Middle East Studies
The Middle East Studies degree covers the language, literature, history and politics of the mainly Arabic-speaking Middle East. It teaches a wide range of disciplinary skills that will be of great use in studying and understanding this culturally diverse and strategically important region of the world. The subject includes the mediaeval and modern history of the region, mediaeval and modern Arabic language and literature, and the present-day politics of the Middle East. At Honours level you can choose from a wide range of topics dealing with the history or international relations of the Middle East.
St Andrews has a wide range of expertise in Middle East Studies in several different disciplines, including Arabic language and literature, Economics, Mediaeval History, Modern History and International Relations. Our undergraduate degree programmes allow you to combine modules from several disciplines, or to specialise in one area. There is no need to have prior knowledge of Middle Eastern History to commence and enjoy the subject. As well as gaining a broad knowledge of the Middle East, students will also get to specialise in one or more of the disciplines represented (e.g. history, Arabic literature, Middle East politics) at Honours level.
In their first two years students intending to graduate with a degree including Middle East Studies will take specific modules in Mediaeval History and Modern History which address the Middle East, and a combination of other first and second level classes in Mediaeval History or Modern History or International Relations. They will also take modules offered by other subjects.
Please note that Middle East Studies can only be studied as part of a joint degree. Possible combinations are listed here.
Students meet an academic adviser regularly to discuss and plan their course selection.
Please note:
Applicants to St Andrews are required to specify on their UCAS application the honours degree which they intend to take. Students may find, however, that in the course of their first two years of study, their interests develop and change and it is not unusual for students to change their degree intention as they enter their final (honours) two years. The breadth of the Scottish first two years, where students usually take at least two other subjects, in addition to their ‘honours’ intention makes this switch possible.
