MA Arabic and Ancient Greek
UCAS code: QQK7
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: Full-time
School: Literatures, Languages and Cultures
College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Introducing MA Arabic and Ancient Greek
Classical Greek heritage has been enormously important for Islamic thought, and to a considerable extent - via Arabic - in western thought after the 12th century CE. The inextricable links between Arabic and ancient Greek, and between associated civilisations, makes this a highly desirable programme combination.
Today, Arabic is the main language of more than 250 million people inhabiting a huge swathe of the land extending from the Atlantic to the Persian Gulf. It is the sixth most widely spoken language in the world and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Apart from opening the door to a fascinating and varied region, knowledge of Arabic provides access to the rich intellectual heritage of Islam.
This joint programme aims to develop your interest in, and knowledge and understanding of, both Arabic and ancient Greek, together with the literature, culture and history of the classical and Islamic Mediterranean and Middle East.
Year 1
You will study elementary Arabic to learn basic grammar and develop your vocabulary. You will also take courses in Islamic history and Islamic and Middle Eastern cultures and you will choose two courses of beginners' or advanced intermediate Greek, as appropriate.
Year 2
You will continue with your language study in Arabic and Greek and you will study two survey courses on the history and culture of the Greek world.
Year 3
If international travel restrictions allow, you will spend Year 3 in an Arabic-speaking country, improving your language skills and undertaking independent study. You will also undertake year abroad work for the ancient Greek side of your programme.
If international travel is not possible, you will be offered alternative ways of engaging with your subjects. This will allow you to meet your learning outcomes and prepare for your final year.
Year 4
You will continue to develop your language and translation skills and will write your honours dissertation. You will also choose from a range of specialist option courses dealing with different aspects of Islam and the Middle East and classics.
Our facilities
Teaching takes place in and around the University of Edinburgh's Central Area, where we have excellent:
computing and audiovisual resources
support services
social spaces
You will also have access to over 23,000 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies resources in our collections, including Islamic manuscripts.
The city
Edinburgh is a world-leading festival city bursting with cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries and collections. These include the National Library, Museum, and Galleries of Scotland.
Study abroad
If international travel restrictions allow, you will spend Year 3 abroad (a minimum of 30 weeks), choosing between at least two different countries in the Arabic-speaking world.
This is your chance to immerse yourself in Arabic-language and culture. It will allow you to develop broader life experience and skills that you can use after university.
How will I learn?
Experienced lecturers and language instructors will teach a combination of:
- lectures
- tutorials
- language classes
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed using a combination of exams and coursework, including:
- essays
- exercises
- presentations
- oral language examinations
You will also complete a dissertation in your final year.
Programme details
Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.
To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.
More than 250 million people are native speakers of Arabic, the sixth most widely spoken language in the world.
An understanding of the language and its cultures opens doors to a range of careers in:
media
industry
civil service
diplomatic service
non-governmental organisations
Increasing migration and changing global dynamics have created high demand for languages and humanities graduates, both at home and abroad. This includes roles in:
translation
interpreting
education
Our students have also won awards in Outstanding Global Citizenship for tutoring Syrian refugees.
Further study
There are opportunities to continue studying at postgraduate level. Year 4 will help you to develop the research skills needed if you choose this path.
Standard entry requirement
The standard entry requirement is:
- SQA Highers: AAAA-AABB by end of S5 or AAAA-AAAB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
- A Levels: AAB - ABB.
- IB: 36 points with 665 at HL - 34 points with 655 at HL.
Minimum entry requirement
The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:
- SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
- A Levels: ABB.
- IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.
More information for widening access applicants
Required subjects
The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:
- SQA: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: a language other than English at A and English at C.
- A Levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: a language other than English at A or 7 and English at C or 4.
- IB: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: a language other than English at 6 and English at 5.
Additional requirements
Native speakers
Please note that the Arabic degrees involve beginners language study and are not suitable for native or near-native speakers.
Language requirement
For degrees that have a subject requirement of a language other than English, students may not use their own native language to meet this requirement. In these instances, English or an alternative language other than native will be acceptable.
Find out more about entry requirements
International applicants
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
International Foundation Programme
If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.
International Foundation Programme
Mature applicants
We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.
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.
SQA, GCSE and IB
For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:
- SQA National 5 at C
- SQA Standard Grade at 3
- SQA Intermediate 1 at A
- SQA Intermediate 2 at C
- GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4
- Level 2 Certificate Grade C
- IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition) 92 or above with 20 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components.
We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.
English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree 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.
This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.
It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.
Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees for MA Arabic and Ancient Greek
Additional costs
If international travel restrictions allow, Year 3 includes study abroad in the Middle East. You will be responsible for associated travel costs such as flights and visas.
Funding
For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.
- Enquiry Management Team
- Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
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13 degrees in Arabic and Persian
- Arabic and Ancient Greek (MA) QQK7
- Arabic and Business (MA) TN61
- Arabic and French (MA) TR61
- Arabic and History (MA) TV61
- Arabic and Persian (MA) T621
- Arabic and Politics (MA) TL62
- Arabic and Social Anthropology (MA) LT66
- Arabic and Spanish (MA) TR64
- Arabic with Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (MA) T622
- Persian and English Literature (MA) T6Q3
- Persian and Middle Eastern Studies (MA) T63H
- Persian and Social Anthropology (MA) TL66
- Persian Studies (MA) T633