School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS)

Development studies is a rapidly growing area of study concerned with social and economic changes in the developing world. Development studies at SOAS offers unrivalled regional specialisation and language combinations not found anywhere else in Europe.

All Staff who contribute to the degree programmes have extensive first-hand development experience in the field, working in many different countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Additionally, many members of staff remain actively engaged in development consultancy and the practical nature of much of the resulting research is reflected in the applied nature of many of the course units.  Interests in development issues in the School are broad but include globalisation, gender and development, environmental change and the politics of development.

There are two distinctive features of SOAS which give development studies here characteristics not available elsewhere and both are particularly relevant for the changing, less Eurocentric approaches to development in today’s world.  Firstly, the School’s reputation for the study of non-western systems of thought in areas such as science, technology, health, education, food systems and law. Secondly, the unparalleled regional specialisation in the School gives historical and cultural depth, based on knowledge of Asian and African languages and the full range of social sciences.