Arabic and French

Arabic and French is a pairing that connects two of the world's most globally significant language traditions across very different geographic, cultural, and historical landscapes. Arabic, spoken by over 400 million people and the liturgical language of Islam, is central to understanding the Middle East, North Africa, and much of the Muslim world, as well as carrying a literary tradition of extraordinary depth stretching from pre-Islamic poetry through the classical age to the modern novel. French, spoken on every inhabited continent and still a language of international diplomacy, science, and culture, opens its own immense literary and intellectual heritage alongside contemporary Francophone worlds in Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme trains you in both languages, developing reading, writing, and conversational ability alongside critical engagement with literary and cultural texts in each tradition. You will encounter Arabic in both its Modern Standard and classical forms, and you will study French literature and culture from the Renaissance through to the present day. Edinburgh's location in a genuinely international city, and its strong research tradition in both areas, provides an intellectually rich environment for this demanding combination.

A typical entry tariff of 168 points reflects the competitive nature of the programme.

Graduates of Arabic and French programmes are exceptionally well placed for careers in diplomacy, international development, journalism, intelligence and security, international organisations, and business roles with a Middle Eastern, North African, or Francophone dimension. The combination is genuinely distinctive in the UK graduate market, and employers in the civil service, NGO sector, and international finance particularly value it. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in area studies, translation, international relations, or academic research in linguistics or literature.