Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and Classical Studies

Modern languages combining Arabic, Italian, and classical studies at St Andrews is a programme that opens access to three rich and distinct linguistic and cultural traditions, bringing the most widely used language of the Middle East, one of the great European literary and artistic languages, and the classical traditions of ancient Greece and Rome into dialogue with each other. St Andrews does not offer Arabic as a single honours degree, but you can take it in combination with a wide variety of other subjects as part of a joint honours degree. Studying Arabic alongside almost any subject is useful, as it offers the opportunity for comparative analysis between different languages, literatures, cultures, histories, politics, and economics.

Italian adds access to a literary and artistic tradition of extraordinary depth, while classical studies grounds the programme in the ancient Mediterranean world that shaped both European and Islamic civilisation.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time MA (Hons) programme develops linguistic proficiency across your chosen language combination, engaging with literary, cultural, and historical materials in each tradition alongside the intellectual frameworks of classical studies. A year abroad is integral, giving you the sustained immersive experience that genuine multilingual competence requires.

With a typical entry tariff of 200 UCAS points, this is a highly competitive programme at one of the UK's most prestigious universities. Graduates pursue careers in diplomacy, the foreign office, international organisations, journalism, translation, intelligence and government, cultural heritage, academic research, and international business across the regions these languages serve. The combination of Arabic, Italian, and classical studies represents a genuinely distinctive profile in the graduate market, particularly valuable for roles involving engagement with the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and their shared histories.