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History and Music

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
Awarded by:
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
More about SOAS University of London

Course options

2025-20262026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

History at SOAS offers students an immensely rich and challenging intellectual perspective that critically enhances knowledge of the fascinating histories of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East – from the Crusades to the contemporary Middle East; the Mughal Empire to Gandhi; slavery to Muslim societies in West Africa.

Our innovative BA History combined programme provides highly engaging treatments of not only historical events and historical periods in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, but also of the very practice of history as an academic discipline itself. The programme’s curriculum is embedded in a variety of powerful conceptual frameworks used by our academic experts and our students, such as postcoloniality and decoloniality. BA History combined at SOAS, therefore, fosters a critical, global perspective that expands and deepens the frontiers of historical knowledge.

SOAS Music has an international reputation for providing a platform for musicians, industry specialists, and researchers from around the world. Students study music from a variety of perspectives, including ethnomusicology, anthropology, politics, and history, and survey a broad range of Asian and African musical cultures. In years 2 and 3 they are encouraged to develop their own interests by focusing on specific regions and by considering cross-regional themes, from music and gender to the music business.

Performance is a central component of the degree. You will develop expertise in a great variety of musical performance traditions. The course combines academic and practical skills: students are trained in research methods, critical theories, fieldwork practice, sound recording, podcasting, presentation skills, and musical performance.

This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21 September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
VW13
Institution code:
S09
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

SOAS University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
VW13
Institution code:
S09
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
BBB

A level General Studies is not accepted for entry. Contextual: BBC

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDM

Departments will consider the relevance of the BTEC and its relation to the proposed programme of study.

Access to HE Diploma
D: 24 credits M: 18 credits P: 3 credits

60 Level 3 credits with a minimum of 24 Level 3 credits at Distinction and a minimum of 18 Level 3 credits at Merit and 3 at Pass.

Scottish Higher
BBBBB

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
30 points

30 points with minimum 15 points at HL and no HL lower than 3

A level Music is not required for the combined Music programme, but evidence of both academic ability and active involvement in musical performance or composition is essential.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

SOAS is committed to making higher education more accessible. When considering an application, we will look at a combination of factors that may have impacted progression to university. This is contextual data and is collected from information provided on your UCAS application form.

Learn more on the SOAS University of London website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Home fees are capped by the Government. The Government may raise the cap during the course of students’ studies. If the fee cap rises, SOAS may increase the fee in line with the cap.

Please contact the university for information about fees.

Related courses

At SOAS University of London

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