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.
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings
Start of programme: September
Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time
Entry requirements
- We will consider all applications with 2:ii (or international equivalent) or higher. In addition to degree classification we take into account other elements of the application including supporting statement and references.
- duration:
- Two years (full-time), or four years (part-time, daytime only)
May be combined with:
The following Intensive Language pathways are available with the MA Near and Middle Eastern Studies
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.
Please note that on all Area Studies degrees, including Near and Middle Eastern Studies:
- a maximum of 60 credits can be taken in any one subject area
- a minimum of three subject areas must be covered.
For information on the programme structure for the four-year part-time version of the programme, please see the pdf programme specification at the bottom of this page.
2 years full-time
Year 1
Select 60 credits in the chosen language, students then participate in the summer abroad module (45 credits) at one of our partner institutions.
Summer Abroad
Students participate in a Summer School abroad for their selected language equivalent to 45 credits at one of our partner institutions.
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.
Languages - (School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics)
Languages are offered as minors only, students may take any of the language modules offered in any given year (select 60 credits).
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
Important notice
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.
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 Students
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.
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. 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; and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.
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 |
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 from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.
A Student's Perspective
Academically studying at SOAS has been incredible. At first I thought that getting to meet the big-name professors from my field would be the most enjoyable part of my experience but now I actually think it has been the other students.
Quinn Connors, Tufts University