Stay at Birkbek vs transfer to SOAS for year 2?

Hi, I have finished year 1 for Birkbeck and I just...dont enjoy it anymore. I suffered alot of trauma when I was there and want to change because of it. SOAS has the same degree as what I'm doing now and it just seems like a no brainer.

Alongside this, there is essentially no social life present within Birkbeck either and no (alive) societies; making me want to switch because its very boring.

So overall do you think its a good idea? Is soas more respected than birkbeck by employers and will i get kicked off my course for potentially wanting to do so? (havent made mind up)

Reply 1

SOAS Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, I have finished year 1 for Birkbeck and I just...dont enjoy it anymore. I suffered alot of trauma when I was there and want to change because of it. SOAS has the same degree as what I'm doing now and it just seems like a no brainer.
Alongside this, there is essentially no social life present within Birkbeck either and no (alive) societies; making me want to switch because its very boring.
So overall do you think its a good idea? Is soas more respected than birkbeck by employers and will i get kicked off my course for potentially wanting to do so? (havent made mind up)

Hi there,

I'm sorry you are no longer enjoying your course! What course are you on and what would you like to switch to?
Hopefully I can help answer some questions!

Caera, Final year BA Japanese and International Relations

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

Original post by SOAS Student Rep

Hi there,
I'm sorry you are no longer enjoying your course! What course are you on and what would you like to switch to?
Hopefully I can help answer some questions!
Caera, Final year BA Japanese and International Relations

Hi, I am doing history & wish to also transfer onto a history course.

My questions are:

1) How are the lessons scheduled & what time from [since I'm used to 3hr lessons and them starting at 6pm with like 2 lessons a week]
2) How active are societies?
3) Anything i should know?
3)

Reply 3

SOAS Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, I am doing history & wish to also transfer onto a history course.
My questions are:
1) How are the lessons scheduled & what time from [since I'm used to 3hr lessons and them starting at 6pm with like 2 lessons a week]
2) How active are societies?
3) Anything i should know?
3)

Hi there,

Have a look at our BA History page here: https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/find-course/ba-history
To answer your questions,

SOAS follows a standard teaching timetable of 9am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays. BA History is structured similarly to the other humanities and social sciences where each module will likely consist of a 1hr Lecture followed by a 1hr seminar/ tutorial each week. Students take 120 credits each year, some modules are 15 credits and only last a term whereas others are 30 credits and so last two terms. Generally you can expect to have between 5-8 1hr long classes each week. As there are so many module options at SOAS timetables are very specific to each student but generally for BA History you will have up to 8 contact hours spread across the week, most students end up with one or two days with no class but again this is very dependent on your classes!

Societies are pretty active at SOAS you can find all the info here:https://soasunion.org/get-involved/societies/ I'd recommend attending the freshers fayre during the first week of term to find out more! Also because SOAS is part of the University of London, you can join other uni's societies or take part in inter-uni events.

SOAS is a small and unique university which comes with many perks such as an active friendly community and smaller class sizes but it is very different from other institutions you may have attended. Also you may know but SOAS is know for being a politically active staff and student body!

My advice would be to get in touch with the admissions team here: [email protected] or call +44 (0)20 3510 6974 and get some advice. You can also contact the history department itself. Since you are close by you could always come along to one of our student led campus tours to get a better feel of the uni and ask questions, you can organize this here: https://www.soas.ac.uk/visit/campus-tours

Hope this helps!
Caera, Final year BA Japanese and International Relations

Reply 4

Anonymous #2

Sorry to know that you're suffered with 'trauma'. Wish you get well soon. Since U are going to move 30 steps to the next door, I wonder if you don't mind to resolve a curiosity of mine: before U joined BBK last year, U didn't know that its lessons are mainly held in evenings?

I am a birkbeckian, and member of some of its clubs, e.g. Film Club. I don't appreciate the Club's every selected title for sharing sessions (haha...), but the Club is very 'alive'. Not true to say that 'no (alive) societies' there.

Wish U enjoy the life in SOAS. Cheers!

Reply 5

mem63

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, I have finished year 1 for Birkbeck and I just...dont enjoy it anymore. I suffered alot of trauma when I was there and want to change because of it. SOAS has the same degree as what I'm doing now and it just seems like a no brainer.
Alongside this, there is essentially no social life present within Birkbeck either and no (alive) societies; making me want to switch because its very boring.
So overall do you think its a good idea? Is soas more respected than birkbeck by employers and will i get kicked off my course for potentially wanting to do so? (havent made mind up)

Hi there. IM considering a split history and classics degree at Birkbeck simply because I can commute from Essex and I have more chance of getting in as a mature student. Im concerned after reading some reviews about it on here and now your post which relates to the areas I want to study. Would you mind my asking are you not enjoying it anymore because of the place and the dynamics there or just personal reasons. Im also worried about the evening courses and spending 90-120 minutes getting home on public transport late at night. How do/did you find the timings and are they part of the reason you want to change. I could potentially get into Kent but equally thats a long commute but courses during the day. I would appreciate your first hand experience if you dont mind and I hope you came to the right decision and now feeling better about the course.

Reply 6

Anonymous #2

Original post by mem63

"Im also worried about the evening courses and spending 90-120 minutes getting home on public transport late at night." This is the sufficient reason that you should not consider BBK.

Reply 7

mem63

Original post by Anonymous

"Im also worried about the evening courses and spending 90-120 minutes getting home on public transport late at night." This is the sufficient reason that you should not consider BBK.

I agree but my choices are very limited indeed. Thanks though and it is a sufficient reason.

Reply 8

Anonymous #2

Two friends of mine during IB years went to Kent, studied in Division of Arts and Humanities. Our conversations about study wasn't detailed, but basically they're quite positive to their years in Kent. Just my two pennies. Good luck.

Reply 9

mem63

Original post by Anonymous

Thats so kind of you. Coincidentally I only went to Birkbeck with my son who will go to university next year to study classics as it was just one of his 5 choices and not too many offer classics. Kent is his first and he hopes to go there. The seed then planted that perhaps I could do it and I can but I just scrape in. Someone a teacher actually was at the Birkbeck viewing when we were there at the History and Classics open event, he was looking to do an MA in classics and he said he had done his BA at Kent and loved every minute of it. Kent were so good at their open day I actually asked the professor for his advice about Birkbeck and whether I should do a foundation course or not and he told me I could potentially go there but because of the drive I should do it as a part time course but it still means spending an hour to 2 if the Dartford crossing has problems getting there and back which is the same for most people but most people would live on campus my son will. I cant to do that. I know who lives on a university doorstop Im going to have to travel but its just I have a chronic condition and I would find it difficult but not impossible. The courses are during the day there which is much better for me. They dont offer a foundation with the course which I may or may not need. I dont like the hours at Birkbeck if they were during the day I would prefer public transport than driving but at that late at night its a whole different ballgame. Now I have read some not too good reviews but as you said its sufficient reason on its own. Plus there will always be bad reviews for any university thats just life. I just wonder is it fair to go to the same university as my son? Who wants that their mum in their class at their first time of freedom so to speak. He said he doesnt mind but I dont think its fair to him. Sorry you didnt bargain on this much info🤭