Choose from a range of four-year MA honours degrees in Arabic, Persian, Islamic Studies and Middle Eastern Studies. Your learning at a glance You can choose from 15 undergraduate degree programmes, including single honours and joint honours.You’ll complete a four-year MA honours degree, with the opportunity on many of our programmes to specialise in one or more languages and to spend your third year abroad.It is also possible to take a different approach that involves less language learning and more courses on the history, politics, religions and cultures of the Islamic world and the Middle East. There's a combination of courses to suit everyone.On all our programmes, you’ll develop the critical, analytical and comparative skills to interpret and discuss key issues and concepts.You’ll typically be based at the heart of the University of Edinburgh, in the city’s historic centre, close to the Main University Library and the National Library of Scotland. Undergraduate Arabic MA Hons programmes Learn the Arabic language while exploring the history, societies, politics and cultures of the Arab world and the wider Middle East. Choose from nine programmes, including our single honours degree in Arabic with Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. Undergraduate Persian MA Hons programmes Learn the Persian language (Farsi, Dari, Tajik) while exploring the history, societies, politics and cultures of Iran and the wider Middle East. Choose from five programmes, including single and joint honours. Islamic Studies MA Hons Develop your knowledge and understanding of Islam. Explore the history, politics, thought and culture of Muslims worldwide.You will study Arabic in Year 1; language learning in other years is entirely optional.Study abroad is also optional on this programme.UCAS code: V622 Find out more about our Islamic Studies MA Hons on Degree Finder Middle Eastern Studies MA Hons Develop your understanding of the history, politics, societies and cultures of the Middle East. You will study Arabic, Persian or Turkish in Year 1; language learning in other years is entirely optional.Study abroad is also optional on this programme.UCAS code: T600 Find out more about our Middle Eastern Studies MA Hons on Degree Finder Learn Turkish as an undergraduate Spanning the continents of Europe and Asia, Turkey occupies a strategic position on the world stage, both culturally and geographically. Turkish is spoken in eight countries and by over 85 million people as their first language.A knowledge of modern Turkish is an indispensable aid to learning Ottoman Turkish, the official language of the Ottoman Empire and the key to accessing a wealth of literary, historical and religious sources from the pre-modern Islamic world.Turkish can be taken as an option in one or both of Years 1 and 2 of your undergraduate degree. Your main subject(s) don't have to be in LLC for you to take our Turkish courses, and they're suitable for complete beginners. Find out more about our Turkish courses on the University's online course catalogue Get to know us better Thinking of joining us this year or next? Explore what it's like to study and live in Edinburgh.Take a Virtual Visit - Islamic and Middle Eastern StudiesJoin us for an Open Day or Online Information SessionDiscover more about resources and facilities in IMES, on campus and in the city Marwa Mouazen, Lecturer of Arabic, accepting the Ian Campbell Award for Teaching in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Talk to a current student Chat with an undergraduate University of Edinburgh student QS World Rankings by Subject 2025 The University of Edinburgh is ranked 3rd in the UK for:Modern LanguagesArts & HumanitiesGlobally, we’re in the World Top 15: Arts & Humanities (10) and Modern Languages (13).The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings are based on research citations and the results of major global surveys of employers and academics.They are International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) approved. The Complete University Guide 2025The University of Edinburgh is ranked 5th for African & Middle Eastern Studies in The Complete University Guide - Subject League Table 2025.This subject area includes Modern Middle Eastern Languages and Modern Middle Eastern Studies.The Complete University Guide ranks the best 130 universities in the UK on measures such as:student satisfaction on undergraduate programmesresearch qualitygraduate prospects This article was published on 2024-08-13
