Arabic and Chinese
Arabic and Chinese is a degree of extraordinary scope, combining two of the world's most significant languages and the immensely rich and historically deep cultures they carry. Arabic is the language of the Quran, the primary language of more than twenty countries across the Middle East and North Africa, and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Chinese, encompassing Mandarin, is spoken by more people as a first language than any other on earth and is the language of one of the world's most consequential economies, cultures and political systems.
Together, these two languages give you access to civilisations that span thousands of years and continue to shape the contemporary world in fundamental ways.
At the University of Leeds, this five-year full-time programme includes a year at a university in mainland China or Taiwan and another year in an Arabic-speaking country, reflecting the central role that immersive language learning abroad plays in reaching genuine proficiency in two languages of this complexity. You will deepen your understanding of the modern world by exploring the histories, cultures and political dynamics of the nations where these languages are spoken, building the cross-cultural competence and linguistic depth that careers in international affairs, trade and cultural exchange demand.
Graduates from Arabic and Chinese programmes are among the rarest and most sought-after linguists in the employment market. Careers in diplomacy, the foreign service, international organisations, intelligence, business, finance, journalism, academia, translation and interpreting, and international development are all natural destinations. The combination of the two most strategically significant non-European languages is particularly valued in government, financial services operating in emerging markets and organisations with significant interests in the Middle East and East Asia.
Postgraduate study in area studies, translation, international relations or linguistics is a natural continuation.