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UCL vs. SOAS

I'm an American student, majoring in Education and Political Science. I'm going to study abroad for a semester in the UK and trying to decide between UCL and SOAS. At UCL I would be studying education and at SOAS I’d take courses in political science. Would love to hear people's thoughts on both!

Some things I'm considering:
• Academics - How rigorous/challenging are the courses at both schools? How does the level of difficulty compare.
• Social Life - How's the student life, extracurriculars, and general vibe for study abroad?
• Is there anything else I should know about either school that could help make this decision?

Reply 1

cksiu

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Anonymous

I'm an American student, majoring in Education and Political Science. I'm going to study abroad for a semester in the UK and trying to decide between UCL and SOAS. At UCL I would be studying education and at SOAS I’d take courses in political science. Would love to hear people's thoughts on both!
Some things I'm considering:
• Academics - How rigorous/challenging are the courses at both schools? How does the level of difficulty compare.
• Social Life - How's the student life, extracurriculars, and general vibe for study abroad?
• Is there anything else I should know about either school that could help make this decision?

SOAS is next door to UCL so social life etc would likely be similar.

SOAS is so special and unique that tells/teaches students to look things from different perspective, particularly for students grown up in the western developed world. If you want this, SOAS would be the way. Otherwise, academically there won't be much difference at postgraduate level.

Reply 2

Ereza_SOAS

Official Rep

Original post by Anonymous

I'm an American student, majoring in Education and Political Science. I'm going to study abroad for a semester in the UK and trying to decide between UCL and SOAS. At UCL I would be studying education and at SOAS I’d take courses in political science. Would love to hear people's thoughts on both!
Some things I'm considering:
• Academics - How rigorous/challenging are the courses at both schools? How does the level of difficulty compare.
• Social Life - How's the student life, extracurriculars, and general vibe for study abroad?
• Is there anything else I should know about either school that could help make this decision?

Hi,

As a SOAS student, I would definitely recommend considering SOAS if you're passionate about political science with a global perspective.

Academics:

•

SOAS is known for its critical and international approach. SOAS is unparalleled in the field of decolonial studies and teaching things from a non-Western perspective. If you are interested in a unique learning experience, and understanding politics and global affairs in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, then SOAS is the place to be. The courses can be rigorous but the classes are discussion-based which encourages debates and independent thought. This can then influence assignments and essay topics. Whilst UCL follows traditional topics and approaches, SOAS tends to be more niche in its political curriculum.

Social life:

•

SOAS has an incredibly diverse student body - with over 50% international students. This makes forming friendships and class debates super interesting as you are exposed to many different cultures and perspectives. The campus is a lot smaller with a much smaller student body compared to UCL and this makes the university feel very tight-knit and community-focused. SOAS has a very socially and politically engaged student culture and I would say students are a lot more involved with one another compared to UCL. In terms of location, SOAS and UCL are 5 mins away from each other, both located in the heart of London so there is always something to do. There are many societies to get involved in at both universities, with most societies doing inter-university collabs.

Other things to consider:

•

SOAS has smaller class sizes and more seminar-style learning which means there is more engagement with professors

•

If you want to learn more about international perspectives on political theories, then SOAS is a great fit

•

If you are looking for a bigger university experience with broader extracurriculars, then UCL might be better for you

It really depends on what you're looking for out of your semester abroad but both universities will offer rich and diverse perspectives. If possible, I suggest reaching out to students on LinkedIn to hear their insights and personal experiences.

Best of luck!

Reply 3

Charlestheuser

From an unbiased opinion since I don’t go to either UCL is considered to be far more prestigious and has a far better reputation than SOAS. I don’t go to either though so I can’t give you an opinion on what they’re like.