SOAS Reviews

If you are planning to invest your time and finances in studying here, out of experience I would say - reconsider. I was very disappointed at the attitude of professors towards students (Msc in Development Studies), who always acted too busy for the students, did not want to listen to opposing (or even alternate) views to their research (narrow minded, even a bit dogmatic) and did not take students feedback seriously. Also the school treats one-year masters students as cash-cows. The school hugely lacks resources (books) and facilities (toilet and water) are not managed. Students were really left with our own endeavors to struggle to claim what we expected from a masters experience. Would say there are plenty of other highly esteemed schools in London !

- No refund policy what so ever! I paid 300 GBP for one semester language course and after 2 lessons I informed the course office that I couldn't take course because my employer had assigned me to a 2-month project outside London. I didn't even ask refund, only to get maybe a 30% discount on the next semester.
- Very stubborn and inflexible.
@SOAS, you are language school after all - Please show some customer service.

Went to see Sikh history exhibition. Have had great time. Very thorough exhibition with pictures,maps and old weapons on display. Purchased a book about Sikh history as well.

Pretty awesome place which keeps getting better. New societies such as the Banking and Finance society have helped make leading companies value our worth as leading students by bringing in wealth managers from Goldman Sachs and senior lawyers from Clifford Chance. The new senate building is also pretty amazing. Definitely worth a look. Great leadership with a strong strategy. Just wish the school would embrace technology more such as recording lectures.

Very interesting college, the real global university in mind

Completed a masters (LLM) about 6 years ago, loved the inter-collegiate system, sharing of resources and expertise. Could have changed better or worse since.

Great university....friendly educational and social atmosphere...

A terrible institution. Studying here is my biggest mistake. Staff is always rude and not helpful at all. Thankfully, my course is joined with Birkbeck's university which turned out to be amazing in comparison to Soas. Do not recommend Soas to anyone, unless you want to feel disrespected all the time you enter the building.

Small and interesting place. Diversified cultural atmosphere, strong academic atmosphere, hardworking and friendly students and teachers are very suitable for those who do Asian and African studies to experience. But beyond that, the music arts and Chinese studies at the Asian-African Academy are also very good.

Best place to learn Japanese in the whole country, that is not an exaggeration. Their histrory and standing speaks for itself with a lively student scene.

I really enjoyed learning Arabic at SOAS. I really felt I was in a university where the Arabi was a functional and useful language within the university itself.

Great place to learn. Check out their events - open to the public and delivered by experts.

In my experience, SOAS has been a fairly bad when helping foreign students. In fact, I could not enroll Sept 2018 because of the lack of help on their side of my enrollment. I REPEAT. I COULD NOT ENROLL SEPT 2018 BECAUSE SOAS DID NOT HELP ME. They completely stop responding to emails around enrollment period which is especially bad for international students who cannot physically show up to the school. The worst part about SOAS is that when I went through the process to get my 4 tier student visa they did not provide me with adequate help or information. When I finally made it to speak with someone in person, the staff blamed me for not having my visa. The thing is, for a student to receive a visa they must have proof that they paid tuition. I could not receive that because SOAS refused to supply me with any information on funding. First, I was told my major needed to be changed to receive US federal loans. Then when I decided to change my major I was told that I needed to approve of my loans through my student visa. Problem, need student visa to get funding. Need funding to receive my student visa.

Not only that, but US students enrolled into other universities do not have this problem. They use their federal loans to pay for their full visa. Anyway, I have reason to believe that the staff is refusing to help me get funding because they know I made complaints to the director in past. Seriously, SOAS stops answering emails and leaves me and others in the dark so often I get scared.

SOAS made the decision to accept me unconditionally as a student the 1st of September. Then they said that it is my fault I did not apply for loans in June. They did not accept me as a student. Anyway, I knew the process was confusing and seemed impossible, but many other students have similar problems enrolling. I thought that universities cared about their students, but SOAS is not one of them. If you are able to pay for school, things will go smoothly. If you are relying on them to receive approve you of a US federal loan.. That is impossible. I HAVE evidence to back up ALL my claims.
I don t believe it is my fault. I put in 200% effort to attend SOAS and they can t even give me 50% back. They say they were busy, but then say I am to blame when they did not give me proof of tuition funds for the COMPLETION of my VISA.

When I was offered deferred enrollment to SEPTEMBER 2019, they gave my no information on how my tuition could be paid for the completion of my visa YET AGAIN. If possible, please bring attention to this by emailing the director directly because this shouldn t happen to any student. This isn t even my fault. It s like I m going through a series of loops.

PhD programmes are worth to study. You cannot miss the library right in front of it.

it's a madd skate spot with some stairs, rails and banks that are A1 for skaters, bmx, scooter...

I had a magnificent 3 years studying here. If by any chance you read this and are questioning whether to study here, please do it, you won't regret a minute of it.

I will be a SOAS student this year and I can't wait for it, so far I've been soo so anxious and insecure and I've had so many questions. Thanks God they have Live Chat so I can chat online with their operators and there is one of them, her name is Grace, who I've been in contact with and have asked her many questions. She has helped me soo soo much, she has been so kind to me. I really appreciate her help!
Amazing people, amazing customer service!
Keep being amazing!
I'm so lucky SOAS was my choice!

Nice location lovely place to spend academic time at.
Events free to the public are often part of their events so well worth keeping an eye on.

An amazing experience- if you get the opportunity GO THERE!!

They put on great exhibition about the Sikh empire. It was thoroughly researched and there were many rare exhibits on show, really impressed.

I've visited quite a few universities and this is the only one that stood out as a massive disappointment. I am not satisfied to the courses provided, old facilities and unprofessional, rude staff. Always felt unwelcomed and mistreated. Please, save your time and avoid this terrible place.

Best school you can find. Super quirky place, full of nice open-minded people unafraid of getting in touch and telling there story or listening to yours. Excellent library and great atmosphere.

A fantastic college with an excellent library. I did my research for "Amina, Queen of Zaria" there. My daughter also studied for her PhD on Chinese Law there. It is small, friendly and highly academic.

Great place to study. Specialising in Africa, Asia and Middle east.

The highest concentration of international students than any academic institutions in the world, SOAS University of London is a cultural hub, where world culture and traditions meet. World class academics and amazing students.

Fabulous collection of Sikh artefacts display. Not sure if they still have it.

Best Place in the world to study, I have studied at KCL too but nothing compares. Small Community University like no other, friends from every corner of the world, new cultures explored and most of all Wonderful World Class Professors who go out of their own way to help students.

They have a revolving door system here... Try not to get your brolly caught in it. Only visited a/the(?) student union. Walls are decorated with events for motivational liberal causes. Which all sounds exhausting. Toilet had a McDonald's-esque hourly check rota. Which was encouraging.

One of five UK national research libraries, with great collections of books in many languages of Africa, Asia and Middle East.

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A very odd university, indeed. Not a student there myself, but frequent the student union. It seems to be (have become?) a breeding ground for hardened socialists. In addition, the buildings are, to put it mildly, awful. Ugly on the More

Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy within SOAS is an amazing program for those interested in international relations, diplomacy or global energy and climate change. The students who study at the centre consist of some of the brightest and interesting individuals that the world has to offer. The curriculum is very diverse, including a theoretical approach, amazing practical skills trainings and an incredible trip to Geneva to visit the UN. My time at SOAS has been very happy and I highly recommend it.

The real academic place is very different from the ucl in Russell Square.