Classical Studies and Middle East Studies

Classical studies and Middle East studies is a combination that places you at two of the most formative civilisations in human history, examining the ancient Mediterranean world alongside the cultures, languages, religions, and politics of the Middle East across both historical and contemporary periods. Classical studies at its richest is not merely the study of Latin and Greek: it encompasses the literature, philosophy, history, art, religion, and political thought of Greece and Rome, and traces how those traditions have been received, transformed, and contested in the centuries since antiquity. Middle East studies brings comparable breadth to a region of extraordinary linguistic and cultural diversity, examining its histories, literatures, and contemporary dynamics.

At St Andrews this four-year MA (Hons) programme draws on the genuine depth of the classical studies tradition at the university, allowing you to explore the power of Greek tragedy, the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, the history of the Roman republic and empire, and the richness of Latin literary culture, while also developing substantial knowledge of the Middle East. The two fields complement each other in illuminating ways: the ancient Near East was deeply entangled with the classical world, and studying both gives you a richer understanding of each. A year abroad is embedded in the programme, giving you the opportunity to study at an international institution and broaden your exposure to different scholarly and cultural traditions.

The degree develops sophisticated skills in close reading, historical analysis, cross-cultural interpretation, and sustained critical argument. You will engage with primary sources in translation and, where relevant, in their original languages.

Graduates pursue careers in academia, heritage and museum work, journalism, the civil service, international relations, education, and the cultural sector. The combination of classical learning and Middle East expertise is particularly distinctive in fields where deep area knowledge alongside analytical and interpretive skill is valued.