Middle East Studies and Persian

Middle East studies combined with Persian offers a distinctive pairing that places the study of one of the world's most consequential regions alongside linguistic access to one of its great literary and cultural traditions. Middle East studies examines the history, politics, religion, and culture of the region across the past fifteen centuries and more, from the rise of Islam and the early Islamic empires through the Ottoman period, European colonialism, and the emergence of modern states to the conflicts, revolutions, and upheavals of the contemporary era. Persian, the literary language of Iran and historically a prestige language across much of Central and South Asia, carries an extraordinary poetic tradition including Rumi, Hafiz, Ferdowsi, and Omar Khayyam, alongside a rich heritage of philosophy, historiography, and prose literature.

At St Andrews this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you immersive experience in a region or environment where these languages and cultures are encountered directly. The Middle East studies component develops your understanding of the history, politics, and culture of the region through a combination of primary sources in translation and secondary scholarly analysis, covering 1,500 years of history and examining the multiple religious, ethnic, and political traditions that have shaped the modern Middle East. The Persian component provides practical linguistic training from beginner or intermediate level, developing reading and comprehension skills alongside engagement with the literary and intellectual traditions the language carries.

Graduates find careers in diplomacy, international affairs, intelligence analysis, journalism, area studies research, non-governmental organisations, international development, and academic scholarship in Middle Eastern and Iranian studies. The combination of regional expertise and Persian linguistic competency is rare and genuinely valuable in competitive professional contexts. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in Persian studies, Iranian studies, Middle Eastern history, or international relations.