Global South Asia Studies MSc

The next century is set to be defined by the expanding economies that make up South Asia. Our unique, interdisciplinary degree – combining anthropology, history, geography, and development studies – will equip you with the cutting-edge skills to understand the trends and transformations taking place in this important part of the world, and to analyse its global significance. The MSc in Global South Asia Studies challenges you to question the notion of South Asia as a bounded region and to rethink it as a dynamic space connected to a global circulation of people, capital, technologies, and ideas in diverse ways.

Our degree benefits from the university-wide expertise of our active South Asia Studies Research Group (SASRG), which organises a rolling programme of exciting events, film-screenings, visits, and community-engagement activities to which students taking the degree will have full-access.

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

The compulsory modules are interdisciplinary, drawn from anthropology, history, geography, and development students, and are designed to allow you to connect your learning with a range of exciting optional modules in both terms. Across the modules, you are encouraged to pursue particular areas of interest that relate to South Asia studies, while developing an interdisciplinary understanding. The course will also equip you with a range of practical research skills to enable you to complete your research successfully. 

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Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel

Take your knowledge of culture, history, economics and politics of one of the most significant regions in the world to the workplace. Be influential in the world of international relations, development, or politics, with a degree that will give you the critical skills and core knowledges to excel in any workplace.  Graduates will leave with a wide range of valuable skills and can expect to work in areas such as: the civil service, policy-making bodies, non-governmental organisations (development), charities, journalism, research and academia. Or, continue to study, and progress to doctoral research. 

The programme will be structured around a lecture and seminar/workshop format, with additional online pre-recorded lectures for some elements, and the potential for a fieldwork-based dissertation project that will facilitate the development of research skills. As well as critical readings from leading scholarship, the programme will offer a South Asia film screening series, as well ‘required listening’ in the form of a cutting edge, bespoke podcast on South Asia and migration.  

Assessment and Feedback will be continuous, regular, and learner-centred. Portfolio assessments run throughout many modules and offer a learner-centred form of assessment, which, through a flexible ‘little-and-often’ approach, support a diversity of student needs and enhance learning through continuous and regular feedback and feedforward. Modules are also assessed by a full range of other standard assessment types, which help ensure all students are able to reach their full potential.  

Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.