Modern Languages (French and Persian) and International Relations

French, Persian and international relations is an ambitious combination that spans two major world languages, their literary and cultural traditions, and the analytical discipline of how states, institutions and peoples interact across borders. French is one of the world's most important diplomatic and cultural languages, spoken across five continents and at the heart of many international institutions. Persian, also known as Farsi, is spoken by tens of millions of people across Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and carries with it one of the great literary traditions of the world, alongside its contemporary strategic significance in the Middle East and Central Asia.

International relations provides the intellectual framework for understanding how these regions and their peoples engage with the structures of global politics.

At St Andrews, this four-year MA programme develops your linguistic proficiency in both French and Persian to a high level, alongside the academic analysis of literature, culture and international affairs. A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you immersive experience in a French-speaking or Persian-speaking environment that is the most effective way to develop genuine language fluency. You will study literature from both traditions, engage with cultural and historical contexts, and develop the analytical tools of international relations to understand how these countries and regions operate within the international system.

Graduates of this combination are genuinely rare and consequently valuable in competitive career fields. Diplomacy and the foreign office, international organisations, area studies research, journalism focused on the Middle East or Francophone regions, translation and interpreting, NGOs and international development are all natural destinations. Postgraduate study in international relations, area studies, translation or law is also a strong option.