MA Arabic and Comparative Literature and Persian
About this course
Arabic, comparative literature, and Persian is a combination that situates two of the world's most significant literary and cultural languages within the broadest possible intellectual frame. Arabic is the most widely used language of the Middle East and North Africa, the medium of Islamic scholarship across centuries, and the vehicle for a literary tradition of extraordinary richness. Persian, the language of Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia, carries one of the most celebrated poetic traditions in world literature, including the work of Rumi, Hafiz, and Omar Khayyam. Comparative literature then opens up the study of texts across all genres, periods, and languages, developing the critical tools to read without borders and to understand how literary traditions speak to one another across time and place. At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time programme draws on expertise across the School of Modern Languages and beyond. Studying Arabic alongside comparative literature offers the opportunity for comparative analyses between different languages, literatures, cultures, histories, politics, and economics, enriching each strand. Your language studies in Arabic and Persian develop proficiency alongside literary and cultural knowledge, while comparative literature equips you with a broad theoretical and critical toolkit. A year abroad is built into the programme, giving you essential immersion in language and cultural environments. With a typical entry tariff of 184 points, the programme is academically demanding and suited to students who bring genuine intellectual curiosity about the world beyond Europe. Graduates pursue careers in diplomacy, international development, academia, journalism, translation, government intelligence, cultural organisations, and international business in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. Postgraduate study in area studies, international relations, or language and linguistics is a common continuation.
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