England: School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)

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England: School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)

London, United Kingdom

Program Terms:

Academic Year,
Fall,
Spring

Homepage:

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Program Dates &
Deadlines:

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Restrictions:

AU- applicants only

Budget Sheets

Fall,
Spring

Fact Sheet:




Housing:	Dormitory, Shared Apt.	Language Pre-requisite:	none
Language of Instruction:	English	Language Courses Offered:	Yes
Non-AU Students Accepted:	No	Internship:	No
Advisor:	Kelly Jo Bahry	Minimum GPA:	3.3
Class Level Required for Admission:	Second-semester Sophomore standing	Program Type:	Direct Enrollment

Program Description:

Is this Program Right for You?

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is a truly unique study abroad option for AU students. It is the only higher education institution in the UK specializing in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East. It is now one of the world's leading institutions of its kind and has the largest concentration of specialist faculty concerned with the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East at any university in the world.

SOAS is part of the University of London and has expanded rapidly in recent years to over 4,300 students from over 100 countries. It has a well-established study abroad program with more the 350 fully integrated courses open to study abroad students in the Social Sciences, Humanities and Languages with a distinctive regional focus. There are solid Student Support Services to assist students in getting adjusted to studing abroad.

Studying in England is very different than what you might be used to. Students are expected to study outside of class to retain a majority of the subject matter. Unlike universities in the United States, the majority of each student’s grades in England is based on one or two large assignments or solely on the final test – not on class participation or attendance. This study abroad experience will provide you much independence and opportunity to get to know students from Britain and all over the world.

Academic Information

Prerequisites

A minimun GPA of 3.3 is required to apply to SOAS.

Courses

SOAS advising

At SOAS students are able to take a range of courses from 16 departments grouped into three Faculties: the Faculty of Arts and Humanities; the Faculty of Languages and Cultures; and the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences. Study abroad students must take 4 courses while at SOAS--these courses can be taken across all three Faculties and in a combination of departments. The aim of the program is to fully integrate study abroad students into the academic and social life of the university. SOAS courses are typically full-year courses. Study abroad student are encouraged to study for a year at SOAS but can study for just the Fall Term or Spring Term instead (and thereby take the first half or last half of a full-year course).

At SOAS it is possible to study over 40 non-European languages from beginner to advanced. This offers study abroad students the opportunity to continue and improve language study or to learn a language that is not available at AU. Language study at SOAS is rigorous and challenging. Please note, Spring Term-only study abroad students are unable to start an introductory level language course as these are full-year courses. In all cases students will sit a placement test upon arrival and be matched to the appropriate class.

For more information on the course offerings and academics at SOAS, please visit their website.

Student Life

Life in London

London square

SOAS is located in the center of London minutes away from the British Museum. SOAS has an enviable location within short walking distance of most major London attractions. London is truly one of the most dynamic and exciting cities in the world, offering students an unparalleled environment in which to live and study. Whether your interest is art and theater, politics and economics, or film and music, it can all be found in abundance.

Housing and Meals

Partner University program students are responsible for making housing arrangements directly with SOAS and meal arrangements independently. The main student residence at SOAS is Dinwiddy House which provides accommodation for 500 undergraduate students. It offers purpose built, self-catering accommodation which features individual study-bedrooms with en-suite facilities, telephone and internet cabling. Six or seven roosm are clustered around a shared kitchen. Students can cook for themselves, choose to eat on campus or in one of the many cafes or restaurants nearby.

More information on accommodation at SOAS can be found on their website.

Visa Information

All U.S. citizens need to enter England to study with a valid passport and either a Student Visitor Visa or a Tier 4 Visa. It is each student's responsibility to make sure they have the appropriate visa.

Dates / Deadlines:

Term	Year	App Deadline	Decision Date	Start Date	End Date
Spring	2013	10/11/2012 **	Varies by program	01/07/2013	06/07/2013
NOTE: Please note that the Spring semester represent terms 2 and 3 in the United Kingdom. Term 2 runs from January 7, 2013 through March 22, 2013. Term 3 (revisions and exams) runs from April 15 - June 7, 2013.
Academic Year	2013-2014	03/07/2013 **	Varies by program	TBA	TBA
Fall	2013	03/07/2013 **	Varies by program	09/23/2013	12/13/2013
Spring	2014	10/09/2013**	Varies by program	TBA	TBA
** The time it takes to receive an admissions decision varies greatly by program; it can take as little as two weeks or as long as several months. Contact AU Abroad for further details on your program's admissions timeline.
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