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

Persian stands as one of the principal languages across the Middle East and Central Asia. Today, it exists in three main varieties that together serve as the native tongue for more than 120 million individuals. In Iran, it's officially called Farsi, while in Afghanistan it's referred to as Dari, and in Tajikistan as Tajik.

Learning Persian opens doors to a vibrant cultural heritage that has given the world:

renowned epic poetry and mystical Sufi verses
breathtaking miniature artworks and luxurious fabrics
internationally acclaimed films.

Our curriculum provides comprehensive training in both classical and contemporary Persian, equipping students to explore original sources across various disciplines.

Students will analyze modern Persian writings covering:

social and cultural themes
historical and political developments
literary works, visual arts, and film
Absolute beginners can embark on this language journey, progressing to advanced proficiency over four years, including translation expertise. This prepares students to discuss diverse contemporary topics in modern Persian.

Beyond language acquisition, the program explores Iran's historical narrative, literary traditions, cultural expressions, and political landscape, along with Islam's profound intellectual legacy.

In our interconnected world facing demographic shifts, Persian-speaking graduates find growing opportunities domestically and internationally. Wherever your path leads, Persian language skills and cultural understanding will give you a distinctive professional advantage.