Entry requirements

Students will need to meet all the following entry requirements:

We will consider a 2:2 (or international equivalent) or higher in a relevant Social Science or humanities subjects. References are not required but can help build a stronger application.

For applicants from India:

- a four-year UG degree from a recognised institution;
or
- a completed Master's degree in any relevant discipline.

Months of entry

August

Course content

This jointly-taught MA between SOAS and Shiv Nadar University (SNU) in Delhi is one of the only programmes to focus on global sociology and specifically on the global sociology of cities and urban life-worlds.

All modules will utilise a combination of academic, policy and popular literature. There will be significant emphasis on case studies from around the world to illuminate theoretical and analytical frameworks. Students will receive excellent sociological training as well as cultural immersion in the UK and India, in a partnership programme that combines an exciting level of student mobility with cutting edge research-led teaching.

The course incorporates a core taught course component and a dissertation.

Why study the Joint MA in Global Urban Sociology?

Urbanisation is of extraordinary significance for the regions in which SOAS academics focus and globally it is a topic that brings together many of the most pressing concerns of our times; from climate, sustainability and extinctions, through to mental health, pollution and illness, via issues of governance, policy, and populism.

The programme provides a unique opportunity for students to grasp the broad global historical/political/cultural canvas against which sociology is studied and how sociology may be useful for thinking about urban global futures. It offers students an option to study current global issues around urbanism with reference to specific case studies drawn from different cities around the world.

It also provides an opportunity for students to develop their ability to construct critical evaluations of the applicability of sociological frameworks to ‘real-world’ problems, including in their own research project on the ‘Dissertation’ module.

SOAS University of London

We are ranked 6th in the UK and 18th in the world for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings 2026)
3rd in the UK for Employer Reputation (QS World University Rankings 2025)
5th in the UK for Academic Reputation (QS World University Rankings 2025)
12th in the UK (Times/Sunday Times League Table 2025)
We draw on the exceptional regional expertise of our academics in languages, cultures and politics, many of whom have joined us with a practical working knowledge of their disciplines.
Our focus on the culture, politics and cultural communication are areas of growing global concern and significance among private, public and international institutions; our emphasis on skills, communication and methodology gives graduates a clear advantage with employers in the job market.

Shiv Nadar University

SNU, established in 2011, is a multidisciplinary, research-focused, and student-centric university based in Delhi. It is the youngest university in India to have been awarded the status of Eminence.
SNU’s goal is to become internationally recognised for the quality of its research and improving quality of life, generating new insights and expanding the boundaries of human knowledge creativity.
The faculty of humanities and social sciences is designed to create innovators, leaders, and frontrunners in all fields of technology and intends to serve as an institutional model of excellence in scientific and technical education.

Living in Delhi

In Delhi NCR, students will stay in SNU-maintained, on-campus accommodation. Students will pay accommodation costs directly to SNU, as per university deadlines.

Living in London

Owing to the short-term stay in London for the course, you will not be able to stay in the main SOAS Halls of Residence. This means that your accommodation will not be booked via the SOAS Accommodation Office, but directly with our partner agencies.