This jointly-taught MA between SOAS and Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Shiv Nadar IoE) in Delhi is one of the only programmes to focus on global sociology and specifically on the global sociology of cities and urban life-worlds.

All modules will utilise a combination of academic, policy and popular literature. There will be significant emphasis on case studies from around the world to illuminate theoretical and analytical frameworks. Students will receive excellent sociological training as well as cultural immersion in the UK and India, in a partnership programme that combines an exciting level of student mobility with cutting edge research-led teaching.

Why study the Joint MA in Global Urban Sociology?

Urbanisation is of extraordinary significance for the regions in which SOAS academics focus and globally it is a topic that brings together many of the most pressing concerns of our times; from climate, sustainability and extinctions, through to mental health, pollution and illness, via issues of governance, policy, and populism.

The programme provides a unique opportunity for students to grasp the broad global historical/political/cultural canvas against which sociology is studied and how sociology may be useful for thinking about urban global futures. It offers students an option to study current global issues around urbanism with reference to specific case studies drawn from different cities around the world.

It also provides an opportunity for students to develop their ability to construct critical evaluations of the applicability of sociological frameworks to ‘real-world’ problems, including in their own research project on the ‘Dissertation’ module.

SOAS

• SOAS is ranked 5th in the UK and 12th in the world for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings 2023), and 4th in the UK (2023 Times/Sunday Times League Table)
• We are ranked 6th in the UK for employment outcomes (QS World University Rankings 2023).
• We draw on the exceptional regional expertise of our academics in languages, cultures and politics, many of whom have joined us with a practical working knowledge of their disciplines.
• Our focus on the culture, politics and cultural communication are areas of growing global concern and significance among private, public and international institutions; our emphasis on skills, communication and methodology gives graduates a clear advantage with employers in the job market.

Shiv Nadar IoE

• Shiv Nadar IoE, established in 2011, is a multidisciplinary, research-focused, and student-centric university based in Delhi. It is the youngest university in India to have been awarded the status of Eminence.
• Shiv Nadar IoE’s goal is to become internationally recognised for the quality of its research and improving quality of life, generating new insights and expanding the boundaries of human knowledge creativity.
• The faculty of humanities and social sciences is designed to create innovators, leaders, and frontrunners in all fields of technology and intends to serve as an institutional model of excellence in scientific and technical education.

Graduates of this programme will leave with a solid grounding in global urban sociology as civic-minded and critically engaged individuals who can effectively contribute to making their communities and societies more sustainable. They will have a thorough understanding of the key debates and issues in urban sociology and will be valued by employers due to their analytical skills, specialist knowledge, and a global perspective.