THE Awards 2026 | SOAS University of London shortlisted for University of the Year

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In 2019, SOAS University of London faced significant uncertainty regarding its future, yet the institution successfully reaffirmed its unique identity and enduring value. Rather than attempting to conform to the standards of other universities or simply focusing on financial recovery as an end goal, SOAS chose to protect what it stands for: a distinct approach that interprets global transnational challenges through the perspectives of people in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This commitment has led to a resurgence in academic performance, proving that staying true to its core mission is more effective than trying to be everything to everyone. The university's journey is not merely about recovering from a difficult period but about laying the foundations for a future where it can once again fully support its diverse community and scholars. The heart of SOAS lies in its people and its radically decentered approach to education, which encourages students to express themselves and study the world from often overlooked viewpoints. Students from all over the world find a sense of belonging here, transforming from feeling like outsiders to finding home within an environment that fosters curiosity and self-discovery. The academic experience is characterized by interdisciplinary collaboration where economists converse with anthropologists and historians challenge political scientists, allowing scholars to reshape how global questions are understood. This unique ecosystem enables students to engage with real-world issues ranging from capitalism and neoliberalism to climate change, creating classroom experiences that are both exciting and deeply relevant to the challenges facing humanity today. Research at SOAS is intrinsically linked to sustainability and real-world impact, ensuring that expertise is applied directly to critical global problems rather than remaining confined to academic books. A prime example of this commitment is the application of anthropological knowledge to support the National Health Service in the UK, specifically addressing the vital issue of mental health. The university operates on the principle that talent is not defined by one's background but by the opportunity to thrive once they are part of the community, making the familiar strange and the strange familiar for everyone involved. This dedication to inclusivity and practical research has positioned SOAS as a leader in providing global solutions to international challenges, ensuring its disciplines remain incredibly relevant for years to come. Ultimately, SOAS has evolved into a stronger version of itself without losing its fundamental character or becoming something different. The university remains open to the world, curious about it, and determined to understand it better, staying true to its original purpose despite external pressures. By investing in what makes it distinctive and fostering an environment where diverse voices can reshape global understanding, SOAS has secured its place as a vital institution for interpreting the world's complexities. This unwavering commitment to its unique identity and values has not only restored its financial stability but also revitalized its spirit, confirming that the university is more relevant and impactful than ever before.

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[music] >> Back in 2019, there were real questions about SOAS's future. Could this institution [music] endure? SOAS has always mattered. We interpret the world's transnational challenges from the perspectives of the people of Africa, Asia, and the Middle [music] East. Losing that would have been a loss far beyond this [music] very campus. >> SOAS has never tried to be like other universities. It has always known what it stands [music] for. That's what we have always wanted to protect. Getting our finances back on track has never been the destination. It means we could start backing our people again. >> One of the things I love most about SOAS is the people you meet [music] here. They come from all over the world, and that is what gives this place its character. >> I came to SOAS [music] feeling like the odd one out, and then just found home in SOAS. It's a different me. >> SOAS is one of the places that actually encourage you to express [music] yourself. >> I did a case study on Turkey. I've done ones in Pakistan, in Asia, in the Middle East, in Africa. I think that's what makes SOAS so special and different. >> I now believe my world has been [music] opened up more than I can even imagine. >> The future that I've imagined is one that is filled with a responsibility to give back. >> Students don't come to SOAS because it is the largest university. They come because they want to study the world from perspectives that are too often overlooked. >> Here, economists [music] talk to anthropologists, historians challenge political scientists, scholars of Africa, Asia, [music] and the Middle East, reshape how global questions are understood. >> We really do take kind of radically decentered perspective on capitalism, on neoliberalism, [music] on climate change. I think it's really one of the most exciting classroom experiences that you will have. >> In a single one of my classrooms, we might have students studying 20 different [music] subjects. As an archaeologist, literally every moment spent in [music] the field looking back through the material culture that we've recovered or examined is an opportunity [music] to see a small new perspective on humanity. >> Look at most of the [music] challenges we face today. All of them will require global solutions. Looking at international relations from that point of view makes the discipline incredibly [music] relevant for the years to come. >> The research what we do, the teaching what we do is really grounded in real-world issues. >> We make the [music] familiar strange and the strange familiar. That has been really an enriching [music] and a liberating experience. >> SOAS has become my second home. It's my home away from home. >> We have never tried to be everything to everyone. [music] Instead, we have invested in the things that make SOAS distinctive. And we're now seeing some of the strongest academic performances [music] we've had in years. >> Universities should never be places where ideas simply stay in books. That's why research was such a priority. >> Research at SOAS has sustainability baked into it. It's not something that [music] we think about separately. Our expertise in anthropology is now used for work being done [music] for an institution that's so precious to all of us in the UK and that is the NHS and on a subject that is extremely critical and that is mental health. Camera is to my mind an extremely important milestone in terms of where [music] we have come with SOAS research. >> At SOAS, we never believe talent is defined by where someone comes from. >> Our responsibility [music] is to give everyone the opportunity to thrive once they're here. >> We've come a long way, but this story has never been about recovering >> [music] >> from a difficult period. >> It's about creating the foundations for everything that comes next. >> SOAS remains what it has always been. >> Open to the world. >> Curious about [music] it. >> And determined to understand it better. This university has stayed true to itself. We haven't become something different. >> We have become more SOAS.