SOAS University of London
Coat of arms of the university | ||||||
Other name | SOAS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Former name | School of Oriental Studies (1916–1938) School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London (1938–2016; remains legal name) | |||||
| Motto | Knowledge is Power | |||||
| Type | Public | |||||
| Established | 1916 | |||||
| Endowment | £60.1 million (2025) | |||||
| Budget | £116.1 million (2024/25) | |||||
| Chair | Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick | |||||
| Chancellor | The Princess Royal (as Chancellor of the University of London) | |||||
| President | Zeinab Badawi | |||||
| Vice-Chancellor | Adam Habib | |||||
Academic staff | 635 (2024/25) | |||||
Administrative staff | 635 (2024/25) | |||||
| Students | 6,400 (2024/25) 5,990 FTE (2024/25) | |||||
| Undergraduates | 4,315 (2024/25) | |||||
| Postgraduates | 2,085 (2024/25) | |||||
| Location | , United Kingdom | |||||
| Campus | Urban | |||||
| Colors | Yellow and Grey | |||||
| Affiliations | ||||||
| Mascot | Arabian camel and Asian elephant | |||||
| Website | soas | |||||
The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Established in 1916, the school specialises in the study of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
SOAS is one of the world's leading institutions for the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Its library is one of the five national research libraries in England. SOAS also houses the SOAS Gallery, which hosts a programme of changing contemporary and historical exhibitions from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East with the aim of presenting and promoting cultures from these regions. The annual income of the institution for 2024–25 was £116.1 million of which £10.7 million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £111.5 million.
SOAS is divided into three colleges: the College of Humanities; the College of Social Sciences; and the College of Law. The university offers around 350 bachelor's degree combinations, more than 100 one-year master's degrees, and PhD programmes in nearly every department. The university has educated several heads of state, government ministers, diplomats, central bankers, Supreme Court judges, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and many other notable leaders around the world. SOAS is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.