Help! SOAS or Edinburgh?

•

Unmatched regional expertise: SOAS is genuinely unrivalled when it comes to Middle Eastern studies, Arabic, and related political disciplines. The academic focus is laser-sharp in this area.

•

Strong reputation in diplomacy/international affairs: It's true — SOAS has a long-standing reputation among employers in international development, diplomacy, and security sectors. Many alumni go on to work in the UN, FCDO, NGOs, think tanks, etc.

•

Language learning: Arabic teaching is very intensive and of a high standard. If you’re serious about mastering Arabic, SOAS gives you that rigour.

•

Admin issues: They do exist (as they do in many unis), but the university is actively working on improving these systems. I personally never had issues that affected my academic progression, though some delays or confusion occasionally happen.

•

Social life: It really depends on what you make of it. Because SOAS is a smaller, more niche university, the social scene can feel less traditional — but there’s a vibrant student community with lots of societies, events, and activism. If you put yourself out there, you'll definitely find your people.

•

Edinburgh is a world-class university with a broader institutional reputation across the UK and internationally.

•

It may offer a more “traditional” university experience, and the city itself is beautiful and highly student-friendly.

•

The Arabic and Politics course there is strong, but the regional focus and intensity might not match SOAS in terms of Middle East specialism.