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.

Key Information Set Data

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

May be combined with:

• Development Studies, TL6X BA/MESDVS
• Economics, TL61 TL61 BA/MESEC
• History of Art/Archaeology, TV6H BA/MESHAA
• Law, TM61 BA/MESLW
• Linguistics, TQ61 BA/MESLG
• Music, TW6H BA/MESMS
• Social Anthropology, TL66 BA/MESSA
• Study of Religions, TV6P BA/MESSR

Key Information Set data

Click on a combined programme to load KIS data

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)

Year 1

Core Module

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.

AND

Guided Option

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

Second Subject

Choose modules from the second subject to the value of 60 credits

Year 2

Core Module

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.

AND

Compulsory

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

Second Subject

Choose a module from the second subject to the value of 60 credits

Year 3

Core Module

Choose both Cinemas of the Middle East and North Africa 1 and 2

OR one of the ISP modules

AND

Compulsory

Choose from the List of Language Modules below to the value of 30 credits

OR

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)

OR

Choose from the List of Optional Modules below to the value of 30 credits

AND

Second Subject

Choose a module from the second subject to the value of 60 credits

Language Module Options

List of Optional Modules

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.

Additional Optional Courses Only Available in Year 3

Programme Specification

• BA Middle Eastern Studies & (inc. year abroad) programme specification 2019/20 (pdf; 89kb)
• BA Middle Eastern Studies &... programme specification 2019/20 (pdf; 89kb)

Important notice

Year abroad

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.

Teaching & Learning

Contact Hours

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.

Tuition Fees

Full details of undergraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Undergraduate Tuition Fees page.

Fees for 2020/21 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. 

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

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.

• How to Apply
• UCAS website
• Request a prospectus
• Got a question - use our enquiry form (opens a new window)
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts