SOAS University of London: A Century of Critical Engagement with the World

Nestled in the heart of Bloomsbury, London, SOAS University of London stands as one of the world’s most distinctive and intellectually fearless institutions. Founded in 1916 as the School of Oriental Studies, it received its Royal Charter on 5 June 1916 and was inaugurated the following year by King George V. Originally established with a dual purpose—to train British colonial officials in the languages and cultures of Asia and Africa, and to rival the great “oriental” schools of Berlin, Paris and Saint Petersburg—the institution evolved dramatically over the following century. In 1938, it adopted its present name, the School of Oriental and African Studies, reflecting a broadening commitment to the study of Africa alongside Asia and the Middle East. Today, as a college of the federal University of London, SOAS is a globally renowned public research university focused on the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East—a specialist institution that has transformed its imperial origins into a platform for decolonial critique, global justice, and interdisciplinary scholarship. Buy fake diploma online.

Academic Distinction and Global Rankings

SOAS’s academic reputation is formidable. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, the university boasts five subjects ranked in the global top 40: Development Studies at 2nd worldwide, Politics at 16th, Anthropology at 19th, History of Art at 24th, and History at 36th. A total of 13 subjects are ranked in the global top 100. The university is ranked joint 1st in the UK for International Faculty in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and has been recognised in the top five in the UK for Lecturers and Teaching Quality in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2026. SOAS was ranked 6th in the UK for employment outcomes in the 2023 QS World University rankings, and its teaching quality has been recognised with a Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.

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Research Excellence with Global Impact

Research is the lifeblood of SOAS. In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, an extraordinary 87% of the university’s research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. More than half of SOAS’s disciplines are now ranked in the top ten in the UK. The SOAS School of Law was ranked first in the UK for research outputs, while Theology and Religions ranked third for research outputs and seventh overall. Modern Languages and Linguistics ranked tenth in the UK, with 100% of its research environment rated as ‘internationally excellent’ and 85% as ‘world-leading’. SOAS’s research tackles the world’s most urgent challenges—from migration and climate justice to economic development, conflict, governance, and cultural change—applying deep regional expertise and moving beyond Eurocentric models to reshape economic thinking for a more just and sustainable future.

A Truly Global Community

With a student and academic community representing over 130 nationalities, SOAS is one of the most international universities in the UK. Over 54% of its students come from outside the United Kingdom, creating a vibrant, multicultural environment where global perspectives are not merely studied but lived. The university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion was recognised in 2025 when it received the bronze award from Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter, and its ethical investments were ranked 4th in the UK by People & Planet.

Distinguished Alumni

SOAS alumni occupy positions of influence across the globe. Among its most prominent graduates are Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, British politician David Lammy, international rugby player Maro Itoje, broadcaster and SOAS President Zeinab Badawi, Mercury Prize-nominated musician Nick Mulvey, and writer Fatima Bhutto. Achim Steiner, Chairman of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, is also an SOAS alumnus.

Conclusion

From its origins in 1916 as an imperial training ground to its current status as a global leader in critical, decolonial scholarship, SOAS University of London has never been content to simply observe the world—it has always sought to understand it, challenge it, and change it. For over a century, SOAS has stood at the intersection of knowledge and justice, equipping its students and scholars with the intellectual tools to address the defining challenges of our time. In a world that grows more interconnected by the day, the need for SOAS’s distinctive perspective has never been greater.