Middle Eastern Studies and Intensive Languages (Near Middle Eastern Languages)

The MA in 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 MA Middle Eastern Studies with 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 2-years full-time or 4-years part-time.

You can view all the intensive language options available in the combined courses tool below.

Why study Middle Eastern Studies and Intensive Language at SOAS

• SOAS is ranked 7th in the UK for African and Middle Eastern Studies (Complete University Guide 2026)
• We are ranked 2nd in the UK for 'graduate prospects' (Complete University Guide 2026)
• We are ranked 13th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• Modern Languages and Linguistics at SOAS has been ranked 10th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
• We are ranked 4th for research environment - with 100% of our research ranked as 'internationally excellent' and 85% as 'world-leading' - and 8th for research outputs in the REF 2021