English and Persian
English and Persian is a combination that spans one of the world's most celebrated literary traditions and one of the great languages and cultures of the ancient and modern world. Persian, also known as Farsi, is spoken by tens of millions of people across Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, and carries a literary heritage of extraordinary richness, encompassing the classical poetry of Rumi, Hafez, and Omar Khayyam, a long tradition of prose literature, and a vibrant contemporary cultural life. English literature, from the medieval period to the present, complements this through its own vast and diverse tradition, and studying both develops a genuinely comparative approach to how literature works across very different cultural and linguistic contexts.
At St Andrews this four-year MA (Hons) programme develops close reading and critical analysis skills across both literary traditions. You will study English literature across a wide range of genres and historical periods, learning to attend carefully to text, form, and historical context, while in Persian you will develop language proficiency alongside engagement with the literature, culture, and history of the Persian-speaking world. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in Persian language and culture in an international academic setting.
Graduates from English and Persian programmes work in translation and interpreting, diplomacy and the foreign service, journalism, international organisations, research, publishing, education, and cultural institutions engaged with Persian-speaking regions. Persian is a language with significant strategic and cultural importance for roles in international affairs, development, and regional analysis. The literary and analytical skills of the English component transfer across a wide range of professional contexts where reading carefully and writing clearly are valued.
Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in Persian studies, comparative literature, or translation.