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MA Japanese Studies at SOAS / Double Degree

Hey y'all,

I'm considering doing this for my master's after graduating BSc Business Management (Including Year Abroad) with a 2:1. After studying abroad, I became more aware of research from the first nations (Indigenous Groups in Canada) and this has sparked my interest to study other cultures and become more aware of research and issues with other cultures and why western literature appears to be dominant in subject areas like Business, Psychology, and Sociology. So I am considering going to SOAS and I'm looking at doing this course since the University offers a double degree with Sophia university (上智大学) which I would study MA Global Studies.

I'm wondering if I could gather feedback from people who are doing masters at this university or, potentially people who have done this course/double degree.

If your an undergraduate student - it would still be really cool to hear your feedback as well!

Reply 1

Szara_SOAS

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

Hey y'all,
I'm considering doing this for my master's after graduating BSc Business Management (Including Year Abroad) with a 2:1. After studying abroad, I became more aware of research from the first nations (Indigenous Groups in Canada) and this has sparked my interest to study other cultures and become more aware of research and issues with other cultures and why western literature appears to be dominant in subject areas like Business, Psychology, and Sociology. So I am considering going to SOAS and I'm looking at doing this course since the University offers a double degree with Sophia university (上智大学) which I would study MA Global Studies.
I'm wondering if I could gather feedback from people who are doing masters at this university or, potentially people who have done this course/double degree.
If your an undergraduate student - it would still be really cool to hear your feedback as well!

Hi there,

While I can't speak from a Master's perspective, I currently study BA International Relations and Arabic at SOAS, and love how multicultural the university is and how it actively works to centre marginalised voices, often challenging conventional Western discourse. I recently took a module called Decolonising World Politics, which covered topics like "Settler Colonialism and Indigenous Futures." We studied work from Indigenous writers, who critiqued how decolonisation is often framed as a metaphor in Western education and social sciences, rather than focusing on tangible solutions like land restitution and promoting Indigenous sovereignty.

SOAS also has an incredibly diverse student body, with students from 135+ countries. This really enriches the learning experience, especially in tutorials, where you get to hear different, global perspectives and authentic insights. For example, hearing firsthand accounts and views of American students on the future of decolonisation was very eye-opening for me as someone who isn't fully aware of the nuances of American politics.

There's also an opportunity to learn about different cultures outside of classes. SOAS currently has over 30 cultural societies that host a range of events, from galas for the Lunar New Year to potlucks and traditional music events. There's even a society dedicated to Indigenous studies (the Maki Munda Society), which hosts screenings and discussions.

If you can, I highly recommend attending one of SOAS's Open Days. It's a great opportunity to chat with staff and students, attend taster sessions, and get a real feel for the university. If this is something you'd be interested in, you can book a place here: https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/postgraduate-open-day

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions!
-Szara