International Relations with Persian
International relations seeks to understand how states, international organisations, non-governmental actors, and other forces interact in the global arena. It draws on history, political science, law, economics, and philosophy to examine questions that matter enormously for the future of humanity: why wars begin and how they might be prevented, how trade and financial systems are governed, what role human rights and international law play in constraining state behaviour, and how global challenges like climate change and terrorism can be addressed when there is no single authority above the level of the nation-state. Adding Persian to this degree places a particular focus on the Middle East and Central Asia, regions of enduring geopolitical importance.
At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time programme combines rigorous international relations study with the acquisition of Persian, one of the world's great literary and diplomatic languages, with a continuous tradition stretching back more than a millennium. You will develop proficiency in Persian alongside an increasingly sophisticated understanding of Iranian history, culture, and society, while also engaging with the full range of international relations as a discipline. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself linguistically and culturally in a Persian-speaking environment and to study at a partner institution.
Graduates of international relations and language combinations are particularly well placed for careers in diplomacy, the foreign service, international organisations, think tanks, journalism covering international affairs, NGOs, and security and intelligence roles. Persian speakers with strong analytical training are rare in the English-speaking world, making this a genuinely distinctive qualification. Postgraduate study in international relations, Middle Eastern studies, Persian literature, or related fields is also a natural next step for many graduates.