Modern Languages (Persian and Spanish) and Internationl Relations

Persian, Spanish, and international relations is a combination that reflects the kind of multilingual, analytically sophisticated preparation that a world of complex, competing, and overlapping power structures demands. Persian is one of the world's great classical languages, opening access to the rich literary and intellectual traditions of Iran and Central Asia, as well as to understanding the contemporary politics, culture, and diplomacy of one of the most strategically significant regions in the world. Spanish is the second most widely spoken language on Earth by native speakers, giving access to cultures and economies across Iberia and Latin America.

International relations provides the theoretical and empirical tools to analyse how states, institutions, and non-state actors interact in the global system.

At St Andrews, Persian is available in combination with a wide variety of other subjects as part of a joint or triple honours degree structure, and this programme brings it together with Spanish and international relations. You will develop language proficiency in both Persian and Spanish while also building a rigorous understanding of IR theory and practice, including questions of security, diplomacy, trade, human rights, and global governance. A year abroad is included in the four-year programme, giving you the opportunity to develop your language skills in real contexts.

The degree leads to an MA (Hons).

Graduates with Persian, Spanish, and international relations skills are highly distinctive in a competitive graduate market. Careers in diplomacy, the foreign and civil service, international development, journalism, intelligence, and international organisations are natural directions, as are roles in multinational corporations operating across these linguistic regions. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in international relations, Middle Eastern studies, Iberian studies, or translation, where their rare combination of language skills is a significant academic and professional asset.