MA (Hons) Arabic and Persian in Edinburgh United Kingdom | The University of Edinburgh

This comprehensive joint honors program offers you the chance to master languages spoken by over 470 million people globally. Combining Arabic and Persian provides access to a diverse and captivating region spanning the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. These languages also serve as portals to Islam's rich intellectual traditions.

Arabic ranks as the world's sixth most spoken language and holds official status at the United Nations. Persian, known as Farsi in Iran, Dari in Afghanistan, and Tajik in Tajikistan, serves as Iran's national language.

Our four-year curriculum delivers in-depth training in both classical and contemporary Arabic and Persian.

You can begin each language from scratch, progressively building advanced competencies—including translation skills—throughout your studies.

The program cultivates fluency in modern Arabic and Persian across written and spoken forms, enabling you to discuss diverse contemporary topics with confidence.

Your linguistic journey will unlock original source materials that enhance your exploration of:

social structures, religious practices, and cultural expressions
historical developments and political systems
literary works, artistic traditions, and cinematic productions.

Degree-level language study showcases your communication abilities and cultural adaptability—qualities employers recognize as valuable Intercultural Competence.

In addition to language proficiency and deep cultural understanding, earning a four-year Master of Arts from the University of Edinburgh demonstrates:

intellectual sophistication
personal resilience
adaptive thinking.

Graduates emerge with demonstrable skills including:

analyzing and articulating complex concepts
managing multiple project deadlines effectively
collaborating in teams and working autonomously