Welcome to Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh.

We were established in 1980 by bringing together the departments of Arabic, Turkish and Persian.

Arabic has been taught at our university as far back as the middle of the 18th century, and continuously since 1880.

Our international reputation in the field of Islamic Studies is closely tied to the name of William Montgomery Watt.

The University holds over 23,000 resources in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. These include the Serjeant & Watt Collections and some of the world’s most precious Islamic manuscripts, such as Rashid al-Din’s History of the World and al-Biruni’s Chronology of Ancient Nations.

Browse our staff directory

Choose from a range of MA (Master of Arts) four-year honours degrees in:

• Arabic
• Islamic Studies
• Middle Eastern Studies
• Persian

Single and joint honours combinations are available, with the opportunity to study abroad. 

We also teach Turkish to intermediate level. 

Take a taught or research programme, with degrees ranging from a one-year masters in  the Globalised Muslim World to our PhD in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. 

Open Language courses in Arabic, together with Japanese and a range of European languages, are free to all University of Edinburgh students. You can take one at any stage of your undergraduate or postgraduate programme. Each course lasts one semester and can be taken for 20 credits or for extra credit, depending on your other study commitments. Classes are suitable for complete beginners.

Find out more about Open Language courses

Promoting a better understanding of Islam and Islamic culture through ground-breaking research and innovative outreach projects.

Visit the Alwaleed Centre website

With heavy hearts, we share the sad news of the passing of our esteemed colleague, Professor Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila, on 18 December 2023 in Edinburgh. Jaakko was a cherished member of the Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies community. He leaves an indelible mark as a scholar of Arabic, Persian, and Islamic culture and his absence is deeply felt within our department. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss, expressing profound shock and sorrow, as we remember and honour his contribution and legacy.

Read our reflections on Jaakko's passing