I've got an offer from SOAS univeristy for their MSc in development studies and am wondering if I should go for it. Since I want to do a PhD afterwards and find that most of the PhD entry requirement is 'a good quality master degree', is a MSc from SOAS good enough for me to move on to a GOOD PhD? How to define 'a good quality master'? For PhD admission, is the ranking of the univeristy that I read for my masters important?

Development Studies is not the best department in SOAS, but it is a highly respected institute. You really need to ask around your current tutors for you undergraduate course and see what they think - they'll probably say it will be good enough. Only very exceptional students receive funded PhD positions outside of the sciences and engineering. You should try getting some work experience with one of the development agencies or charities.

Go to http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,716,00.html and find out everything about every university

I got an offer to from SOAS to do my MA in international studies and diplomacy and I really want to go for it, but I am a bit worried that going to SOAS will be all work and no play. I have also gotten an offer from Leeds to do an MA in international studies, and I would like to accept the offer, but am afraid that there wont be a hint of diplomacy in it, which will decrease my chances at working in foreign affairs. Please, i would like to know what the difference is btween the courses.