Frequently Asked Questions
We have collated a number of questions that we are often asked by prospective students. Take a look and see if your query has already been answered.
Study methods
How long is a course?
Each of our courses runs over an eight-week session.
How many courses can I take per session?
You may take no more than one course per session.
How long will it take to complete the programme?
Students registered on our programmes are able to study at their own pace. We divide each year into five eight-week study sessions and you can enrol on one course per session. The four-course Postgraduate Diplomas can be completed in a minimum of one year, and the eight-course MSc and six-course MBA degrees take a minimum of two years to complete.
However, you are not required to take a course in every session. Registration on these programmes will last for a maximum of five years. Therefore, if you are unable to commit sufficient time to your studies during any one session, or if you would just like a break, you can choose not to enrol on a course during that session. Registration on the Individual Professional Course programme lasts for two years.
How many hours a week will I need to study?
We estimate that you will need to dedicate at least 15 to 20 hours per week to your studies in order to successfully complete one of our courses.
Where are the classes held? Will I have to come to the University of London to study?
Our courses are taught exclusively through distance learning. When you take a course with us, you will be sent a course text and all of the readings that you will require to study for the course. You will also be given access to our Online Study Centre. Through this, you will be able to enter into discussions with your fellow students as well as ask questions of your academic course tutor. The written assignments for each course are submitted electronically through the OSC, and the examinations can be sat locally at one of the University of London’s exam centres.
Is there any help available with my studies?
For each of your courses you are allocated an academic course tutor. During each study session, you can contact your tutor by posting academic queries via the Online Study Centre. There are also forums on the OSC that allow you to discuss the course with your fellow students. Our dedicated Student Support team are able to advise you on any non-academic issues that you may have with your studies.
Will I need to buy any books, etc? If so, can I have a reading list?
Included within your course fees is the cost of everything that you will require to successfully study for that course. After enrolling on a course, you will be sent a study pack via DHL. Included within this pack is the Study Guide binder. This text is divided into eight units and aims to introduce you to the key concepts and issues covered within the course as well as direct you to wider readings on the subject. All of the textbooks, journal articles, etc. referred to in this text are also provided for you either electronically or within the study pack.
Can I see an example of the course material?
At the foot of each of the programme pages on our website, you will see links to all of the individual courses that make up each programme. These course pages offer detailed descriptions of the course content, aims and objectives and study resources. At the end of each course page you will also find a sample of the course text in PDF form, which can be useful in helping you obtain a fuller idea of what you can expect from each course.
I would like to speak to the Academic Director about the content of the courses. Am I able to do this?
If you have any questions regarding the academic content of the courses, please send these to cefimsadmin@soas.ac.uk. The Student Support team should be able to put you in contact with an appropriate Academic Director or provide you with suitable answers to your questions.
I have an offer for January/June/November entry. Can you tell me exactly what date I will start my studies?
Each year is divided into five eight-week study sessions. It is entirely up to you in which of the sessions you choose to start your study. Each time you submit an enrolment form you will have the opportunity to enrol on courses for any, or all, of the remaining study sessions in that year. Details of the individual session dates and course availability can be found on the Study Calendar.
I have already taken a number of courses in this field. Can I get an exemption?
Only courses taken as part of the programme for which you are registered can be used as credit towards that programme. We do not permit exemptions or accept transfer credits for any of our programmes.
[back]Assessment
How are each of the courses assessed?
For each course (with the exception of the dissertation) you are required to submit two assignments on specified dates and sit a three hour unseen examination held on a specific date during September/October. Each assignment is worth 15% of your course mark and the exam is worth 70%.
When and where are the exams held?
All course examinations take place once a year during the September/October exam period. The University of London maintains an extensive world wide network of local exam centres, so it would usually be possible for you to sit the examinations for your courses at a location that is convenient to you. Further information on exam centres can be found here.
Will I have to write a dissertation?
The option to write a dissertation is not mandatory for our MSc programmes. If you decide that you do wish to take up this option, the dissertation will count as one of your course choices for the programme. Before we can consider your proposal to submit a dissertation, we will need to review your academic performance so far. Completion of the course C353 Research Methods is a prerequisite for writing a dissertation.
[back]Fees and funding
How much does it cost?
A full break down of our fee structure and current fee levels for our programmes can be found here.
Is there any financial aid or scholarships that I could apply for?
Unfortunately, the University does not currently offer any scholarships or financial aid for students on our programmes and the opportunities for funding from third party sources tend to be very limited for distance learning students. However, we are always searching for new sources of funding and, if any do become available, these will be posted on our website. You may also wish to try the British Council to see if they can suggest anything. Alternatively, a large number of our students arrange to have some, or all, of their fees paid by their employer.
Can I have a discount on the course fees?
If you are an ACCA member and are registered for any of our Public Policy and Management programmes you are entitled to a 5% discount on each of the course fees. There are currently no other discounts on offer.
Do I have to pay for the programme up front or can I pay by monthly instalment?
Payment of the full cost of the programme is not required in advance. With our rolling enrolment scheme, you have the option to pay the fees for each successive course as you progress through the programme. Payment for each course must be received, in full, prior to the enrolment deadline for the session in which you wish to study.
[back]Applying
Please send me an application form.
Applications for our programmes can be made by completing and submitting the online application form. If you are offered a place on one of our programmes, you will need to provide us with sufficient supporting documentation to confirm the information that you listed in your application with regard to your identity and academic record.
Where do I send my supporting documentation? Can I fax/email these to you?
Your supporting documentation should be sent by post/courier to the following address:
The Centre for Financial and Management Studies
SOAS | University of London
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square
London, WC1H 0XG
It is necessary for copies of academic documentation to bear the original stamp and signature of a British Council or Embassy official in order to certify that it is a true copy of the original document. Consequently, we cannot accept copies of these sent by fax or email. However, it is acceptable for you to email or fax a copy of your identification document to us.
My transcripts are not in English. Will I need to get them translated?
If your academic transcripts/certificates are written in a language other than English, you will need to send a certified translation of these documents, made by a professional translation agency, together with the original documents issued by the university (or certified copies of the same).
I do not have access to my transcripts where I am currently residing. Can I just send them through to you at a later date?
We are not able to accept any applicant onto one of our programmes until we have received sufficient documentation to confirm the applicant’s academic record, as stated on their application form. If you do not have access to your original transcripts, it is in most instances possible for applicants to request that their former universities send copies of these to us directly.
English is not my first language; do I need an IELTS/TOEFL score?
For all of our courses, you will require a high level of English language ability in reading, writing and study skills. However, it is not always necessary for applicants to provide evidence of formal English language qualifications (such as IELTS or TOEFL). The decision as to whether or not to make a suitable IELTS/TOEFL score a condition of entry to the programme is made at the discretion of the Programme Director, and will depend on his assessment of your English capabilities, based upon your past experiences and the strength of language used in your Personal Statement. Only where the Programme Director has concerns about an applicant’s ability to cope with the language requirements of the programme will they request evidence of a suitable IELTS/TOEFL score as a condition of entry.
What qualifications do I need to get on the programmes?
Each application for one of our programmes will be considered in its entirety and on its own merits by the Programme Director, who will take into account the balance of your academic and professional experience, as well as your personal motivations and commitment to a prolonged course of study through distance learning, before making a decision. Details of typical entry requirements can be found on each programme page. Strong applicants that do not quite meet our entry requirements may be asked to take one or two courses from the programme as Individual Professional Courses before upgrading to the full programme. After upgrading, any grades obtained as an IPC student would be retroactively accredited to the new programme.
I applied for the MSc but have been offered Individual Professional Courses instead. Why is this?
Demand for our programmes is very high and, consequently, our entry requirements are necessarily strict. Strong applicants who do not quite meet these entrance criteria may be invited by the Programme Director to take up to three courses from the MSc programme as stand-alone Individual Professional Courses as an entry route to the full programme.
Once you have successfully completed the three relevant IPCs, you will have the opportunity to upgrade onto the MSc programme. The courses taken as IPCs can be retroactively credited to this programme. To graduate with the MSc qualification you would just need to take the remaining five courses. There is no additional cost in terms of time, effort, or expense in pursuing the IPC path to the MSc.
I see from your website that you have courses starting next week. I have not applied yet but I can pay the course fee straight away. Can I start?
Application deadlines are published on our website. Applications received after this date will be automatically considered for the next available entry point.
I have received an offer for one programme but I now think that another programme you offer is closer to what I’m looking for. Will I need to fill in a new application form?
Your application for this new programme can be considered on the basis of your original application. Please email cefimsadmin@soas.ac.uk specifying your new preference. As your original personal statement would have been geared towards your initial choice of programme, you may also wish to include an updated personal statement in your email explaining why you are interested in the new programme and what you hope to get out of it. Your application will then be reviewed by the Programme Director for the new programme.
I have missed the enrolment deadline. Can I still start?
You must submit the online enrolment form and make payment of the relevant course fees by the published enrolment deadline in order to confirm your registration onto the programme. If you do not meet these deadlines it may be necessary for you to defer your enrolment until the next available entry.
Once I have successfully enrolled on a course, when can I expect to receive my course materials?
Course study packs are sent out via DHL during the month running up to the start of the study session in which the course is running. You will be sent a pre-alert advisory email by DHL to inform you that your materials are on their way. This email will include the Air Waybill number of your package, which you can use to track the shipment. Your Online Study Centre login details will be emailed to you approximately three days before the start of the study session.
[back]Awards and accreditation
What information will appear on my certificate? Will it say that I studied the programme by distance learning?
Following the successful completion of the assessment requirements for one of our programmes, you will be awarded a University of London Master of Science / Postgraduate Diploma; exactly the same as if you had studied on campus. On the degree certificate will be the University of London crest and, below this, it will state "[your name] having registered with the University of London on a programme under the academic direction of SOAS and having passed the approved examinations, has this day been admitted by the University of London to the degree of [your subject]."
Do your programmes have international accreditation?
Each higher education institution in the UK is autonomous and responsible for maintaining its own high standards of education. The University of London and its lead colleges regularly monitor and review their programmes to ensure that standards are being maintained. The University of London was established by Royal Charter in 1836 and was incorporated by Royal Charter granted in 1863, through which it has full degree awarding powers at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Since 1858, the University has made its degrees and other awards available to distance learning students through the External System. The University is governed by the University of London Act 1994 and the Statutes made under it, including Statute 66(2), which states that "Candidates granted degrees and other awards shall have attained the same academic standard irrespective of mode or place of study or examination." Awards of the University of London are recognised throughout the world.
Can I take the Postgraduate Diploma and then continue onto the MSc?
If you successfully complete the assessment requirements for one of our Postgraduate Diplomas you will be invited, at the discretion of the Board of Examiners, to reject the award of the diploma and upgrade your registration to the related MSc programme. Following this upgrade, the courses taken as part of the diploma will be retroactively credited to the new programme. Please note that credit for courses cannot be shared across multiple awards. Therefore, if you were to accept the award of the Postgraduate Diploma, you would not be permitted to register for any further related qualifications at a later date.
I have noticed that some of the courses on the programme I am registered on appear in another programme. After I have completed my programme can I take another two courses and also be awarded a degree in the other programme?
Credit for courses cannot be shared across multiple programmes. Once you have graduated with one of our awards, you cannot use any of the same course credits to be awarded another degree.
If there are specific courses from outside of your programme that you are interested in studying, you do have the option to take up to three additional courses following the completion of your degree. For each additional course that you successfully complete, you will be awarded a certificate.
[back]Other queries
Can you help me get a visa to come and live in the UK?
As our courses are studied through distance learning, there are no requirements for our students to come to the UK. Therefore, we are unable assist in obtaining UK visas for our students.
Can you help me get a job/placement after I graduate?
Once you graduate, you are eligible to join the SOAS alumni networks and make use of the careers facilities at SOAS.
Will I be able to apply for a PhD with the MSc qualification I have gain by distance learning?
The postgraduate degrees that we offer through distance learning require attainment of the same academic standard as those degrees taught through on-campus study, and should be recognised as such when applying for further academic study.
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