MA Persian and Middle Eastern Studies
Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
About this course
MA (Hons) in Persian and Middle Eastern Studies, a Hebrew and Jewish Studies degree focused on the history, culture, religion, and languages of the Middle East and Central Asia. The programme spans four years and is designed for complete beginners to Persian, with options to learn Arabic or Turkish alongside other humanities and social science subjects. The first year covers foundational topics through Islamic History and Modern Middle Eastern History. The second year examines the religion of Islam and Islamic and Middle Eastern Cultures. The final year explores advanced topics including Persian literature, Iran (including pre-Islamic Persia), and Islam and the Middle East.
Modules
- Islamic History - a survey of the formation of the Islamic world, from its pre-Islamic origins to the foundation of the first Muslim world empire
- Modern Middle Eastern History - an introduction to the Middle East's political, economic, social and cultural history from 1950 until the present day
- take further courses in Islamic and Modern Middle Eastern History
- learn Arabic or Turkish
- linguistics and language sciences
- history, classics and archaeology
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- business, economics and informatics
- art and architectural history
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- philosophy, divinity and law
- the religion of Islam - an exploration of the religion's branches, key texts, central beliefs and rituals
- Islamic and Middle Eastern Cultures - an introduction to the literary, aesthetic and intellectual culture of the Middle East, from the eve of Islam to the modern period
- Student Wellbeing Service
- Student Counselling
- Student Disability and Learning Support
- University emergency helpline (available 24 hours a day)
- Persian literature - either classical or modern
- Iran (including pre-Islamic Persia)
- Islam and the Middle East