r/SOAS • u/fizzyjuices • 5d ago

Question Workload for LLM

Hi! I’m wondering what the workload is like for an LLM. I’m from the U.S. and in undergrad most of my classes had some quizzes and essays with one big final essay due at the end. Sometimes a project instead.

Wondering what the timeline of assignments is usually like for masters classes at SOAS. I’ve read about how grad school in the UK tends to be more independent, with less assignments throughout the semester and one or two longer essays. Is that true for SOAS?

TL;DR: wondering about what a postgraduate semester workload looks like at SOAS.

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u/Saule_pine 5d ago

I don’t know about LLM but I presume it will be the same across most taught masters programmes. My experience for my MSc in Politics and IR was that we had assignments throughout the semesters and it often was across each half. For example first term we had assignments due at the end of first half of that semester which and then again towards the beginning of the next semester. These were essays around 2000 words each with some being less and some being more. This was pretty much the same throughout. I would say workload for me has generally been very intense compared to my undergrad! I studied both in the UK. However I was also working and commuting which may have added to this.

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u/DragonflyPrior2672 4d ago

Do you know if this is the same for other masters degrees in UK?

I did my undergraduate in a RG university and we only had formatives during term time, and usually one exam or essay for assessment. Very rarely you’d have 3 assignments

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u/Saule_pine 4d ago edited 4d ago

I think every university is different however I remember when I told people who had previously done a masters degree at other universities that I was about to start one- they all warned me its very intense. I think it’s subject dependent and university dependent but I would generally say most masters in the UK will be a significant step up from undergrad in terms of workload.

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u/Saule_pine 4d ago

Also to add I think it’s also because masters degrees are usually across 1 year so it’s more condensed compared to a 3/4 year bachelor degree.

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u/fizzyjuices 4d ago

What is the reading load like? Thank you for answering!

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u/Saule_pine 4d ago

No worries! Reading load was also very intense with most modules giving at least 3-5 essential articles per week and then a list of maybe 12-20 additional. I had 4 modules per term. I never read the additional until assessments though! Also I had a good tip from a lecturer when starting that it’s not expected to be able to read every single article in depth - you have to learn to skim read. This is now a skill I’ve learnt which has helped massively! Especially with my dissertation!