Burmese is the national language and the language of the largest ethnic group (the ‘Burmans’) in Burma/Myanmar, Burmese is related to Tibetan and is an important language in the study of Theravada Buddhism as well as many other fields of cultural and social-scientific work. Students find that the study of Burmese, as well as guaranteeing a warm welcome in a society that captivates most visitors to the country, enables them to view the culture in a more informed perspective. The range of expertise in SOAS, not only in Burmese and South East Asian studies, but also with regard to languages and literatures of other regions is unique in UK institutions. Along with proven excellence in other disciplines, such as religious studies, anthropology, art and archaeology, and history, this offers students an unparalleled range of options in choosing their second subject of study. The course may be studied as a 3- or 4-year degree programme, with the option of a year abroad in Burma. One of the most exciting aspects of the combined degree in Burmese at SOAS is the very rare opportunity to spend a year in Burma/Myanmar. The numbers of students taking up the Year Abroad option have been few in recent years, but those that have undertaken it have had wonderful experiences and the benefits for their proficiency in Burmese are obviously considerable. Students should expect to go to Burma alone or with one or two others at the most. The exact nature of the Year Abroad is tailor-made to suit the student and situation in the country at the time. Study is either with private tutors in Yangon, or may include tuition at the Yangon University of Foreign Languages, or a combination of both. The programme is flexible, though, and students with an interest or connections in another part of the country should get in touch to discuss their preferences. The School’s teaching is backed up by the South East Asia collection within the SOAS library, one of the world’s major collections of information in the field of South East Asian studies. The South East Asia collection now contains over 6500 books and pamphlets and 550 periodical titles as well as substantial collections of microfilms and manuscripts.

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