Arabic & Islamic Studies
Arabic and Islamic studies is a pairing that opens one of the world's richest civilisational traditions in two complementary ways. Arabic is the language of the Quran and the classical Islamic scholarly tradition, the medium through which some of the most significant philosophical, mathematical, scientific, and literary work of the medieval period was produced, and the living tongue of over 300 million people across the Middle East and North Africa today. Islamic studies examines the religion, history, culture, and intellectual traditions of Muslim communities, exploring how Islam has shaped societies across fourteen centuries and how it continues to develop and diversify in the contemporary world.
At Exeter this four-year full-time programme is taught by staff who are genuinely passionate about their subjects and who bring research expertise and personal engagement to the classroom. You will develop practical linguistic proficiency in Arabic alongside a deep engagement with Islamic texts, history, theology, and culture, learning to read the tradition both in its own terms and through the analytical frameworks that academic religious and historical study provides. The combination of language competency and intellectual depth gives you access to the primary sources of the tradition and the ability to engage with them critically rather than through translation and secondary commentary alone.
Graduates in Arabic and Islamic studies find careers in diplomacy, the civil service, international organisations, journalism, education, translation and interpreting, non-governmental organisations working in the Arab and Muslim world, and academic research. The combination of linguistic access and scholarly understanding of Islam is valued across a wide range of contexts where engagement with Muslim communities, governments, and institutions is part of the work. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, Middle Eastern history, or related fields.