Middle East Studies and Spanish
Middle East Studies and Spanish is a combination degree that connects the deep regional expertise developed through the study of the Middle East with the linguistic reach of Spanish, one of the world's most widely spoken languages. Middle East Studies provides historical, cultural and political training across one of the most consequential and complex regions in contemporary world affairs, covering the history of the Middle East from the rise of Islam through to the present and engaging with the languages, literatures and political dynamics of the region. Spanish, meanwhile, opens access to the cultures, politics and economies of Spain and Latin America, a vast and diverse world of more than twenty countries with rich intellectual and literary traditions.
At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, a structural feature that is central to the linguistic and cultural depth the degree develops. You will study the history and intellectual traditions of the Middle East alongside developing proficiency in Spanish, building the comparative perspectives and cross-cultural competence that careers in international affairs, development and diplomacy increasingly demand. The combination of regional expertise in the Middle East with Spanish language competence is relatively rare and genuinely distinctive in the employment market.
Graduates from Middle East Studies and Spanish programmes are well-placed for careers in diplomacy, the foreign service, international development, journalism, the intelligence community, international organisations, NGOs, academia and research. The combination of a deep understanding of the Middle East's history and culture with Spanish language skills and the comparative perspectives the degree develops is particularly relevant to organisations working across the Global South or in contexts where these two regions intersect. Postgraduate study in Middle Eastern studies, Spanish, international relations, area studies or security studies is a natural continuation.