Shaping transcultural understanding

Discover the strengths of multidisciplinary research-led teaching and unlock a transcendent world culture through its art, language, history, politics and more with inspiring lecturers and world class collections at St Andrews.

Welcome to the Institute of Iranian Studies

The Institute of Iranian Studies is at the heart of all things Persianate at St Andrews. From its languages and arts to its culture and history, students and scholars seek out the Institute for the rich intellectual stimulus, wealth of resources, and warm collegiality that greets them here, nurtures their talents, and supports their research and development.

At a glance

Leading the field with Britain’s first postgraduate degrees in Iranian studies, housing a documentation centre, a major collection of Persian language materials (6000 books), including specialist collections, and home to the most significant biennial gathering of early career scholars in Iranian studies internationally, the Institute plays an prominent role in the research, teaching and expansion of Iranian studies in Britain and worldwide.

Featured news

The Institute of Iranian Studies will be awarding one Begum Nahid Iskander Mirza Scholarship in 2024.

21 June 2023

The first Sarikhani Prize was awarded jointly to two undergraduate students taking the A Survey of Islamic Art module.

1 January 2021