The MA African Studies and Intensive Language from SOAS provides students with competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, history, cinema, politics, economics or law. Students on this postgraduate degree programme will develop their ability to engage with and explore relationships between indigenous African aesthetics and contemporary literary theories. You can view all the intensive language options available in the combined courses tool below. SOAS is ranked 7th in the UK for African and Middle Eastern Studies (Complete University Guide 2026) We are ranked 12th in the UK and top 70 in the world for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2026) We are ranked 2nd in the UK for 'graduate prospects' (Complete University Guide 2026) Modern Languages and Linguistics at SOAS has been ranked 10th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 Modern Languages and Linguistics at SOAS has been ranked 10th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 4th for research environment – with 100% of our research ranked as 'internationally excellent' and 85% as 'world-leading' – and 8th for research outputs in the REF 2021 All postgraduate students can take part in our Study Tours and explore the world. Destinations include New Delhi, Lahore, Seoul, Luang Prabang, Almaty, Bishkek, Kigali, Johannesburg, and Doha. For more information, see our Study Tours page.