Application deadline
Thursday 7 August 2025
Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships.
Entry requirements
- A 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in a subject-related area. Students do not need knowledge of the Persian language for admission. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Application requirements
- CV or résumé. This should include your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date.
- a personal statement
- a sample of your own, single-authored academic written work (2,000 words)
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you may need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. See approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Course details
The MLitt in Iranian Studies is a one-year taught programme run by the School of History.
The course introduces you to major themes, concepts and approaches including aspects of methodology and historiography. You will explore questions of nationalism, religion and society, as well as an Iran’s place in the region and the broader international community.
Highlights
- Gain access to a unique range of expertise on Iran from Late Antiquity to the modern era.
- Study in a rich research environment provided by the Institute for Iranian Studies and with staff located in other Schools including Art History, Classics and Modern Languages.
- Benefit from the resources of the University Library which has a distinctive collection of over 6,000 Persian books.
Modules
The modules published below are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the module catalogue.
- Themes in Iranian History: looks at methodological problems, questions of historiography, including source ananlysis, the construction of narratives and contemporary debates.
Students take three of the following modules:
- Iran and the World since 1921: looks at the development of the modern Iranian state from its inception under Reza Khan in the 1920s to the present day.
- Medieval Iran from the Sasanians to the Safavids: looks at the changing nature of Iran from the perspective of its politics, religion and culture in the period circa 200-1600.
- Two modules in the Persian language at the appropriate level.
Students may also choose a Directed Reading topic which and is designed to encourage the development of skills of historical analysis through concentrated study. Depending upon other module choices this may be taken across one or both semesters. The Directed Reading topics offered will vary slightly each year depending on staff.
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University’s position on curriculum development).
Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation of not more than 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.
Teaching
The taught programme includes a compulsory module introducing students to the study of Iran, with further module options in Iranian history, politics and language.
The modules are taught through seminars, lectures and fortnightly tutorials, with class sizes ranging from individual supervision up to 12 students.
Students will spend the final three months of the course focusing on researching and writing the final assessment piece for the MLitt, a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words.
The modules are assessed through coursework or a combination of coursework and examination.
Events
The School of History hosts the Middle East History and Iranian seminar programme.
The Institute of Iranian Studies supports conferences, workshops, lectures and other events at the University of St Andrews.
Fees
Home
£12,030
Overseas
£25,900
Application fee
Before we can begin processing your application, a payment of an application fee of £50 is required. In some instances, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver. Details of this, along with information on our tuition fees, can be found on the postgraduate fees and funding page.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews is committed to attracting the very best students, regardless of financial circumstances.
The School of History is pleased to be able to offer a number of competitive scholarships which contribute to the fees and maintenance for postgraduate study.
The Begum Iskander Mirza Postgraduate Scholarship
Open to students applying for the MLitt in Iranian Studies, worth up to £4,000. Students admitted to the programme by the competition deadline (to be announced) will automatically be eligible.
School of History MLitt Awards
Offer the cash equivalent of one year's home fees and cannot be held in conjunction with other awards offering full fees and maintenance.
15% Recent Graduate Discount
If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.
After your degree
Careers
History postgraduates go on to pursue careers in a range of sectors including:
- journalism
- publishing
- think tanks
- government
- law
- teaching.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Further study
Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere. PhD applications are welcomed in a broad range of research topics relating to the history, politics and international relations of Iran.
Postgraduate researchContact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 2900
- pghist@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- School of History
St Katharine's Lodge
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9BA