The BA Middle Eastern Studies and … is a three-year programme that offers students the opportunity to study the history and culture of the Middle East alongside with acquiring competence for one or more Middle Eastern languages. The two-subject degree allows students to combine the study of the region of the Middle East with a specific discipline. All disciplines at SOAS are taught with a regional focus on Asia and Africa, and students will be able to choose modules in their second subject that supplement their 2 interest in the Middle East as a region.
This programme is also available as a four-year pathway which includes a year abroad in a location specific to your chosen language. You can find the programme structure at the bottom of the page. Please contact the department for more information.
The information for BA, BSc, or LLB programmes refer to data taken from the single subject degrees offered at SOAS; however, due to the unique nature of our programmes many subjects have a separate set of data when they are studied alongside another discipline. In order to get a full picture of their chosen subject(s) applicants are advised to look at both sets of information where these occur.
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings
Start of programme: September
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
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
Please see the Unistats data for the various combinations of this programme under the Combinations tab.
Click on a combined programme to load KIS data
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.
The BA Middle Eastern Studies and another subject three-year degree allows for the study of the Middle East in a broad context, with the possibility of focusing on culture, history or literature. In the two-subject degree students take each year t60 credits in Middle Eastern Studies and 60 credits in their other subject. Students take one module in a Middle Eastern language in each year of their studies, either one language at progressive levels or more than one language at basic level.
In year 1 students take an overview module on Middle Eastern history and literature or an introductory module on Arabic or Israeli culture.
In year 2 the language study is supplemented by a module on the modern literatures of the Middle East or a module on the Muslim world.
In year 3 students take the compulsory language module and write a 10,000 word undergraduate dissertation (Independent Study Project) on an approved Middle Eastern topic of their choice.
For Students taking the four-year version (year abroad) version of this programme:
Over the course of this four-year programme, students must complete 480 credits. 120 of those will be taken in the Year Abroad. The remaining 360 credits taken at SOAS can be split evenly between both subjects (180/180), or be varied between the two subjects if the programme structure gives scope for this. Overall, students must have at least 240 credits in one subject (with a maximum of 330 credits being possible) and 150 credits in the other subject (with a maximum of 240 credits being possible) in order to be awarded a two-subject degree. The subject in which the higher amount of credits has been passed will be named first on the final degree awarded.
The programme structure is available at the bottom of the page (pdf)
Choose ONE of the following modules. This module will be considered core and must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literatures of the Islamic Near and Middle East | 155900991 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Introduction to Arabic Culture | 155901205 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Introduction To Israeli Culture | 155900947- | 15 |
AND
Choose from the List of Language Modules below to the value of 30 credits
OR
Choose ONE module from the above Year 1 core list to the value of 30 credits
OR
Choose from the List of Optional Modules below to the value of 30 credits
AND
Choose modules from the second subject to the value of 60 credits
Students will take the following module. This module will be considered core and must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Middle East Fiction A: Identity and Belonging | 155906727 | 15 | Term 1 |
AND
Take either 155901380 (Nation and Nationalism) or 155901258 (The Muslim World: Unity in Diversity) -whichever one not taken yet
OR
Choose from the List of Language Modules below to the value of 30 credits
OR
Choose from the List of Optional Modules below to the value of 30 credits
AND
Choose a module from the second subject to the value of 60 credits
Choose both Cinemas of the Middle East and North Africa 1 and 2
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Study Project in Arabic Studies | 155900733 | 30 | Full Year |
Choose from the List of Language Modules below to the value of 30 credits
Choose either 155905000 (Cinemas of the Middle East and North Africa 1) and Cinemas of the Middle East and North Africa 2, or from the list of ISPs above (whichever has not been taken yet)
Choose from the List of Optional Modules below to the value of 30 credits
Choose a module from the second subject to the value of 60 credits
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrew 1 A | 155906052 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Hebrew 1 B | 155906053 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Hebrew 3 | 155906702 | 30 | Full Year |
| Hebrew 4 | 155900714 | 30 | Full Year |
| Persian 1 A | 155906048 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Persian 1 B | 155906049 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Persian 3 | 155900802 | 30 | Full Year |
| Persian Language 4 | 155906703 | 30 | Full Year |
| Turkish 1 A | 155906046 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Turkish 1 B | 155906047 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Turkish 3 | 155900548 | 30 | Full Year |
| Practical Translation Turkish to English | 155900913 | 15 credits |
Before selecting a module, student's must first check that it is at the correct level. They must also ensure that they meet any pre-requisites.
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| H130 Introduction to the Early History of the Middle East | 154800230 | 15 | Term 2 |
| R150 Introduction to Judaism | 158000148 | 15 credits (0.5 unit) | |
| Islam: Religion and Rationality | 158000189 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Persian Poetry in Translation | 155901277- | 30 | |
| Middle Persian | 158000183 | 30 | Full Year |
| Ottoman Turkish Language A | 155900549 | 15 credits | |
| Themes in the Art and Archaeology of the Near and Middle East | 154900101 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Islamic Law | 155200037 | 30 | Full Year |
| Shi'a Islam: Religious Authority and Community Identity | 158000147 | 30 credits | |
| H248 Nationalism and Revolution in the Modern Middle East, 1914-1979 | 154800227 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Developments in Muslim Religious Thought | 158000188 | 15 credits (0.5 unit) | |
| Messianic Movements in Muslim History | 158000149 | 15 credits (0.5 unit) | |
| R490 Zoroastrianism in the Ancient and Modern Worlds | 158000029 | 30 | Full Year |
| Government and politics of the Middle East | 153400060 | 30 | Full Year |
| Syriac for Beginners | 158000034 | 1 unit (30 credits) |
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Study Project in Arabic Studies | 155900733 | 30 | Full Year |
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.
This programme is available as a four-year programme with a year abroad in year 3, rather than as a three-year programme based on campus. Please contact the department for more details.
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.
As a student specialising in the languages and cultures of 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.
Choosing to study a joint degree programme will increase the breadth of your knowledge, and will develop additional skills with which to further your studies of the Middle East, or to make comparative study with other areas. Middle Eastern Studies may be combined with a huge range of other disciplines. For more information on the extra skills you will gain from your second subject, please see the relevant departmental page.
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 Middle Eastern language and culture is a key skill.
For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.
Padraig BeltonMy training as a specialist in the Middle East and Subcontinent would be rather incomplete without these languages or a stay at SOAS!
If you still have questions about this programme or studying at SOAS get in touch.
Undergraduate applications should be made through UCAS.