Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) MScR
Awards: MScR
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES)
This programme builds on your knowledge in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies or related fields and aims to develop and enhance your research skills and your skills in academic writing.
It is ideal if you have a clear idea of the independent research you wish to undertake at masters level.
Why Edinburgh
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.
Our research resources and facilities are outstanding, and we have excellent links with a number of centres and networks, including the Alwaleed Centre and the Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies.
You are not required to have any prior competence in a Middle Eastern language, but you will have the opportunity to take courses in Arabic, Persian or Turkish.
Research areas
We are able to supervise research in a wide range of specialist and interdisciplinary areas.
Our expertise includes:
- language and literature: classical and modern Arabic literature, classical Persian literature, cultural transmission and translation between Arabic and Persian cultures
- history and historiography: pre-Islamic Iran, early Islamic history, Ottoman history, modern history and politics, in particular Iraq, Iran and Egypt
- religion: early and classical Islam, Qur’an and Qur’anic exegesis, Hadith, the biography of Muhammad, Sufism, Islam in the Ottoman Empire
- contemporary Muslim politics: Islamism, social movements, comparative social and political change in the Muslim world
- arts and cultures of the Middle East and Muslim societies: particularly visual arts, cinema
- gender and sexuality in the Middle East and North Africa, contemporary Arab media
- Shi’ism: Shi’i history and contemporary Shi’ism
- Islam and Muslims in Europe
There are two possible pathways to the MScR degree:
Pathway I
You will submit two written assignments (each approximately 6,000 words) over the two teaching semesters (this covers the period September - May), and complete a 15,000-word dissertation in the second part of the year (June - August).
In addition, you will take a course in Research Skills and Methods during the first semester, and one in Research Problems and Methods in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies during the second semester. You will take both courses for credit.
Pathway II
You will submit a single 30,000-word dissertation.
In addition, you will audit a course in Research Skills and Methods during the first semester and one in Research Problems and Methods in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies during the second semester.
Auditing a course means attending taught sessions to gain knowledge and skills, but not completing any assignments for credit.
Find out more about compulsory and optional courses
We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MScR | 1 Year | Full-time | Programme structure 2020/21 | |
MScR | 2 Years | Part-time | Programme structure 2020/21 |
You will work closely with expert supervisors and attend research skills courses as part of the programme.
You will also have the opportunity to attend additional training courses in a range of research and professional skills, including through the:
- School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC)
- Careers Service
- University’s Institute for Academic Development (IAD)
Our graduates tell us that they value our friendliness, the connections they make here and the in-depth guidance they receive from our staff, who are published experts in their field.
As part of our research community, you will be immersed in a world of knowledge exchange, with lots of opportunities to share ideas and learning.
Edinburgh contains exceptional resources for study and research in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies.
Based in the Main University Library, the Centre for Research Collections is unique in the UK, bringing together a collection of more than 400,000 rare books, six kilometres of archives and manuscripts, and the University’s collections of art, historical musical instruments and other objects.
Treasures include the Serjeant & Watt Collections of around 6,400 titles on subjects such as:
- Islamic law
- Islamic and medieval philosophy
- the relationship between Islam and Christianity
- the history of the Arab world
- Arabic literature
The University Library also holds some of the world’s most precious Islamic manuscripts, such as:
- Rashid al-Din’s History of the World
- al-Biruni’s Chronology of Ancient Nations
Our buildings are also within walking distance of the National Library of Scotland, which has important collections of manuscripts and early printed books and is one of the UK’s six copyright (legal deposit) libraries.
MScR: A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a related subject.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.
English language tests
For 2021 entry we will accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.5 in each module)
- TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 23 in each module). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 176 in each module)
- Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries.
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MScR | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees | |
MScR | 2 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
*(Revised 3 November 2020 to remove featured funding links.)
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Postgraduate Admissions Office
- LLC Postgraduate Research Office
- Contact: llc.PGResearch@ed.ac.uk
- School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- 50 George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LH
- Programme: Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES)
- School: Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- Prospectus: Literature, Languages & Cultures prospectus (PDF)
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
MSc by Research Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies - 1 Year (Full-time)
MSc by Research Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies - 2 Years (Part-time)
Programme start date | Application deadline |
---|---|
13 September 2021 | 31 July 2021 |
If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
*(Revised 11 November to remove contradictory deadline information.)
You must submit two references with your application.
Pre-application guidance
Before you formally apply for this MScR, you should look at the pre-application information and guidance on the programme website.
This will help you decide if this programme is right for you, and help us gain a clearer picture of what you hope to achieve.
The guidance will also give you practical advice for writing your research proposal – one of the most important parts of your application.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
- Contact: College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Postgraduate Admissions Office
- LLC Postgraduate Research Office
- Contact: llc.PGResearch@ed.ac.uk
- School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- 50 George Square
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LH
- Programme: Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES)
- School: Literatures, Languages & Cultures
- College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- Prospectus: Literature, Languages & Cultures prospectus (PDF)