Arabic with Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, MA (Hons)

Arabic, spoken by over 350 million people from the Atlantic to the Persian Gulf, ranks as the world's sixth most widely spoken language and one of the UN's six official languages. This four-year programme, including a Year Abroad, provides beginners with a comprehensive foundation in classical and modern Arabic, enabling access to diverse sources from pre-Islamic poetry and Islamic texts to contemporary novels, newspapers, and media. Students gain deep insights into Arab world history, societies, politics, and cultures, extending to Turkey and Iran, while unlocking Islam's intellectual heritage.At the University of Edinburgh—a leader in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies since the mid-18th century—students access 23,000+ resources, workshops, and optional Persian or Turkish. Pre-honours years build core skills with flexible options; honours years feature abroad study, advanced topics, translation, and a dissertation. Graduates emerge fluent in a key UN language, with versatile cultural and specialist expertise valued globally.