SOAS or Edinburgh for Law and Anthropology
Hi! I recently got an offer from both SOAS and Edinburgh for Law and Anthro. I really cannot chose between the two. I would love to get into human rights and policy making later on. Any thoughts?
Original post by Ellenbellen123
Hi! I recently got an offer from both SOAS and Edinburgh for Law and Anthro. I really cannot chose between the two. I would love to get into human rights and policy making later on. Any thoughts?
Hey!
Well done on your offers!
Just to check are both LLBs which qualify you to practice? Just because I know some joint honours are BAs which don’t qualify you but if they both are then I would say Edinburgh definitely has the better overall rep as a uni and for law. However, SOAS is a great uni for social sciences (don’t let rankings dissuade u - it’s an impossible uni to rank). However, SOAS does really fit a certain type of student, it’s incredibly left wing and small and slightly radical as well as being a little underfunded and I’ve heard complaints about the social aspect. However, those who definitely fit the mould of a SOAS student seem to love it! And some of the academics are genuinely amazing. I haven’t heard too much about law in terms of SOAS compared to politics and other social sciences but I would say Edinburgh was the stronger law school.
Not sure where you’re from but one thing to keep in mind is I think it’s the case where you would have to convert your LLB from Edinburgh after graduating to be able to practice in England & Wales. It’s definitely the case with Glasgow but not sure for Edinburgh but that is my understanding.
Good luck!
Congratulations!! As another person said, make sure they're both LLB degrees first because otherwise converting to be able to practice will be an extra cost that you could spend on an LPC or bar school or masters.
I am about to graduate with an LLB from goldsmith's and pre-university, I would've thought Edinburgh was a no brainer.
SOAS is under the University of London though and as someone who's been to Goldsmith's (a very left wing university with relatively low rankings) I can hand on heart say that studying under UoL is SUCH a good thing! Firstly, London law firms and scholarships go mad for people with good LLB qualifications who come from UoL. Secondly, the modules at SOAS will be so much more broad in range + you can mix and match with modules from other universities under UoL and go take a module at LSE or Kings, for example.
I came from Hampshire before studying in London and I was terrified but London is actually an amazing place to study with all the quick transport links and the UoL connections. I'm a massive introvert who doesn't drink but even I've found London to be amazing to study in, with the ability to travel across the city with ease, explore the parks and coffee shops and libraries and museums on my days off.
So if it was me choosing between the two, bearing in mind all I've said, SOAS would be my first choice
I am about to graduate with an LLB from goldsmith's and pre-university, I would've thought Edinburgh was a no brainer.
SOAS is under the University of London though and as someone who's been to Goldsmith's (a very left wing university with relatively low rankings) I can hand on heart say that studying under UoL is SUCH a good thing! Firstly, London law firms and scholarships go mad for people with good LLB qualifications who come from UoL. Secondly, the modules at SOAS will be so much more broad in range + you can mix and match with modules from other universities under UoL and go take a module at LSE or Kings, for example.
I came from Hampshire before studying in London and I was terrified but London is actually an amazing place to study with all the quick transport links and the UoL connections. I'm a massive introvert who doesn't drink but even I've found London to be amazing to study in, with the ability to travel across the city with ease, explore the parks and coffee shops and libraries and museums on my days off.
So if it was me choosing between the two, bearing in mind all I've said, SOAS would be my first choice
Original post by josesh
Hey!
Well done on your offers!
Just to check are both LLBs which qualify you to practice? Just because I know some joint honours are BAs which don’t qualify you but if they both are then I would say Edinburgh definitely has the better overall rep as a uni and for law. However, SOAS is a great uni for social sciences (don’t let rankings dissuade u - it’s an impossible uni to rank). However, SOAS does really fit a certain type of student, it’s incredibly left wing and small and slightly radical as well as being a little underfunded and I’ve heard complaints about the social aspect. However, those who definitely fit the mould of a SOAS student seem to love it! And some of the academics are genuinely amazing. I haven’t heard too much about law in terms of SOAS compared to politics and other social sciences but I would say Edinburgh was the stronger law school.
Not sure where you’re from but one thing to keep in mind is I think it’s the case where you would have to convert your LLB from Edinburgh after graduating to be able to practice in England & Wales. It’s definitely the case with Glasgow but not sure for Edinburgh but that is my understanding.
Good luck!
Well done on your offers!
Just to check are both LLBs which qualify you to practice? Just because I know some joint honours are BAs which don’t qualify you but if they both are then I would say Edinburgh definitely has the better overall rep as a uni and for law. However, SOAS is a great uni for social sciences (don’t let rankings dissuade u - it’s an impossible uni to rank). However, SOAS does really fit a certain type of student, it’s incredibly left wing and small and slightly radical as well as being a little underfunded and I’ve heard complaints about the social aspect. However, those who definitely fit the mould of a SOAS student seem to love it! And some of the academics are genuinely amazing. I haven’t heard too much about law in terms of SOAS compared to politics and other social sciences but I would say Edinburgh was the stronger law school.
Not sure where you’re from but one thing to keep in mind is I think it’s the case where you would have to convert your LLB from Edinburgh after graduating to be able to practice in England & Wales. It’s definitely the case with Glasgow but not sure for Edinburgh but that is my understanding.
Good luck!
All unis are incredibly left wing 🤣
Have you not seen Edinburgh banning the showing of ‘adult human female’
Original post by LawStudent456
All unis are incredibly left wing 🤣
Have you not seen Edinburgh banning the showing of ‘adult human female’
Have you not seen Edinburgh banning the showing of ‘adult human female’
Every university has a mixture of students. Most unis are liberal leaning yeah. It’s really not an interesting or specific point, I literally just noted that SOAS had a reputation for its Marxist society and very left wing politics. You are obviously going to get wealthy students primarily from the Middle East attending SOAS alongside the stereotypical left wing students associated with SOAS just how Edinburgh or Durham has a reputation for being a bit posh or being ‘rah’. It’s just a perception and a stereotype and like all stereotypes, there’s an element of truth to it. You can of course go to SOAS as a person with conservative opinions and still thrive. I was just giving them an insight into the “typical” view of SOAS as an institution, the student body of course varies each year.
well done!!
Original post by Ellenbellen123
Hi! I recently got an offer from both SOAS and Edinburgh for Law and Anthro. I really cannot chose between the two. I would love to get into human rights and policy making later on. Any thoughts?
Original post by Ellenbellen123
Hi! I recently got an offer from both SOAS and Edinburgh for Law and Anthro. I really cannot chose between the two. I would love to get into human rights and policy making later on. Any thoughts?
Hi!
Congratulations on the offers! I'm currently doing the MA in Social Anthropology at SOAS and thought I might be able to tell you a bit about the anthropology side and studying at SOAS
LLB or BA
I think one of the key things to think about is whether or not you would like to do an LLB or a BA. LLB's Generally have a strict core structure and are aimed primarily at students who want to become practicing lawyers. Normally an LLB would mean that you do not need to do a law conversion course (PGDL/GDL) However because you would be studying law in Scotland, if you wanted to be a practicing lawyer in the rest of the UK you would still need to complete a law conversion course.
BA law degrees offer more flexibility and aim to equip you with analytical skills that are useful for professions that require a non-specialised degree. If you would like to go on and qualify as a lawyer after studying a BA in Law it is just like any other BA degree whereby you would need to complete a law conversion course before applying for training contracts.
Anthropology at SOAS
I think taking anthropology is a good idea if you're interested in human rights law and policy. At SOAS you'll have the opportunity to tailor your degree to your interests and there are modules on migration, work and labour, gender, neocolonialism and climate justice all with multiple geographical and cultural perspectives built into the syllabus. Its a great idea have a look on the website to see if you like the look of the modules! I think the benefit of studying such a wide range of topics from a non-Eurocentric lens is that it adds realistic nuance to the conversations you're having and allows you to think about the everyday practicalities of UK, European and international law and their socio-cultural impacts.
With the Law component of the joint degree at SOAS you'll get to look at UK law and many of your core modules are the same as the core modules for the LLB with the addition that you have more flexibility in choosing your modules. So if you're interested more in international humanitarian law you can choose more modules that align with those interests e.g. Environmental law in action, Law and Justice in China, Law and society in South Asia and Africa. Plus you'll have the benefit of developing your anthropological analysis alongside the information from your law modules. Additionally you can apply to do one 30 credit LLB module from other university of London uni's e.g. LSE, UCL and KCL
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Monica - (MA Social Anthropology SOAS)
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