Middle Eastern Studies

Middle Eastern studies is the interdisciplinary examination of the cultures, languages, histories, religions, and contemporary political dynamics of a region that has been at the centre of world history for millennia and that remains today one of the most consequential areas of global affairs. The Middle East is the birthplace of three of the world's great monotheistic religions; the site of some of the world's oldest literary and philosophical traditions; a region of extraordinary linguistic diversity, encompassing Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, and many other languages; and a zone of intense geopolitical contestation involving oil and energy, state formation, ethnic and sectarian conflict, and the ambitions of regional and global powers.

At the University of Manchester, this three-year full-time programme draws on the university's strong research expertise in the history, politics, and cultures of the Middle East and North Africa. You will study the history of the region from the early Islamic period to the present, contemporary politics and international relations in the Middle East, the major religious traditions and their relationships to politics and law, and the cultural and literary traditions of Arabic and Persian-speaking societies. Language study may be part of the degree, allowing you to access primary sources and develop communicative competence in a Middle Eastern language.

The degree develops skills in historical analysis, cross-cultural interpretation, political analysis, and the critical reading of both scholarly and primary sources across languages. These are demanding capabilities that translate into many professional contexts requiring deep area knowledge.

Graduates in Middle Eastern studies work in diplomacy and the foreign service, journalism, intelligence and security agencies, international organisations, humanitarian organisations working in the region, law firms with Middle East practices, and academic research. Arabic language competence in particular is in sustained demand across government, business, and the media. Postgraduate study in Middle Eastern studies, international relations, Islamic studies, or Arabic and Persian is a natural continuation for those who want to deepen their expertise or pursue academic careers.