Postgraduate application for SOAS
Hello,
I'm currently applying for postgraduate study SOAS and wanted to ask and students/ex-students a few questions.
Im hoping to study MSc Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice, and wanted to try to gage the standard for being accepted. I studied a Politics degree as my undergraduate at the university of Liverpool and received a 2:1. Which is the minimum entry grades for SOAS, However seeing that SOAS is so specialist in its field I have been told you need to really 'stand out from the crowd' as it were. Generally are applicants applying with better results? I have a small amount of work experience but pretty minimal. Also how long did people spend prepping and writing their personal statement?
Of course any postgrad course is going to be a challenge to get onto, and sorry for so many questions, but if anyone could shed a bit of light for me would really appreciate it!
I'm currently applying for postgraduate study SOAS and wanted to ask and students/ex-students a few questions.
Im hoping to study MSc Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice, and wanted to try to gage the standard for being accepted. I studied a Politics degree as my undergraduate at the university of Liverpool and received a 2:1. Which is the minimum entry grades for SOAS, However seeing that SOAS is so specialist in its field I have been told you need to really 'stand out from the crowd' as it were. Generally are applicants applying with better results? I have a small amount of work experience but pretty minimal. Also how long did people spend prepping and writing their personal statement?
Of course any postgrad course is going to be a challenge to get onto, and sorry for so many questions, but if anyone could shed a bit of light for me would really appreciate it!
Reply 1
Hey, I am applying to SOAS for postgraduate program too. MA in Chinese Studies for me. As an international applicant I have a very vague idea of what they expect.
I submitted my application a week ago and it still says "submitted" on my online page. Does it change somehow before I know the decision? I thought it would say smth like "processing" by now.
I submitted my application a week ago and it still says "submitted" on my online page. Does it change somehow before I know the decision? I thought it would say smth like "processing" by now.
Reply 2
Hi, I applied last year with a 2:1 and got in to Msc International Politics, deferred to this September, so from my experience I'd say you've got a pretty good chance. That said, I don't know what the course your on is like in terms of competition for places compared to mine, so you might have more difficulty, all I can say is good luck and hope to see you in September!
Btw @YulianaRus, nothing came up on my application until they sent me an email linking to the application site, in which it contained a letter offering me a place on my course, so all I can say is have patience and good luck, I know the wait can be incredibly unnerving!
Btw @YulianaRus, nothing came up on my application until they sent me an email linking to the application site, in which it contained a letter offering me a place on my course, so all I can say is have patience and good luck, I know the wait can be incredibly unnerving!
Reply 3
Original post
by BarHumbugBtw @YulianaRus, nothing came up on my application until they sent me an email linking to the application site, in which it contained a letter offering me a place on my course, so all I can say is have patience and good luck, I know the wait can be incredibly unnerving!
Oh, thank you! I guess I can stop checking the online page each day now and just wait for an email
Reply 4
Woop, it changed! Now says "with academic review team".
Any ideas on when I should expect to hear a decision?
Any ideas on when I should expect to hear a decision?
Reply 5
for me it was only 2 days from the moment the 'with academic review team' thing came up, but it might be longer, course competition and all
Reply 6
berel
OP
Original post
by BarHumbugHi, I applied last year with a 2:1 and got in to Msc International Politics, deferred to this September, so from my experience I'd say you've got a pretty good chance. That said, I don't know what the course your on is like in terms of competition for places compared to mine, so you might have more difficulty, all I can say is good luck and hope to see you in September!
Btw @YulianaRus, nothing came up on my application until they sent me an email linking to the application site, in which it contained a letter offering me a place on my course, so all I can say is have patience and good luck, I know the wait can be incredibly unnerving!
Btw @YulianaRus, nothing came up on my application until they sent me an email linking to the application site, in which it contained a letter offering me a place on my course, so all I can say is have patience and good luck, I know the wait can be incredibly unnerving!
Thanks for the advice! My application status is now 'with the academic review team', so fingers crossed if all goes to plan I'll see you at SOAS!
Reply 7
So, they responded! Got an offer for MA in Chinese Studies slightly less than 8 weeks after submitting an application. Exactly 2 weeks after my app reached academic review team
Reply 8
berel
OP
Original post
by YulianaRusSo, they responded! Got an offer for MA in Chinese Studies slightly less than 8 weeks after submitting an application. Exactly 2 weeks after my app reached academic review team
Congratulations!
Reply 9
Original post
by berelHello,
I'm currently applying for postgraduate study SOAS and wanted to ask and students/ex-students a few questions.
Im hoping to study MSc Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice, and wanted to try to gage the standard for being accepted. I studied a Politics degree as my undergraduate at the university of Liverpool and received a 2:1. Which is the minimum entry grades for SOAS, However seeing that SOAS is so specialist in its field I have been told you need to really 'stand out from the crowd' as it were. Generally are applicants applying with better results? I have a small amount of work experience but pretty minimal. Also how long did people spend prepping and writing their personal statement?
Of course any postgrad course is going to be a challenge to get onto, and sorry for so many questions, but if anyone could shed a bit of light for me would really appreciate it!
I'm currently applying for postgraduate study SOAS and wanted to ask and students/ex-students a few questions.
Im hoping to study MSc Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice, and wanted to try to gage the standard for being accepted. I studied a Politics degree as my undergraduate at the university of Liverpool and received a 2:1. Which is the minimum entry grades for SOAS, However seeing that SOAS is so specialist in its field I have been told you need to really 'stand out from the crowd' as it were. Generally are applicants applying with better results? I have a small amount of work experience but pretty minimal. Also how long did people spend prepping and writing their personal statement?
Of course any postgrad course is going to be a challenge to get onto, and sorry for so many questions, but if anyone could shed a bit of light for me would really appreciate it!
Hej! I have no answer to your questions. On the other hand I just applied to the same program the MSc Politics of Conflict, rights and justice so i could tell you my situation. I have no idea what they are looking for though! DX
I am still completing my BA (should get a 2:1).. I got just 2 internships, 1 pretty relevant imo, and an exchange program under my belt... no clue if it enough.
About the statement I spent a lot of time... but mainly I re-used the one i made for KCL and changed it in the right spots.. I didn t have any will to write a 3rd different statement.
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Reply 10
Original post
by BarHumbugHi, I applied last year with a 2:1 and got in to Msc International Politics, deferred to this September, so from my experience I'd say you've got a pretty good chance. That said, I don't know what the course your on is like in terms of competition for places compared to mine, so you might have more difficulty, all I can say is good luck and hope to see you in September!
Btw @YulianaRus, nothing came up on my application until they sent me an email linking to the application site, in which it contained a letter offering me a place on my course, so all I can say is have patience and good luck, I know the wait can be incredibly unnerving!
Btw @YulianaRus, nothing came up on my application until they sent me an email linking to the application site, in which it contained a letter offering me a place on my course, so all I can say is have patience and good luck, I know the wait can be incredibly unnerving!
Hi BarHumbug,
Ive been offered to study MSc Globalization and Development this September, and Im considering to defer. Could you please tell me if deferral means I'll have to go through all the application procedure again, irrespective of the present offer?
Second, could you please tell me a bit about your reasons to defer; I was told that deferrals are not always granted, and your reasons to defer need to be solid.
Thanks alot!
Reply 11
Original post
by BilalMajeedHi BarHumbug,
Ive been offered to study MSc Globalization and Development this September, and Im considering to defer. Could you please tell me if deferral means I'll have to go through all the application procedure again, irrespective of the present offer?
Second, could you please tell me a bit about your reasons to defer; I was told that deferrals are not always granted, and your reasons to defer need to be solid.
Thanks alot!
Ive been offered to study MSc Globalization and Development this September, and Im considering to defer. Could you please tell me if deferral means I'll have to go through all the application procedure again, irrespective of the present offer?
Second, could you please tell me a bit about your reasons to defer; I was told that deferrals are not always granted, and your reasons to defer need to be solid.
Thanks alot!
Hey BilalMajeed
Answer to question 1: https://www.soas.ac.uk/admissions/pg/faqs/accepting/
It's under deferrals.
On a personal note, it took a couple of days for my deferral response to come through, but from what others on this thread have stated, it seems that the admin at SOAS this year is shockingly slow compared to when I did it last year, so you may have to wait a bit longer than me for a response.
As for my personal reasons, it was simply down to economics. I stated in my email I didn't have the financial means at the time to fully commit and successful support myself through Postgraduate study and needed a year to save the funds. Anyway hope it helps.
Reply 12
Greetings All, My name is Lara from Mozambique. I have submited my aplication for the SOAS MSc Environment Politics and Development on the 18th of June and reveceid a confirmation email saying that a final decision is usually made within 5 weeks. Does anyone know if there is a chance of getting an offer by late July, considering I was a late aplier and the rype of program I chose? I ask this because I still have to apply for a scholarship/funding and I am worried I have little time left.Also, if I do get an offer, is it possible to "freeze" the offer for the next academic year? Anyone applying for Environment Politics and Development at SOAS? Any sugestions of funding, or overall process? What to expect?Thank you!!
Reply 13
@ Girassol
When you get the confirmation email (which hopefully you will get!) there will be a section detailing a link to the deferral procedure. On the website they say that they usually give deferrals, however you can only defer for one year, otherwise you will have to reapply.
As for funding/scholarships, there's a big list of potential scholarships on the SOAS website, off the top of my head I think there are a few solely for students coming from Africa. Also to check would be if your government might have any student finance schemes, I know a few do to get people to study abroad, and also the usual assortment of charitable funds dedicated to education and I vaguely recall the Commonwealth has an educational fund also you can apply for.
When you get the confirmation email (which hopefully you will get!) there will be a section detailing a link to the deferral procedure. On the website they say that they usually give deferrals, however you can only defer for one year, otherwise you will have to reapply.
As for funding/scholarships, there's a big list of potential scholarships on the SOAS website, off the top of my head I think there are a few solely for students coming from Africa. Also to check would be if your government might have any student finance schemes, I know a few do to get people to study abroad, and also the usual assortment of charitable funds dedicated to education and I vaguely recall the Commonwealth has an educational fund also you can apply for.
Reply 14
@Girassol did you hear anything yet? I am waiting as well - submitted my application for MA African Studies on June 23rd. It now says 'with academic review team' but wondering how much longer it will take...have so much to sort out depending if I do/don't get in. Anyone else with previous experience/opinions re the above?
Reply 15
Original post
by BarHumbug@ Girassol
When you get the confirmation email (which hopefully you will get!) there will be a section detailing a link to the deferral procedure. On the website they say that they usually give deferrals, however you can only defer for one year, otherwise you will have to reapply.
As for funding/scholarships, there's a big list of potential scholarships on the SOAS website, off the top of my head I think there are a few solely for students coming from Africa. Also to check would be if your government might have any student finance schemes, I know a few do to get people to study abroad, and also the usual assortment of charitable funds dedicated to education and I vaguely recall the Commonwealth has an educational fund also you can apply for.
When you get the confirmation email (which hopefully you will get!) there will be a section detailing a link to the deferral procedure. On the website they say that they usually give deferrals, however you can only defer for one year, otherwise you will have to reapply.
As for funding/scholarships, there's a big list of potential scholarships on the SOAS website, off the top of my head I think there are a few solely for students coming from Africa. Also to check would be if your government might have any student finance schemes, I know a few do to get people to study abroad, and also the usual assortment of charitable funds dedicated to education and I vaguely recall the Commonwealth has an educational fund also you can apply for.
Thank you for your sugestions! Really put my mind at ease!
Reply 16
Original post
by lauratz@Girassol did you hear anything yet? I am waiting as well - submitted my application for MA African Studies on June 23rd. It now says 'with academic review team' but wondering how much longer it will take...have so much to sort out depending if I do/don't get in. Anyone else with previous experience/opinions re the above?
Unfortunatelly I havent heard anything yet, and my application still says "submitted".
I've heard that once its in "with academic review team" status, it wont take long! So fingers crossed!
Reply 17
Wishing everyone waiting for application results luck and congratulations to those who got accepted
When I did my MA in Japanese Studies I had a 2:1 in History and no degree qualifications in Japanese.I had to prove my way onto the Japanese Studies course by proving my Japanese skills through other methods, so I think they are quite flexible. I was able to take Advanced Japanese and Classical Japanese based on that review and passed both with DIstinction so ultimately they care more about what you can do than ticking the First Class Degree box. I think this is why sometimes they are more flexible with entry req. than other universities. SOAS is academic but it really isn't all on the academic side, it's also on the experience, the knowledge, the skills and such as well. They take you as a person, not just as an academic certificate, if that makes sense?
With funding applications, I would be really surprised if any of them were still open for application this year. I don't know for different disciplines, admittedly, but the ones for Japanese Studies postgraduates closed all between Jan and May. Considering things have to be settled and arranged with funding and such, I think they expect those things to be done and dusted by this time of the year...but that doesn't mean you shouldn't look. London is awesome to live in but expensive ><.
When I did my MA in Japanese Studies I had a 2:1 in History and no degree qualifications in Japanese.I had to prove my way onto the Japanese Studies course by proving my Japanese skills through other methods, so I think they are quite flexible. I was able to take Advanced Japanese and Classical Japanese based on that review and passed both with DIstinction so ultimately they care more about what you can do than ticking the First Class Degree box. I think this is why sometimes they are more flexible with entry req. than other universities. SOAS is academic but it really isn't all on the academic side, it's also on the experience, the knowledge, the skills and such as well. They take you as a person, not just as an academic certificate, if that makes sense?
With funding applications, I would be really surprised if any of them were still open for application this year. I don't know for different disciplines, admittedly, but the ones for Japanese Studies postgraduates closed all between Jan and May. Considering things have to be settled and arranged with funding and such, I think they expect those things to be done and dusted by this time of the year...but that doesn't mean you shouldn't look. London is awesome to live in but expensive ><.
Reply 18
Original post
by YulianaRusHey, I am applying to SOAS for postgraduate program too. MA in Chinese Studies for me. As an international applicant I have a very vague idea of what they expect.
I submitted my application a week ago and it still says "submitted" on my online page. Does it change somehow before I know the decision? I thought it would say smth like "processing" by now.
I submitted my application a week ago and it still says "submitted" on my online page. Does it change somehow before I know the decision? I thought it would say smth like "processing" by now.
Hello, I am going to apply to SOAS for MA in Chinese Studies. I know everything has changed a lot in compare with 9 years ago, but I would like to know about what you did, how was the program and the university?
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