Soas, University of London

SOAS, University of London – The School of Oriental and African Studies – is a research university based in London, and a member college of the University of London.

With roots dating back to 1916, the university is located in the heart of central London – in Bloomsbury – and is known for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. 

The University of London is divided into three faculties, which are: Arts and Humanities, Languages and Cultures, Linguistics and Law and Social Sciences.

Within these faculties, SOAS offers around 350 undergraduate bachelor's degree combinations, as well as over 100 one-year master's degrees and PhD programmes in almost all departments.

It is home to the SOAS School of Law, and is the sole law school in the world dedicated to the study of legal systems in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The school houses the Brunei Gallery which includes exhibition space on three floors, a bookshop, a lecture theatre, and conference and teaching facilities. It also hosts a programme contemporary and historical exhibitions from Asia, Africa and the Middle East throughout the year.

The SOAS library is a library for Asian, African and Middle Eastern studies, and houses more than 1.2 million volumes and electronic resource and is one of the UK's five National Research Libraries.

SOAS has produced many notable people including heads of states, government ministers, Supreme Court judges, as well as a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. In British politics, several alumni are Members of Parliament, which include: David Lammy, Catherine West, Tim Yeo, and Ivor Stanbrook. 

Prominent journalists and broadcasters include: Abdel Bari Atwan, the editor-in-chief of Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper in London, Zeinab Badawi, journalist and presenter for BBC World News Today and James Harding, journalist, former editor of The Times.