Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Who is this programme for?:

This programme will provide students with the opportunity to combine Masters’ level training with intensive study of the Persian language, in order to acquire the skills necessary for future professional or research careers. The programme will enable students to engage with the subject of their Masters’ programme in the context of Iran, and the wider Persian speaking world, through the study of modern and classical Persian, to engage with primary Persian sources and data and to conduct research and professional work in Iran or parts of Central Asia.

This programme would suit students wishing to embark on research degrees with a focus on Iran and the wider Persianate world. Professionals wishing to pursue careers directly related to Iran, including government departments (of both the UK and other countries), and in firms requiring particular skills and knowledge related to trading, investment and promotional interests outside Europe.

May be combined with:

The following disciplines are available with the Intensive Persian pathway

Anthropology and Sociology

• MA Anthropological Research Methods
• MA Anthropology of Food
• MA Anthropology of Media
• MA Anthropology of Travel and Tourism
• MA Medical Anthropology
• MA Migration and Diaspora Studies
• MA Social Anthropology
• MA Social Anthropology of Development

History

• MA Historical Research Methods
• MA History

History of Art

• MA History of Art and Architecture of Islamic Middle East

Linguistics

• MA Linguistics

Near and Middle East

• MA Near and Middle Eastern Studies
• MA Iranian Studies

Religions and Philosophies

• MA Religions of Asia and Africa

Students must take 315 credits in total, comprised of 255 taught credits (45 of which are taught abroad as part of a Summer School) and a 60-credit dissertation in the selected discipline as outlined below.

In their first year, students on the two-year Intensive Language programmes take 60 credits of intensive language instruction and 60 credits in the discipline. During the summer, they participate in a Summer School abroad. In the second year, they take another 30 language credits as well as 60 credits in the discipline; they also complete their dissertation in the discipline.

For information on the programme structure for the four-year part-time version of the programme, please see the pdf pathway specification at the bottom of the page.

Please see the relevant web pages for information on the discipline parts of the programme.

Two Years (full time)

Year 1 (two years full time)

Language Component

AND

OR

OR

Students choose 30 credits from Turkish or Arabic language module(s) at the appropriate level

Discipline Component

Students take 60 credits in the selected discipline.

Summer Abroad

Students participate in 15PNMC431 Intensive Upper Intermediate Summer Persian abroad.

Year 2 (two years full time)

Language Component

Discipline Component

Students take 60 credits in the selected discipline.

Dissertation

Students complete a 60-credit dissertation in the selected discipline.

Programme Specification

• MA ... and Intensive Language (Persian) Programme Specification 2020/21 (pdf; 81kb)

Important notice

Teaching & Learning

Contact Hours

One-year Masters programmes consist of 180 credits. 120 credits are taught in modules of 30 credits (taught over 20 weeks) or 15 credits (taught over 10 weeks); the dissertation makes up the remaining 60 units. 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, including reading and research, preparing coursework and revising for examinations. 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. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary. 

More information is on the page for each module.

Knowledge

To acquire/develop skills in Persian language up to the equivalent of CEFR “Independent” user.

Intellectual (thinking) skills

To demonstrate awareness of the conceptual and communicative underpinnings of Persian and through this interlinguistic and intercultural understanding.

Subject-based practical skills

Communicate in written and spoken medium in contemporary Persian of Iran

Transferable skills

Engage with people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, understand the role of different frames of reference.

Tuition Fees

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

This is a Band 3 tuition fee.

Fees for 2021/22 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. 2 year full-time programmes have 2 years of full-time fees - the fee in the second year will be higher than the fee for the first year (the full time fee below is for the first year only).

Scholarships

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

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