Postgraduate study
Choose from a range of programmes taking either an Area Studies approach, or combining intensive language study with the interdisciplinary exploration of societies and cultures. Providing excellent teaching and supervision, we offer programmes ranging from one-year masters degrees (both taught and research-led) to PhDs.
What's it like to study here?
With over 260 years of history in teaching and research, we are globally recognised as a leading centre for postgraduate study in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.
Join our community and you’ll be part of a friendly, international group with interests spanning the languages, history, culture, religion and politics of the Middle East and the wider Islamic world.
Highlights include regular seminars by staff, research students and visiting speakers, the annual W.M. Watt Lecture, and a wide range of cultural events, conferences and collaborations, helping you develop the fluency and confidence to operate at the highest professional and academic levels.
Our research resources and facilities are outstanding, and we have excellent links with a number of centres and networks, from the Alwaleed Centre and the Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies at the University of Edinburgh, to the Edinburgh Iranian Festival.
What can I study?
Degree Finder gives you in-depth information about what you can expect from each of our programmes, as well as advice on entrance requirements, start dates, fees and scholarship opportunities for that programme.
Applications open in October of the year before entry and close in July of the year of entry.
Applications to start a programme in September 2021 will open on 1st October 2020 and close at the end of July 2021.
Combining an intensive language programme with critical and analytical research, this year-long masters programme will equip you with the skills to speak and write Arabic to a high level. Uniquely, we teach spoken Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic, deepening your understanding of media such as film and song, as well as a growing amount of oral intellectual discourse. You can also opt to take a course in Arabic pedagogy, exploring how to teach Arabic to non-native speakers.
Full-time, one year
Tailored to your area of interest, you can choose between two pathways on this flexible masters programme: completing two written assignments (each approximately 6,000 words) and a 15,000 word dissertation; or submitting a single 30,000 word dissertation. Depending on your path, you’ll also take courses in Research Skills and Methods, and Research Problems and Methods in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.
Full-time, one year ꟾ part-time, two years (UK/EU students)
Designed to support you make a definite and original contribution to the field of knowledge in IMES, our PhD programme will enable you to pursue independent research under the supervision of one or more of our expert staff, with optional training in research skills and methods. We offer supervision in a wide range of specialist and interdisciplinary areas, from diaspora studies, and Islamic history, to the Persian, Arabic and Turkish languages, and the politics of the modern Middle East.
Full-time, three years ꟾ part-time, six years (UK/EU students)
There's lots more information about our PhD, and what to do in advance of applying, on our website. You are strongly advised to read this information and follow our guidelines before making a formal application on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder.
Take me to more information about the PhD and guidelines on what to do in advance of applying
Drawing on the expertise of some of the UK’s leading experts on the Arab world, this two-year masters programme offers a unique opportunity for the in-depth study of the Arabic language and region-specific culture, history and politics. Studying in Edinburgh and abroad, you’ll combine intensive language learning with training in research skills and methods, critical readings, and option courses spanning the social and political sciences, arts and humanities.
Full-time, two years
Intended for students with prior knowledge of Arabic, this two-year masters programme offers a unique opportunity for the in-depth study of the language together with region-specific culture, history and politics. Studying in Edinburgh and abroad, you’ll hone your parallel skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking, including in spoken ‘dialect’ and Modern Standard Arabic, as well as taking option courses spanning the social and political sciences, arts and humanities.
Full-time, two years
Distinctive in its breadth and diversity, this interdisciplinary masters programme draws on the expertise of specialists in ancient history, Middle Eastern Studies and Islamic Studies, from pre-Islamic Iran to the present day. It is unique in the field of Persian Studies, combining postgraduate research with specialist methodological, theoretical, literary, and historiographical training, and optional language learning.
Full-time, one year ꟾ part-time, two years (UK/EU students)
Combining a course in critical readings, training in research skills and methods, option courses spanning a wide range of specialisms, and optional language learning, this masters programme will help you gain an advanced, interdisciplinary understanding of the history, modern politics and culture of the Islamic Middle East, as well as the paradigms behind the various disciplines within the field.
Full-time, one year ꟾ part-time, two years (UK/EU students)
Not sure which programme is right for you?
We're happy to help you decide between taught and research-led masters programmes.
Email us about postgraduate study in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
The programme was, for me, a genuinely life-changing experience. In its demanding but sympathetic environment, I went from basic spoken Palestinian Arabic to working on literary translations. But perhaps more importantly I found in IMES a department in which enthusiastic students had space to grow, flourish, and explore. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Where to next?
Take me to all postgraduate study options in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures