Modern Languages (Arabic and French) and English

Combining Arabic, French, and English in a single degree is an exceptionally ambitious intellectual undertaking, and the rewards are commensurate. Arabic is the most widely spoken language of the Middle East and North Africa, with a literary, philosophical, and scientific tradition stretching back more than a millennium. French is a major European and global language, spoken across Western and Central Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada as well as France and Belgium, and it carries one of the richest literary and intellectual traditions in the world.

English literature and literary study provide a comparative framework and a body of work that intersects with both. Together, the three give you access to an extraordinary breadth of cultural and literary experience.

This four-year full-time degree at the University of St Andrews is one of the most demanding language combinations available in the UK. You will develop high-level competence in Arabic and French alongside deep engagement with literature and intellectual life in all three traditions. A year abroad is integrated into the programme, giving you extended immersion in linguistic and cultural contexts that enrich your language learning and broaden your perspective.

A typical entry tariff of 200 points reflects the selectivity of this programme.

Graduates from this programme carry a rare and highly valued combination of linguistic range, literary depth, and cultural intelligence. Careers in diplomacy, the foreign office, international organisations, journalism, translation, publishing, international business, and academia are all natural destinations. The combination of Arabic and French is particularly valuable for organisations working across North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East.

Postgraduate study in area studies, international relations, translation, comparative literature, or linguistics is a natural continuation.