London college granted power to award degrees

Updated on: Thursday, August 04, 2011

The London-based School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), which attracts several Indian students, has now been granted the power to award degrees in its own name.

Until now, it awarded degrees on behalf of the University of London.

"It confirms our standing as one of the leading specialist schools for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East," Professor Nirmala Rao, SOAS pro-director (Learning and Teaching), Said.

SOAS has been the base of research on key Indian issues and home to many students from the Indian sub-continent.

Degree awarding powers are granted by the Privy Council on the advice of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, the government body charged with monitoring standards in higher education, a SOAS release said.

The Privy Council announced its decision on 28 July.

The School's new powers take effect from August 1, 2011.

A number of University of London colleges, including the London School of Economics, University College London and King's College London, are now awarding their own degrees.

The decision to grant SOAS degree awarding powers recognises not only the quality of teaching at the School but also its ability to set and maintain academic standards, the release added.

London college granted power to award degrees

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