History and Arabic

History and Arabic is a combination with a particular logic and resonance. Arabic is the language of over 400 million people, the sacred language of Islam, and the vehicle of a rich literary and scholarly tradition stretching from the pre-Islamic period to the present. The Arab world has been central to global history, from the early Islamic caliphates and their contribution to science, philosophy, and trade, to the modern politics of oil, decolonisation, and the Arab Spring.

Studying history alongside Arabic gives you the tools to engage with that world directly, in its own languages and on its own terms.

At the School of Oriental and African Studies, this four-year full-time programme draws on SOAS's unparalleled expertise in the languages, cultures, and histories of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. A foundation year is available for students who want a supported entry point before beginning the main degree. You will develop your Arabic language skills from beginner or intermediate level to genuine proficiency, studying the modern standard language alongside exposure to colloquial registers, and you will engage with historical scholarship on the Arab world, the Islamic world, and the broader regional and global contexts in which these societies have operated.

The combination of language competence and historical depth is one of the most distinctive and valuable things SOAS can offer.

Graduates from this combination go on to careers in diplomacy, the civil service, international organisations, journalism, humanitarian organisations, think tanks, and the energy and defence sectors. Arabic language skills combined with historical knowledge of the region are highly sought after in roles that require serious engagement with the Arab world. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in Arabic, history, Islamic studies, or international relations, and some pursue research or academic careers at the intersection of these fields.