don't worry about which country's law you want to do, from what I've heard it isn't hard to use a law degree anywhere. You just might have to do an additional course or something but if you're from India, and considering doing a degree in UK or France, then I'm guessing you're already prepared for that.

[sayans.das]

(Original post by beefmaster)
Personally I would, and almost did (but was offered too good a job to turn down), pick Sciences Po.

Hey Beefmaster...

Thank you for your inputs.... Could you please elaborate why Science Po would be your choice. Thank you for your time!

Cheers
Me

[sayans.das]

(Original post by saachi)
I'm from India too, (not Chandigarh, though it's one of my favorite places in the country) and learnt french for 8 years... It's not so much the language but the culture shock that can be a bit overwhelming. France is really nice, been there a few times and generally liked the place/ people, but communication is difficult, especially if you've only had very little experience of learning French.

Well, it's up to you of course, both Durham and SOAS are very good, but while SOAS does have a great reputation for law, personally I think Durham edges it. And I don't know about you but I like the idea of the whole collegiate system, and living in a city much smaller (and safer!) than London. But that's just me.

Also don't worry about which country's law you want to do, from what I've heard it isn't hard to use a law degree anywhere. You just might have to do an additional course or something but if you're from India, and considering doing a degree in UK or France, then I'm guessing you're already prepared for that.

Hey Saachi...

Thank you for your reply. I am sorry to have replied late.

Your reply was so assuring. Having studied French for such a long time, which is a great thing to have done, I wish I could have started way back. But the question is, if i start now, and train for a year will it put me in good stead for a stint in Paris provided I make it?

Also, do you think Durham and SOAS are well known in India, knowing i could have a possibility of coming back to India?

Sorry for the follow up questions... Your insight is invaluable!

Thank you again!

[saachi]

(Original post by sayans.das)
Hey Saachi...

Thank you for your reply. I am sorry to have replied late.

Your reply was so assuring. Having studied French for such a long time, which is a great thing to have done, I wish I could have started way back. But the question is, if i start now, and train for a year will it put me in good stead for a stint in Paris provided I make it?

Also, do you think Durham and SOAS are well known in India, knowing i could have a possibility of coming back to India?

Sorry for the follow up questions... Your insight is invaluable!

Thank you again!

You're welcome Speaking from experience, Durham is much better regarded in India than SOAS. Most people here haven't even heard of SOAS (which is a pity, because it's a decent university).

To be honest, no, I don't think learning French for only a year will erase all communication problems if you'r studying in Paris. It's not just about the language, see, it's a pretty big culture shock if you're used to an English speaking world. For example the French use certain slang phrases which make absolutely no sense in English (much like how some Hindi phrases sounded really odd when translated into English) and those are hard to pick from just one year of learning French outside of France. Personally I would see that as an obstacle to fitting in, in a place where everyone around me speaks constantly in French, because as it's their native language they will ALWAYS know more about it than we do.

[fellowjoe]

Among them, i would pick Sciences Po.

Why?

After LSE, it is the next best place to do political sciences in Europe and there is a prestige attached to it due to the competitive nature of its admissions.

Though as someone mentioned earlier that everyone speaks French outside of class curriculum, this would force you to speak and allow you to master French more easily and faster.

After English, French is the next most important language for diplomacy. Its a tool that will be with you when you travel extensively to other places like Canada, Switzerland and Africa.

But within the UK itself, i'd pick SOAS. It just is better regarded for political science related courses and Durham is better for law (which is not your area of study).

[sj27]

Fellowjoe makes good points I think.

Also, I am not Indian, but from the Indians I know they say that University of London has good "name recognition" in India - so for example they would not just put "SOAS" on their CV but "SOAS - University of London". Again, second hand info. That said I agree that sciences Po would be the best out of those. However if I understand correctly, you would only be applying for 2013 start at Science Po whereas you already have offers from the others?

[sayans.das]

(Original post by sj27)
Fellowjoe makes good points I think.

Also, I am not Indian, but from the Indians I know they say that University of London has good "name recognition" in India - so for example they would not just put "SOAS" on their CV but "SOAS - University of London". Again, second hand info. That said I agree that sciences Po would be the best out of those. However if I understand correctly, you would only be applying for 2013 start at Science Po whereas you already have offers from the others?

Hi!

Thank you for your post...

Yes I will be applying to Science Po this October for a place in 2013. I already have a place in SOAS and Durham. I hope I make it to Science Po....

[sayans.das]

(Original post by fellowjoe)
Among them, i would pick Sciences Po.

Why?

After LSE, it is the next best place to do political sciences in Europe and there is a prestige attached to it due to the competitive nature of its admissions.

Though as someone mentioned earlier that everyone speaks French outside of class curriculum, this would force you to speak and allow you to master French more easily and faster.

After English, French is the next most important language for diplomacy. Its a tool that will be with you when you travel extensively to other places like Canada, Switzerland and Africa.

But within the UK itself, i'd pick SOAS. It just is better regarded for political science related courses and Durham is better for law (which is not your area of study).

Thank you Fellowjoe...

I appreciate your time....

[sayans.das]

(Original post by saachi)
You're welcome Speaking from experience, Durham is much better regarded in India than SOAS. Most people here haven't even heard of SOAS (which is a pity, because it's a decent university).

To be honest, no, I don't think learning French for only a year will erase all communication problems if you'r studying in Paris. It's not just about the language, see, it's a pretty big culture shock if you're used to an English speaking world. For example the French use certain slang phrases which make absolutely no sense in English (much like how some Hindi phrases sounded really odd when translated into English) and those are hard to pick from just one year of learning French outside of France. Personally I would see that as an obstacle to fitting in, in a place where everyone around me speaks constantly in French, because as it's their native language they will ALWAYS know more about it than we do.

Thank you Saachi... so so so much! I appreciate your time!