Arabic and Classics

Arabic and classics is a combination that sets two of the world's greatest literary and intellectual traditions in dialogue. Arabic is by far the most widely spoken language of the Middle East, the language of the Quran and of a literary and philosophical tradition stretching back over fourteen centuries, and the lingua franca of more than four hundred million people across the Arab world. Classics brings the ancient Greek and Roman world into the conversation, a tradition whose philosophy, literature, art, and political thought have shaped Western culture in profound ways.

Between them, these two traditions span a vast stretch of human intellectual history and geography, and studying them together develops genuinely rare and valuable expertise.

At the University of St Andrews, you will develop proficiency in Arabic, including both classical and modern forms, alongside a deep engagement with the classical world through literature, history, philosophy, and material culture. The programme runs for four years full time, which allows time to build genuine competence in a language as structurally different from English as Arabic while also engaging seriously with classical studies. It includes a year abroad, which is particularly important for Arabic: sustained immersion in an Arabic-speaking environment is essential for achieving the level of fluency and cultural understanding the degree targets.

A typical entry tariff of 200 points reflects the academic demands of this combination.

You will develop linguistic proficiency, cross-cultural understanding, analytical depth, and the ability to engage with complex primary texts in two very different traditions.

Graduates go on to careers in diplomacy, international organisations, translation and interpreting, journalism, academia, intelligence services, international business, and NGOs. The combination of Arabic and classical knowledge is particularly valued wherever deep historical and cultural literacy about the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern worlds is needed.