Modern Languages (Persian and Russian) and Latin

Persian, Russian, and Latin together form an extraordinarily rich intellectual combination, bringing together two modern languages of major contemporary significance with one of the foundational languages of the Western classical tradition. Persian opens access to a literary tradition stretching back over a thousand years, to the contemporary language of Iran and its diaspora, and to one of the most culturally and geopolitically significant regions of the world. Russian unlocks one of the towering literary cultures in world history alongside the political and social reality of the world's largest country.

Latin provides direct access to the literature, law, philosophy, and history of ancient Rome, texts that have shaped Western thought for two millennia.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year MA (Hons) programme develops your abilities across all three languages with academic seriousness. As the university notes, Persian is available in combination with a wide range of subjects as part of a joint or triple honours degree, and this particular combination is unusually demanding and unusually distinctive. You will develop proficiency in Persian and Russian to a high level, engaging with literature and cultural material in both languages, while also building your Latin competence through close engagement with classical texts.

A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you the opportunity for immersive language study in one or more of your language communities.

Graduates from this triple combination are exceptionally well prepared for careers in diplomacy, security and intelligence, international organisations, academic research, translation, and any professional context where the combination of Persian, Russian, and classical knowledge represents a rare and valuable asset. The linguistic and analytical rigour the degree develops is also valued in law, publishing, heritage, and education. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in Persian or Iranian studies, Russian and East European studies, classical studies, or linguistics.