PhD in Development Studies

SOAS University of London

SOAS is a place where people are truly passionate about making a difference, and this has inspired me every day. Whether it's through joining debates or attending student-led events focused on social justice, the atmosphere here aligns with my own commitment to equitable development. Being part of a community that challenges norms and pushes for change makes my experience here feel impactful on a personal level.SOAS’s emphasis on equitable development attracts students from diverse backgrounds, and many have unique ideas that cross traditional academic boundaries. Establishing a fund or support system specifically for interdisciplinary student-led projects would encourage more collaboration. For example, initiatives that mix economics, politics, and cultural studies could benefit from university-backed resources, mentorship, and even project showcase opportunities. One of the most challenging, I've faced at SOAS—and something I didn’t anticipate—has been the occasional disconnect between the ideals of social justice that SOAS champions and the actual support systems in place for students. For example, SOAS fosters a culture of activism and encourages students to challenge the status quo, but when it comes to supporting student-led initiatives or even simply navigating the administrative process for events, the bureaucratic hurdles can feel restrictive. There’s often a lot of red tape around organizing events or securing university support for new initiatives. This can feel contradictory to the university’s ethos of empowering students to make change, as it sometimes discourages students from taking action simply because the process is too complicated or time-consuming. It’s a bit of an irony, really. While the academic environment is very forward-thinking, the structures behind the scenes are sometimes rigid and slow-moving. In my own experience, I’ve seen passionate ideas from fellow students stall simply because of an administrative bottleneck, which feels out of place in an environment as progressive as SOAS. This disconnect isn’t something you’d necessarily see on the surface, but it’s a frustration many students who try to push for change internally eventually encounter. This experience has taught me that aligning values with practice is complex, even in institutions committed to social justice. It's an eye-opener on how systemic challenges can exist even within progressive spaces, and it’s made me more aware of the importance of efficient support systems when trying to effect real change.

Response to emergency situations (Having paramedics available at any time and arrive immediately in case of medical emergencies)

My experience at SOAS has been interesting, studying at a highly politicised uni can be disruptive, but the Chinese courses have been fantastic