UK · Master's
SOAS University of London
MA Anthropology of Travel, Tourism and Pilgrimage
SOAS University of London
Course Overview
SOAS University of London is the world's leading specialist institution for Asia, Africa and Middle East studies and is ranked #4 globally for Development Studies and Anthropology in QS World Rankings by Subject. The MA Anthropology of Travel, Tourism and Pilgrimage is a unique programme — one of only two of its kind globally — examining religious pilgrimage (Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Christian), heritage tourism, dark tourism, and post-conflict tourism through anthropological theory and ethnographic methods. SOAS faculty include leading scholars on South Asian and Sri Lankan religious anthropology.
Sri Lankan applicants — particularly those working in heritage / pilgrimage tourism (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kataragama, Sripada / Adam's Peak), at SLTDA's destination marketing arm, or in cultural-heritage NGOs (Central Cultural Fund) — choose SOAS for the unmatched South Asian regional expertise. The MA also feeds PhD pipelines at SOAS, Cambridge South Asian Studies, and the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science. Chevening and Said Foundation both fund this MA in select years.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Bachelor's degree (any discipline) — minimum Second Class Upper (2:1 / GPA 3.3+).
- check_circle Anthropology / Sociology / Religion / Tourism background helpful but not required — SOAS accepts strong personal statements from non-cognate applicants.
- check_circle Personal statement (1,000-1,500 words) outlining proposed research interests and links to anthropology of tourism / pilgrimage.
- check_circle Two references (academic preferred).
- check_circle Writing sample (academic essay, max 3,000 words) — recommended but not always required.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall (min 6.5 in each band).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (min 22 Writing).
- check_circle PTE Academic: 67 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught and assessed entirely in English.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (£) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (full programme) | £24,500 | Rs. 9,800,000 |
| Living Expenses (12 months, London) | £16,000 | Rs. 6,400,000 |
| Student Visa & IHS Fee | £1,250 | Rs. 500,000 |
| Total Programme Investment | £41,750 | Rs. 16,700,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the 2-year UK Graduate Route. SOAS graduates feed strongly into international development (UNDP, UNESCO, World Bank), cultural-heritage NGOs (ICOMOS, ICCROM, World Monuments Fund), tourism boards, plus PhD pipelines. Sri Lankan returnees take posts at the Central Cultural Fund, SLTDA strategy, Department of Archaeology, plus consultancy on UNESCO-listed heritage sites and pilgrimage-tourism management.
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