MA Arabic and Politics

Year 1

You will study elementary Arabic to learn basic grammar and develop your vocabulary.

You will also take a course in Modern Middle Eastern History*.

You will also study three compulsory courses in politics:

• Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and Debates and Politics
• International Relations 1B: The Global Dimension
• Political Thinkers (an introduction to political theory).

*(Revised 8 December 2020 to update study details.)

Year 2

You will continue with your language study, and with your study of Modern Middle Eastern History.

You will choose between a course in Islamic history and one on Islamic and Middle Eastern cultures.

You will also study Comparative Politics in a Globalised World.

You will choose one further course from a wide range of options*.

*(Revised 8 December 2020 to update study details.)

Year 3

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 Politics.

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 option courses dealing with different aspects of Islam and the Middle East and from a wide range of specialist courses in politics.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on 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.

Programme structure (2020/21)

Our facilities

Teaching takes place in and around the University of Edinburgh's Central Area in a world-leading festival city bursting with cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries and collections, including the National Library, Museum, and Galleries of Scotland. The Scottish Government is based here, together with many embassies and consulates.

As well as the University's excellent computing and audiovisual resources, support services and social spaces, you'll also have access to over 23,000 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies resources in its collections, including Islamic manuscripts.

Study abroad

You’ll 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 culture, and to develop your broader life experience and skills towards life after university.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Experienced lecturers and language instructors will teach a combination of lectures, tutorials and language classes.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by a combination of exams and coursework, including essays, exercises, presentations and 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.

Programme details (2020/21)

More than 250 million people are native speakers of Arabic, the fifth most widely spoken language in the world.

An understanding of the language, the cultures to which it opens doors, and of politics, is an excellent primer for a range of careers in the diplomatic and civil services, including policy development, and in non-governmental organisations, business and industry.

With increasing migration in response to changing global dynamics, there is high demand for languages and humanities graduates both at home and abroad, including in translation, interpreting, the media, and education. Our students have previously won an award for Outstanding Global Citizenship for tutoring Syrian refugees.

There are also opportunities to continue studying at postgraduate level, with the fourth undergraduate year in particular developing the research skills you’ll need if you choose this path.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAA-AABB by the end of S5 or AAAA-AAAB by the end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.(Revised 08/04/2020 from AAAA-AAAB and to include alternate grades to be achieved by end of S6.)
• A Levels: AAB - ABB.
• IB: 43 points with 776 at HL - 37 points with 666 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.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

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.

Mature applicant 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.

English language requirements

*(Revised 27 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition.)

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 Politics

Additional costs

Year 3 includes study abroad in the Middle East. You will incur associated travel costs (flights, visas etc).

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.

Fees and funding

• Enquiry Management Team
• Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk