Modern Languages (Persian and Spanish) and English

Studying Persian, Spanish, and English together is one of the most ambitious trilingual combinations available in UK higher education. Spanish and English together cover large portions of the globe's population and some of its most dynamic economies; Persian adds access to a classical literary tradition of exceptional richness and to a region, Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, that is of considerable cultural and geopolitical significance. The combination demands sustained commitment but produces a linguistic and cultural range that is genuinely rare.

At St Andrews, Persian is offered in combination with a range of other subjects within the flexibility of the MA (Hons) structure, and this degree combines it with Spanish and English. You will develop high-level proficiency in all three languages, studying them through their literatures, histories, and cultural contexts as well as through language training. English study will engage you with the history and theory of English literature.

Spanish and Persian study will develop your communicative skills and cultural knowledge in each language, as well as your ability to engage with the literary and intellectual traditions they carry. The four-year programme includes a year abroad, which is an important element of any language degree and particularly valuable when you are developing competence in three languages simultaneously.

Graduates with this trilingual formation are exceptionally well placed for careers in diplomacy, international organisations, translation and interpreting, cultural relations, journalism, international business, the civil service, and academia. The ability to work across three languages and their associated cultures is a genuine professional asset in an increasingly interconnected world, and it is increasingly hard to find among graduates from any single country's higher education system. Postgraduate study in languages, linguistics, translation, or area studies is a natural continuation.