Working at SOAS
At SOAS we value our staff wellbeing and support our people.
We offer a variety of generous benefits to everyone who joins.
Why work with us?
Annual leave
Working for SOAS you'll receive a generous annual leave entitlement of 30 days, in addition to up to eight bank holidays and up to six additional school closure days.
Pension
At SOAS we offer two pensions (depending on the grade of your job) offering employer contributions of either 16% or 21.1%.
We are a Living Wage Employer
A real living wage based on the cost of living.
Health and wellbeing
Your wellbeing is important to us, so at SOAS we offer all employees a variety of health and well-being benefits including: discounted gym membership at DW Fitness First, employee assistance programme, free eye tests and cycle to work scheme.
Financial benefits
We also offer staff the option for: season ticket loan, an interest free loan to purchase a computer and teaching fellow funds to help support you in developing your academic career
Family friendly benefits
At SOAS we know that family life is important to you. To support all of our staff we offer: flexible working options, enhanced maternity leave, enhanced paternity and partner leave, shared parental leave, adoption and surrogacy leave, a childcare allowance.
Our staff's perspective
Develop and enhance
"Whilst working at SOAS I've managed to develop/enhance my skills in negotiation and communication. I was also lucky to be accepted on the Aurora women leadership programme which helped build my leadership knowledge.
"One of the best things my job is supporting and working with academic Heads of Department; There are many challenges that the Head faces and it’s just nice to know that I am able to help and provide support through the budget/forecast and 3-year projection. This also allows me to gain a better understanding of the department."
–Natasha Marshall
Around the world
"For me, SOAS encapsulates the internationality of London in a microcosm. Working with colleagues and students from around the world is certainly one of the best points of my job at SOAS. Whether it is teaching or researching, or indeed doing administrative work, the diversity of SOAS as a workplace always shines through, and any collective effort very often resembles a miniature UN, with different cultures and their sensibilities taken into account on a daily basis. It is a job that will never be boring!"
–Griseldis Kirsch
Community
"SOAS is the sort of institution I wish I had studied at when I was at university. As someone of non-British descent, I have grown up trying to strike a balance between my cultural identities; but at SOAS, I’ve been surrounded by students and staff who aren’t just comfortable with their identities but celebrate them passionately. It’s a real honour to work among a community such as this, and that motivates me to work to the best of my ability
"I’ve always enjoyed the team spirit at SOAS. I’ve been fortunate to be part of some great teams here, whether I’ve been the junior member or one of the senior ones; and it’s always been nice to be part of a real collaborative effort. I’ve never felt more at home at any other workplace."
–Aman Pathiara
Support and encouragement
"I moved to SOAS from a major international auction house in June 2020, taking up a post as a senior lecturer in arts education. The support and encouragement of my new colleagues has been the most uplifting and motivating element of my role. My skills and industry experience are clearly valued by colleagues across SOAS, who have been hugely supportive and encouraging in helping me to apply these skills to support our work as educators.
"It is a pleasure and a privilege to work with such talented, considerate and capable people to develop educational programmes that meet our students' needs in an ever more competitive professional environment, while also challenging and expanding our students' perspectives on the wider issues that we all face in the 21st century."
–Malcolm McNeill
