Overview and entry requirements

The MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies provides exceptional opportunities for studying this diverse and fascinating area at the postgraduate level through a variety of disciplinary approaches. The main emphasis of the programme is on the modern period through the modules in history, geography, politics, economics and anthropology. Some exposure is provided, however, to the pre-modern culture and society of the area through modules in religious studies, Islamic art and archaeology, and history.

The Intensive language programme has many language modules for students to pick and choose from, inlcuding introduction, intermediate, advance Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish. Students will also spend the summer taking an Advanced Study Abroad module, worth 45 credits, while also having a choice of studying two years full-time or four years part-time.

See Near and Middle East Department

Combine Near and Middle Eastern Studies with a language

Languages to choose from: Arabic, Persian, Turkish.

Why study Near and Middle East and Intensive Language at SOAS

• SOAS is ranked 1st in London in the Complete University Guide 2021 for Middle Eastern and African Studies, and 6th in UK
• SOAS has an unrivalled reputation as the foremost provider of oriental studies
• students have an opportunity to develop a holistic and integrated approach to the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East through their languages and cultures

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

May be combined with:

MA Near and Middle Eastern Studies can be combined with the following Intensive Language pathways:

• Arabic
• Persian
• Turkish

Structure

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 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. 

On the MA Near and Middle Eastern Studies and Intensive Language:

• a maximum of 60 credits can be taken in any one subject area
• a minimum of three subject areas must be covered.

Please see 'Programme structure' below to download the PDF pathways specifications of the four-year part-time version of the programme.

Programme

Year 1 (two years full time)

Discipline Component

A major module(s) from the list below to the value of 30 credits.

Plus

A minor module(s) from the list below to the value of 30 credits.

Language Component

Students take 60 credits in the selected language.

Summer Abroad

Students participate in a Summer School abroad for the selected language.

Year 2 (two years full time)

Discipline Component

A minor module(s) from the list below to the value of 30 credits.

Plus

A module(s) from the list below to the value of 30 credits.

Or

A module(s) from Postgraduate Open Options to the value of 30 credits.

Language Component

Students take 30 credits in the selected language.

Dissertation

Anthropology and Sociology

Available as minors only

Art and Archaeology

Available as majors or minors

Development Studies

Available as a major or minor

Economics

Available as a major or minor

Gender

Available as a minor only

History

Available as majors or minors

Please note that the 'Modernity and Transformation' courses can be taken together or individually, ONLY as majors.

Language

You may select modules to the value of 60 credits from the languages below.

Students are allowed to take any of the NME language courses offered in any given year

Law

Available as majors or minors

Literature

Available as majors or minors

Media

Available as minors only

Politics

The two 15 credit modules below together constitute the major option for Politics of the Middle East

Available as a minor only

Available as majors or minors

Study of Religions

Available as majors or minors

Translation Studies

Available as a minor only

Programme Specification

• MA Near and Middle Eastern Studies and Intensive Language Programme Specifications 2019/20 (pdf; 230kb)

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. 

There are ten weeks of teaching and a Reading Week in each of Term 1 and 2, and two weeks of revision teaching in Term 3, the rest of which is dedicated to exams. 15-credit modules are taught over ten weeks in either Term 1 or Term 2.

More information is on the page for each module.

Part-time studies

Part-time students divide their workload of the required modules evenly between the number of years of part-time study, with the dissertation module taken in the last year of study. It is also best practice to take the Major module in the last year of study. However, different arrangements are possible with the approval of the convenor of the Major module.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

• How to assess data and evidence critically from manuscripts and digital sources, solve problems of conflicting sources and conflicting interpretations, locate materials, use research-sources (particularly research-library catalogues) and other relevant traditional sources.
• Subject-specific skills are an amalgam of the skills described for each of the three options chosen by candidates from the cross-department/faculty choices available in the relevant course-descriptors.

Intellectual (thinking) skills

• Students will learn to become precise and cautious in their assessment of evidence and should also come to understand through practice what documents can and cannot tell us.
• Students will learn to question interpretations, however authoritative, and reassess evidence for themselves.
  Communicate effectively in writing.

Subject-based practical skills

• Language-students will learn the chosen language at the appropriate level.
  Present seminar-papers.
• Listen and discuss ideas introduced during seminars.
• Practise research-techniques in a variety of specialised research-libraries and institutes.

Transferrable skills

• Writing good essays and dissertations.
• Structure and communicate ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Study a variety of written and digital materials in libraries and research-institutes of a kind they will not have used as undergraduates.
• Present (non-assessed) material orally.

Linguistic skills (two-year Intensive Language pathways)

• To acquire/develop skills in a language spoken in the Near and Middle East to Effective Operational Proficiency level
• To demonstrate awareness of the conceptual and communicative underpinnings of that language and through this interlinguistic and intercultural understanding.
• Communicate in written and spoken medium in a relevant language.
• Engage with people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, understand the role of different frames of reference.

Tuition fees

Fees for 2021/22 entrants, per academic year (Band 3 tuition fee)

Fees go up each year, therefore, your tuition fee in your second and subsequent years of study will be higher.

Our continuing students, on the same degree programme, are protected from annual increases higher than 5%.

Full details of postgraduate tuition fees can be found on the postgraduate tuition fees page.

Scholarships

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

Employment

A postgraduate degree in the Near and Middle Eastern studies from SOAS gives students 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, history, cinema, politics, economics or law.   

Skills gained

Postgraduate students leave SOAS with the linguistic and cultural expertise needed to continue in the field of research along with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers in business, public or charity sectors including:

• written and oral communication skills
• attention to detail
• analytical and problem solving skills
• ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources. 

Careers

Graduates in MA Near and Middle Eastern Studies have entered various professions after leaving SOAS. Some have been able to pursue careers directly related to their study area while others have made use of the general intellectual training provided by the advanced study of cultures for involvement in analysing and solving many of the problems contemporary societies now face. Among a variety of professions, career paths may include academia, charity work, community, government, NGOs, media and publishing and UN agencies.

Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:

• Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage
• Asfari Foundation
• Banque Saudi Fransi
• Ministry of Defence
• WAND - Women Power and PEace
• World Economic Forum
• Guardian and New Statesman
• DFID
• ICRC
• CARE International
• The Risk Advisory Group
• Refugee Legal Aid Program
• BBC
  Kwintessential
• UNESCO
• International Committee of the Red Cross
• Al Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation
• Amnesty International
• Janusian/Risk Advisory Group
• European Parliament
• The British Institute of Persian Studies
• Dubai Women's Establishment

Roles

The types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:

• Assistant Director of Middle East Studies
• Chief Curator of Collections and Exhibitions
• Chief Economist
• Chief Editor
• Civil Servant
• Community Manager, Middle East
• Director of Public Affairs
• Humanitarian Worker
• Intelligence Analyst
• Legal Counsel
• News Presenter
• Political Advisor to the Secretary General
• Political Risk Consultant
• Professor of Islamic Studies
• Programme Manager, International Trade
• Research & Campaigns Assistant, East Africa Team
• Senior Consultant
• Strategist
• Teacher
• Vice President for University Advancement
• Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator

For more information about Graduate Destinations, visit our Careers Service website.

• 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