SOAS, University of London, MA, Near and Middle Eastern Studies

The Department of the Languages and Cultures of Near and Middle East at School of Oriental and African Studies is a unique concentration of teaching and research on 5000 years of culture, from cuneiform and ziggurats to Arabic and Islamic revolution. It is Britain's largest university department specialising in the languages and cultures of the Middle East, with a long and distinguished track record in teaching and research in the region's modern and ancient languages.

Who is this course for?

The MA in Near and Middles Eastern Studies provides exceptional opportunities for studying this diverse and fascinating area at the postgraduate level through a variety of disciplinary approaches. The main emphasis of the programme is on the modern period through the courses in history, geography, politics, economics and anthropology. Some exposure is provided, however, to the pre-modern culture and society of the area through courses in religious studies, Islamic art and archaeology, and history. Courses based on Arabic are offered for those with an adequate knowledge of the language, while courses in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish are available for those who wish to acquire or develop skills in these languages.