SOAS research students are encouraged to attend weekly training sessions to introduce them to a number of practical techniques and vocational skills utilised within the development profession, seminars on topics relevant to Development Studies and, where appropriate, post-experience workshops. Visit the programme website for more information
Please note that fees go up each year. See research fees for further details.
Career opportunities
A degree like Development Studies programme from SOAS University of London will further develop your understanding of the world and how society is organised, with specific focus on violence and conflict, the role of aid, refugees and forced migration. Graduates leave with a range of transferable skills, including critical thinking, analytical skills and cultural awareness.
Recent graduates have been hired by:
- Amnesty International
- BBC World Service
- British Embassy Brussels
- Department for International Development
- Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
- Embassy of Japan
Programme Structure
- During the module of your first year, you are required to attend the Department’s Postgraduate Research Training Seminar. These sessions will provide you with the essential training in research methodology and will assist you in getting started: specifically, they will assist you in writing the constituent components of the ‘upgrade paper’ that you have to submit and defend in a viva in Term 3 of your first year.
- Once students have passed their upgrade, they should immediately proceed with designing the details of the empirical work and organising the drafts written in the module of the first year. As most Development Studies students will embark on fieldwork in their second year, it is important to keep the 3-year time limit in mind, and to not postpone writing chapters until after the completion of fieldwork.
Admission requirements
Academic requirements
GPA: Upper Second Class
English requirements
TOEFL iBT: 100 (or new TOEFL iBT 1-6 score: 5)
PTE Academic: 70
IELTS: 6.5
Other requirements
General requirements
We normally require a 2.1 bachelor's degree plus a Masters degree with a Merit classification in a Social Science plus one reference. In exceptional cases we may accept applicants who do not meet these criteria if they show evidence of a strong Masters degree and/or appropriate level of relevant work experience.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
International
Non-residents: 44,189 AUD / year (≈ 23,390 GBP / year)
Domestic
Citizens or residents: 9,550 AUD / year (≈ 5,055 GBP / year)
Living costs
London, United Kingdom: 2,148-4,075 AUD / month
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Scholarships
Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Development Studies.
You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.
Available Scholarships
- Tibawi Trust Award – SOAS University of London – Grant: 1300 GBP – Deadline: Not specified – Merit-based
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program – U.S. government – Grant: Various benefits – Deadline: 07 Oct 2026
- ServiceScape Scholarship – ServiceScape – Grant: 1000 USD – Deadline: 30 Nov 2026
- ACES Scholarships – ACES Education Fund – Grant: 3500 USD – Deadline: 15 Nov 2026
- Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility – OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation – Grant: Various benefits – Deadline: Not specified – Merit-based
- Scholarships for PhD Students – Junhua Li – Grant: 19000 GBP – Deadline: Not specified – Merit-based
- Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship – Boustany Foundation – Grant: Various benefits – Deadline: 28 Feb 2027 – Merit-based
- $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship – IvyPanda – Grant: 1000 USD – Deadline: 31 Oct 2026 – Merit-based
- Voice Talent Online Scholarship – Voice Talent Online – Grant: 1000 USD – Deadline: 01 Mar 2027
- The PhD Prep Fellowship – Admit Lab – Grant: 10000 USD – Deadline: 01 Sep 2026 – Merit-based
- Dream Chaser Scholarship – Salvado Law – Grant: 1000 USD – Deadline: 13 Jan 2027 – Merit-based
- Scholarship for students with disabilities – Anonymous Hope Fund – Grant: 3000 USD – Deadline: 31 Dec 2026 – Need-based
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids – UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – Grant: 22500 GBP – Deadline: Not specified
- The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship – IELTS from 6 to 9 – Grant: 1500 USD – Deadline: Not specified
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme – The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme – Grant: 12000 USD – Deadline: 11 Jan 2027
