University of London, School of Advanced Study

The School of Advanced Study, at the University of London, is the UK's national centre for the support and promotion of academic research in the humanities. We are home to specialist institutes and centres that have a rich, interdisciplinary environment for researchers to collaborate on questions of society, culture, economy and the environment. With a range of postgraduate programmes to choose from, students analyse complex problems through the arts and humanities - considering the significance of factors such as history, culture, language and identity - to help us make sense of them.

Why study at the University of London, School of Advanced Study?

Comprised of 8 renowned specialist institutes and 3 centres of excellence for the Humanities, we offers a rich interdisciplinary environment for researchers to collaborate on questions of society, culture, economy and the environment.

We value quality not quantity and our staff are among the best in their field. Our academics are active researchers, and their research informs teaching practice. Our students rating us highly in terms of the quality of our teaching.

We are part of a strong network of industry partners. Our museum and gallery partners include the British Museum, the British Library, the V&A, the National Portrait Gallery and the Courtauld Gallery, plus more.

Our degrees are designed to fit around our life. All our degrees are available with full-time and part-time options. We offer distance learning modes of study for some portions of our taught programmes and have distance learning research degrees.

You'll benefit from the School’s collaborative research environment, specialist libraries, and opportunities to participate in an extensive programme of events.

500

postgraduate students

London United Kingdom

main campus

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About the University of London, School of Advanced Study

The School of Advanced Study is at the forefront of public engagement in the UK. We have a proven track record of pioneering new models of working with the public and wider society to engage them in the latest developments and discoveries.

We have also demonstrated the need for an inclusive approach to research that involves individuals and communities in projects from their inception to help emphasise the value of humanities to public life.

The School unites eight internationally renowned institutes in the humanities:

Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Institute of Classical Studies
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Institute of English Studies
Institute of Historical Research
Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies
Institute of Philosophy
The Warburg Institute

Our mission:

Providing a research base for an international community of scholars
Inspiring, developing, and supporting innovative research initiatives and networks
Enhancing the dissemination of the research of others, and related activities, beyond what they or their institutions could achieve alone
Providing specialist research training at master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral levels - locally, nationally, and internationally
Adding value to the work of researchers in the humanities and social sciences throughout the UK

See our Academic Series playlist, hear directly from the Programme Directors.

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Student life at the University of London, School of Advanced Study

Our student community is close-knit, diverse, and deeply engaged in the academic and cultural life of London. As a postgraduate-only institution in the heart of Bloomsbury, our campus offers an intellectually rich and supportive environment tailored to advanced study and research in the humanities.

Students are welcomed into a collaborative academic culture shaped by the School’s eight specialist institutes. Regular interdisciplinary seminars, reading groups, conferences, and public lectures provide opportunities to exchange ideas and build connections across disciplines. The SASiety - our student-led society - fosters a vibrant social scene, organising film nights, day trips, pub quizzes, and wellbeing activities that bring students together from across the School.

Located within Senate House, SAS places students at the heart of the University of London’s historic central campus. You’ll be steps away from the British Museum, British Library, and cultural hubs like Soho, Fitzrovia and Covent Garden - ideal for both study and leisure.

Beyond campus, the city becomes your extended classroom. Students take advantage of London’s archives, galleries, festivals, and global networks. Whether attending a live theatre performance, visiting a niche exhibition, or researching in a specialist collection, living and studying in London enhances every aspect of the postgraduate experience.

The result is a student experience that is rigorous, welcoming, and uniquely connected to one of the most intellectually stimulating cities in the world.