| The award | How you will study | Study duration | Course start | Domestic course fees | International course fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA | Full-time | 3 years | September | GBP 9250 per year | GBP 17500 per year |
This degree gives you a deep and wide-ranging understanding of the history, politics and culture of the Middle East. From the early history of the Arabs and Islam to the complex international relations of today, you'll build your knowledge of the religious, social, cultural and political life of a diverse and fascinating region.
Core modules will build up your knowledge base on the key issues and themes in Middle Eastern studies, but you'll choose from a range of optional modules to shape a programme that suits you. You can choose from a variety of topics, from Arab cinema to the Qur'an and Islamic legal theory.
You don't need to be able to speak Arabic, but you're also welcome if you do - and at every level of study, you can choose Arabic language modules to develop those skills. You can even try something different by learning Turkish or Persian. Whether you decide to do this or not, you'll still develop a real insight into the context of communities across the Middle East.
Year 1 can be studied part-time over two years through the Lifelong Learning Centre. The remaining years will be completed full-time through the School. For more information visit Arabic, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies on the Lifelong Learning Centre website.
Leeds has a wealth of facilities for students of Middle Eastern studies. Our departmental archive contains 500 Arabic manuscripts, as well as 10,000 archaeological artefacts that ranging from Pharaonic to early Palestinian eras. It's a fantastic research resource - as is our library, which has extensive collections relating to Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.
If you choose to study Arabic or another Middle Eastern language during your degree, you'll find that Leeds has excellent language facilities too, including a fully equipped Language Centre with digital language labs, audio-visual booths and Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL). There's also our Electronic Resource Information Centre, which features specialised computing facilities for translation studies and Interpreter Training Suites to help you explore your career options.
Course content
Core modules in your first year will give you a sense of the diverse politics, history and civilisations that have shaped the Middle East today. You'll also begin to tailor your degree to your interests, with optional modules allowing you to explore areas such as the region's media, Islamic theology or even new languages.
The following year you'll be able to build on this knowledge as you explore issues such as Zionism, the Arab-Israeli conflict and modern Middle Eastern society while choosing from a range of optional modules on topics from the Qur'an to Islamic legal theory.
Throughout your studies, you'll develop critical and research skills alongside your subject knowledge. In your final year you will continue to strengthen these across your module choices, but you will also put them into practice in your final year project - an independent piece of research on a topic of your own choosing.
Course structure
These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Entry requirements, fees and applying
Entry requirements
A-level: ABB
Career opportunities
Middle Eastern studies is a fascinating subject that will give you deep cultural awareness of a fascinating and complex part of the world. It will also equip you with a variety of transferable skills. You'll have strong research skills, and you'll be able to think critically about the information you find before drawing your own conclusions. You'll also be able to communicate your views clearly and defend them in debate - all of which are skills in demand from employers.
Graduates have gone into careers in the media, business and finance, administration, the civil service and government departments, think tanks, the charity sector and global organisations such as the United Nations, where an understanding of the region's culture and politics is vital.
We're committed to helping you achieve your career ambitions. The Faculty of Arts offers a number of internships every year, and we work closely with the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies' Work Placements Officer to source internship and training opportunities.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That's one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
Study abroad and work placements
Study abroad
On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. The University has partnerships with more than 400 universities worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America.
Find out more at the Study Abroad website.
Work placements
Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.
Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.
Contact University of Leeds to find course entry requirements.
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