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School of Oriental and African Studies
London

Any questions about soas?

Hi there,

I am going into my final year of BA History and Politics at SOAS and would like to give prospective students the opportunity to get some answers from a current student - so if you do have any questions that you think I might be able to answer, please ask away!

Sumaiya

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Thanks for offering! I won't be doing History or Politics so I guess I can't ask about classes, but maybe you can tell me around what date they generally open the online registration system, and whether or not you ever had scheduling conflicts doing dual honors?
School of Oriental and African Studies
London
Hey!


Oohh registration system ... I couldn't give you a very accurate answer but Im pretty sure its closer to the enrolment date, possibly a couple of weeks before which is about a month from now - although I could have completely made that up!

In terms of clashes, its probably a good thing to note that, unlike college where you would probably have about 20 hours of class a week, at Soas (doing a non-language degree) would probably schedule you in for about 8-10 hours a week. Which, as you can imagine, gives you a lot of free time but also means that its unlikely you will get a clash, particularly in the first year. Also the timetabling system does try to ensure as few clashes as possible when allocating lecture/tutorial slots.

I hope that helps and let me know anything else!
Original post by sumaiya Fatine
Hey!


Oohh registration system ... I couldn't give you a very accurate answer but Im pretty sure its closer to the enrolment date, possibly a couple of weeks before which is about a month from now - although I could have completely made that up!

In terms of clashes, its probably a good thing to note that, unlike college where you would probably have about 20 hours of class a week, at Soas (doing a non-language degree) would probably schedule you in for about 8-10 hours a week. Which, as you can imagine, gives you a lot of free time but also means that its unlikely you will get a clash, particularly in the first year. Also the timetabling system does try to ensure as few clashes as possible when allocating lecture/tutorial slots.

I hope that helps and let me know anything else!


Okay, thank you! I guess I'll just have to be patient. :P Yeah, I'm doing Korean and Japanese so it's good to know they try to prevent clashes! I'll definitely let you know if I think of anything else!
Reply 4
Avatar for Naomi19
Naomi19
Hey
Thank you for taking the time to reply to our questions :biggrin:

I really wonder if you or any one you met at SOAS have managed to get into their degree without achieving course minimum requirements?!

Thanks in advance :smile:
Hi Naomi!

Yes absolutely lots of people get in without minimum requirements! To study History and Politics, as I do, I think the minimum requirement is AAA, I got AAB, and I know a few others who have also got in with a grade under. It is mostly related to the number of applicants to a given course - as you'd expect, if it was a toss up between someone with AAA, and another with BBB, they would most likely go with the former.
Courses like LLB Law or Economics usually are highly in demand by prospective students so they probably be more stringent with grade requirements.

Personal Statements are highly significant to SOA admissions officers because in order to fit in at the uni, you have to be a little bit out of the ordinary, basically as a reflection of the extraordinariness of the courses offered.

Hope I answered you're question!
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by Naomi19
Hey
Thank you for taking the time to reply to our questions :biggrin:

I really wonder if you or any one you met at SOAS have managed to get into their degree without achieving course minimum requirements?!

Thanks in advance :smile:


Sorry to butt in, but I'm a mature, international student and I didn't really meet ANY of the minimum entry requirements. Long story short, it's been ages since high school and I only have an Associates degree. I applied hoping they would consider the fact that I earned my degree from a pretty hardcore language school (way more intense than anything they'll be able to throw at me at university, and in only 1.5 years), and also that I have experience working in a language-related field.
Original post by zombie.NATION
Okay, thank you! I guess I'll just have to be patient. :P Yeah, I'm doing Korean and Japanese so it's good to know they try to prevent clashes! I'll definitely let you know if I think of anything else!


When you study a non language degree at Soas, your classroom hours average out to be about 10/12 hours per week. This is not the case for those students studying a BA language degree. Your classroom hours will be in the range of 20 hours per week, with double the amount expected for homework. With this in mind, it is less likely, there will be no timetabling classes. Soas is a very small university, so obviously, it is limited in relevance to space. Be prepared for timetabling clashes if you are studying a BA Language degree at Soas.
Original post by non-ki-san
When you study a non language degree at Soas, your classroom hours average out to be about 10/12 hours per week. This is not the case for those students studying a BA language degree. Your classroom hours will be in the range of 20 hours per week, with double the amount expected for homework. With this in mind, it is less likely, there will be no timetabling classes. Soas is a very small university, so obviously, it is limited in relevance to space. Be prepared for timetabling clashes if you are studying a BA Language degree at Soas.


Are you speaking from experience as a current SOAS student? What language/s are you taking?
Original post by zombie.NATION
Sorry to butt in, but I'm a mature, international student and I didn't really meet ANY of the minimum entry requirements. Long story short, it's been ages since high school and I only have an Associates degree. I applied hoping they would consider the fact that I earned my degree from a pretty hardcore language school (way more intense than anything they'll be able to throw at me at university, and in only 1.5 years), and also that I have experience working in a language-related field.


I couldn't give the most informed answer unfortunately, but if you were to apply for a language at SOAS and mention all your previous linguistic experience in your personal statement they will most definitely take that into consideration. A lot of people don't take well to learning a new language and to know that you have these skills are important particularly for a specialised language university.

Sorry for the lack of clarity
Original post by sumaiya Fatine
I couldn't give the most informed answer unfortunately, but if you were to apply for a language at SOAS and mention all your previous linguistic experience in your personal statement they will most definitely take that into consideration. A lot of people don't take well to learning a new language and to know that you have these skills are important particularly for a specialised language university.

Sorry for the lack of clarity


Oh, I was just commenting on having been accepted without meeting the minimum requirements. I guess I should've mentioned that I received an unconditional offer. Sorry for causing a misunderstanding!
Hey, Sumaiya, I have a question for you. How many languages can one study in SOAS simultaneously? I am going to do postgrad but I assume ruled do not differ so much? For example, if I take Cantonese as a part of my degree, can I also study Mandarin, even if it will not count towards my degree? Is it free of charge?
Original post by sumaiya Fatine
Hi there,

I am going into my final year of BA History and Politics at SOAS and would like to give prospective students the opportunity to get some answers from a current student - so if you do have any questions that you think I might be able to answer, please ask away!

Sumaiya


hey, just wondering if sons are flexible with entry req. I'm applying through adjustment for management and i emailed the head of department to ask for help in securing a place since i had a slight personal problem. the i have the AAB but a C in gcse maths. please respond asap.
Original post by sumaiya Fatine
Hi there,

I am going into my final year of BA History and Politics at SOAS and would like to give prospective students the opportunity to get some answers from a current student - so if you do have any questions that you think I might be able to answer, please ask away!

Sumaiya


Yes my question is what is soas when a "p" is added in front, turning it into psoas?

Basically, I have some problems on psoas if you would kindly answer.

So far the only thing I know about the psoas is that it is a muscle in the lower abdominal/pelvic region.

Oh and I think it is a flexor/lateral rotator muscle, not too sure on that

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(edited 9 years ago)
I've put them as my insurance, how lenient are they for law? Quite positive I have not got an A*
Reply 15
Avatar for samaiar
samaiar
4
Hello,
How hard is it to swap or alter the courses after you have started university if you don't like the course? I have a conditional for politics but thinking of politics and social anthropology, I emailed them and they said they'd consider it and they might ask for a new personal statement but I don't know if I should wait for results or do it now.
Thank you!!
Original post by YulianaRus
Hey, Sumaiya, I have a question for you. How many languages can one study in SOAS simultaneously? I am going to do postgrad but I assume ruled do not differ so much? For example, if I take Cantonese as a part of my degree, can I also study Mandarin, even if it will not count towards my degree? Is it free of charge?


Hi,

SOAS is fantastic when it comes to studying languages because, even if it is not in any way related to your course, it offers evening classes to each SOAS student to learn another language. If Mandarin is a part of this system (which it most likely is) you will have the opportunity to learn it. :smile:
Original post by itsamirbitches
hey, just wondering if sons are flexible with entry req. I'm applying through adjustment for management and i emailed the head of department to ask for help in securing a place since i had a slight personal problem. the i have the AAB but a C in gcse maths. please respond asap.


Hey,

1) What are the minimum requirements for your course?
2) Can I assume that you have received you A level grades?
Original post by Med_medine
Yes my question is what is soas when a "p" is added in front, turning it into psoas?

Basically, I have some problems on psoas if you would kindly answer.

So far the only thing I know about the psoas is that it is a muscle in the lower abdominal/pelvic region.

Oh and I think it is a flexor/lateral rotator muscle, not too sure on that

Posted from TSR Mobile



Look at you with your technical medical jargon :wink:

And yeah I have no idea what psoas is :redface:
Original post by weirdnessandcoffee
I've put them as my insurance, how lenient are they for law? Quite positive I have not got an A*


Hmm it all depends on the 2014 application level for Law, if they received fewer applicants, then they would be more lenient, and if you are certain you've got an A* then Im sure you'll be fine. :smile:

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