Course Overview

The MA History of Art and/or Archaeology at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London is a specialized postgraduate program focusing on the visual arts, material culture, and archaeological heritage of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. This course offers a unique perspective by emphasizing non-Western traditions and cross-cultural interactions, distinguishing it from typical Western-centric art history programs. Students can tailor their studies by choosing to focus on either History of Art, Archaeology, or a combination of both, with access to an extensive range of modules covering diverse regions and periods.

Career Prospects

Graduates of this program are well-prepared for careers in cultural heritage management, museum curation, academia, and the art market. The course equips students with critical analytical skills, research expertise, and a deep understanding of global art and archaeological contexts, making them competitive in both public and private sectors.

Key Faculty and Staff

The program is delivered by a team of internationally recognized scholars specializing in the art and archaeology of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Faculty expertise spans a wide range of topics, including Islamic art, African material culture, and East Asian visual traditions, though specific names are subject to change and can be verified on the university's official staff directory.

Unique Facilities and Partnerships

SOAS offers access to unparalleled resources, including the Brunei Gallery, which hosts exhibitions related to the regions studied in the program. Students benefit from proximity to major London institutions such as the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, with which SOAS maintains strong collaborative ties. The university's library is one of the world's leading collections for the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, providing specialized materials for research.