Middle East Studies
The Middle East Studies joint degree covers the history, politics and culture of the Middle East. The degree programme covers both the mediaeval and modern history of the region, extending from pre-Islamic Iran and early Mediaeval Armenia through the Byzantine, Seljuk, Mongol, Ottoman and Safavid Empires to twentieth-century Iran and Algeria. It teaches a wide range of disciplinary skills that are of great use in studying and understanding this culturally diverse and strategically important region of the world, one which is rarely out of the news at the present time.
St Andrews has a long standing tradion of Middle East Studies extending back into the nineteenth century. Presently we have seven fulltime members of staff with Middle Eastern research interests, all of whom offer modules based on their research. There is no need to have prior knowledge of Middle Eastern History to be admitted to the university and we find that many students come to enjoy the subject. We do not expect students to have any linguistic competence other than in English and all primary sources are consulted in English translation.
In their first two years students intending to graduate with a joint degree including Middle East Studies will take specific modules in Mediaeval History and Modern History which address the Middle East as well as a new dedicated Middle Eastern History module. This will be taken in the second semester of the second year of study adn is intended to provide students with an overview of Middle Eastern History extending from late antiquity to the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979.
As noted above, Middle East Studies can only be studied as part of a joint degree. Possible combinations include Arabic, International Relations, Mediaeval and Modern History, for a full list, please check the prospectus.
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.
