Fees for 2019/20 entrants. The fees are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. Further details can be found in the Fees and Funding tab on this page or in the Registry Undergraduate Tuition Fees page
BTEC: DDM
Access to HE: Minimum of 30 Level 3 Credits at Distinction
Scottish Highers: AAABB
Scottish Advanced Highers: AAB
Irish LC: 340 points from 5 Higher level subjects at grade C1 or above
Advanced Placement: 4 4 5 (Two semesters - UCAS Group A) plus US HSGD with GPA 3.0
Euro Bacc: 80%
French Bacc: 14/20
German Abitur: 2.0
Italy DES: 80/100
Austria Mat: 2.0
Polish Mat: Overall 75% including 3 extended level subjects
Programme Code: T600
Start of programme: September
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
The BA Middle Eastern Studies is a three-year programme that offers students the opportunity to study the history and culture of the Middle East alongside with acquiring competence in one or more Middle Eastern languages. This degree is ideal for students who desire a broad knowledge of the region with a basic grounding in two or more of its languages. The programme accommodates a wide variety of topics through which to engage with the region's diversity and provides a firm foundation for further language study.
Dr Nima Mina Convenor
Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.
In the first year of the programme, students take a module in a modern Middle Eastern language (Arabic, Turkish, Persian or Hebrew), a module in Arabic or Israeli culture, and the remaining modules in Middle Eastern literature and history.
In the second year, students are encouraged to choose a further language module and take an introductory module in Islam; two modules are chosen from the List of Optional Modules, which include further language modules and modules in art, history, religion, music, politics, economics and law.
In the final year, modules in the Cinematic culture of the Middle East and North Africa is taken, a third language module can be taken and an extended essay can be written on an agreed topic. An Independent study project is also available. The language and extended essay options can, however, be replaced with optional modules. There is a further open option to complete the third year.
This module must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.
| Module | Code | Credits | Term | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literatures of the Near and Middle East | 155900991 | 30 | Full Year |
| Module | Code | Credits | Term | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decolonising Otherness | 152900120 | 15 credits | - Not Running 2019/20 | |
| Languages of the World | 152900118 | |||
| H130 Introduction to the History of the Near and Middle East | 154800230 | 30 | Full Year |
Choose language module(s) to the value of 30 credits from the list of level 1 language guided options below
This module must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.
| Module | Code | Credits | Term | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nation and Nationalism in Middle Eastern fiction (in Translation) | 155901380 | 30 | Full Year |
| Module | Code | Credits | Term | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding Texts | 152900123 | 15 | - Not Running 2019/20 | |
| Introduction to Research | 152900121 | 15 | - Please note this module will not be taught until September 2020 |
AND EITHER
Choose language module(s) to the value of 30 credits from the list of level 2 language guided options below
OR
Choose from List of Optional Modules below to the value of 30 credits
AND
Choose related Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits
| Module | Code | Credits | Term | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinemas of the Middle East and North Africa 1 | 155905000 | 15 | Term 1 | |
| Cinemas of the Middle East and North Africa 2 | 155905001 | 15 | Term 2 | |
| Independent Study Project in Middle Eastern Studies | 155901386 | 30 | Full Year |
Choose from the List of Optional Modules below to the value of 30 credits
Choose related Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits
| Module | Code | Credits | Term | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic 100 A | 155906050 | 15 | Term 1 | |
| Arabic 100 B | 155906051 | 15 | Term 2 | |
| Arabic 200 | 155901203 | 30 | Full Year | |
| Arabic 300 | 155901204 | 30 | Full Year | |
| Hebrew 1 A | 155906052 | 15 | Term 1 | |
| Hebrew 1 B | 155906053 | 15 | Term 2 | |
| Hebrew 2 | 155900713 | 30 | Full Year | |
| Hebrew 3 | 155906702 | 30 | Full Year | |
| Hebrew 4 | 155900714 | 30 | Full Year | |
| Elementary Written Persian A | 155906048 | 15 | Term 1 | |
| Elementary Written Persian B | 155906049 | 15 | Term 2 | |
| Intermediate Persian Language | 155900801 | 30 | Full Year | |
| Persian 3 | 155900802 | 30 | Full Year | Not Running 2019/2020 |
| Persian Language 4 | 155906703 | 30 | - This module will run for the first time in 2020/21 | |
| Elementary Written Turkish A | 155906046 | 15 | Term 1 | |
| Elementary Written Turkish B | 155906047 | 15 | Term 2 | |
| Turkish 2 | 155900547 | 30 | Full Year | Not Running 2019/2020 |
| Turkish 3 | 155900548 | 30 | Full Year | |
| Advanced Turkish/English/Turkish Translation | 155900913 | 30 | Full Year |
Before selecting a module, you must first check that it is at the correct level. You must also ensure that any pre-requisites are met.
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.
All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, taught in modules of 30 credits (taught over 20 weeks) or 15 credits (taught over 10 weeks). The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.
As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study (see Approaches to teaching and learning at SOAS). It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others.
In the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, undergraduate modules take various forms. Modules may be taught through 1 or 2 hours of lectures a week, and some may have an additional 1-2 hours of weekly seminars. Languages classes may be 4-5 hours per week in the first and second year, typically less at higher levels.
More information is on the page for each module.
Full details of undergraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Undergraduate Tuition Fees page.
Fees for 2019/20 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year.
| Programme | Full-Time | |
|---|---|---|
| UK/EU Students |
Overseas Students |
|
| BA, BSc, LLB | £9,250 | £17,750 |
| BA/BSc Language Year Abroad | £1,385 | £8,875 |
Application Deadline: 2019-04-30 00:00
Application Deadline: 2019-01-31 00:00
For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section
As a student specialising in the Middle East, you will gain competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, literature and culture (which can include literature, film, music, art and religion) of various parts of the Middle East.
Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers in both business and the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.
Students graduating with this degree have opportunities to work in education, the Middle Eastern media, the BBC, in the press, the Civil Service and non-governmental organisations, and wherever a knowledge of the Middle East is a key skill.
For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.
Yumna IslamMy course and the department is fantastic, and the lecturers go the extra mile to help you out
If you still have questions about this programme or studying at SOAS get in touch.
Undergraduate applications should be made through UCAS.