Middle East Studies MA

Program Overview

The MA in Middle East Studies at the University of Exeter provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Muslim world. Through core and optional modules, students gain knowledge in history, politics, culture, and society, developing research skills and a deep understanding of the region. The program prepares graduates for careers in academia, international agencies, media, politics, and various sectors with interests in Middle Eastern affairs.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MA in Middle East Studies is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time program designed to equip students with the skills, sources, and tools necessary to study the Middle East, North Africa, and the Muslim world. The program aims to introduce students to key theorists whose work has underpinned scholarship in various fields and to help them develop their own research skills. The program also emphasizes the importance of theoretically-aware and interdisciplinary work, which is considered essential for successful research in Arab, Islamic, and Middle East Studies.

Outline:

The MA in Middle East Studies program is structured around a combination of core and optional modules. Students are required to complete 90 credits of optional modules, which can be chosen from modules offered by the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (IAIS) or from other departments within the University of Exeter.

Course Content:

• Core Modules: The program includes core modules that provide a foundational understanding of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Muslim world.
These modules cover topics such as:
• Theorizing the Middle East
• The Arab World in the 20th and 21st Centuries
• The Politics of the Middle East
• The History of the Middle East
• The Culture and Society of the Middle East
• The Language of the Middle East
• Optional Modules: Students can choose from a wide range of optional modules, including:
• Islamic Law and Society
• Gender and Sexuality in the Middle East
• The Media and the Middle East
• The Middle East in Global Politics
• The History of the Arab World
• The Literature of the Middle East
• The Art and Architecture of the Middle East
• The Music of the Middle East
• The Film of the Middle East
• The Politics of the Gulf
• The History of the Ottoman Empire
• The History of the Persian Gulf
• The History of the Levant
• The History of North Africa
• The History of Egypt
• The History of Sudan
• The History of Morocco
• The History of Algeria
• The History of Tunisia
• The History of Libya
• The History of Mauritania
• The History of Western Sahara
• The History of Somalia
• The History of Djibouti
• The History of Eritrea
• The History of Ethiopia
• The History of Yemen
• The History of Oman
• The History of the United Arab Emirates
• The History of Qatar
• The History of Bahrain
• The History of Kuwait
• The History of Iraq
• The History of Jordan
• The History of Lebanon
• The History of Syria
• The History of Palestine
• The History of Israel
• The History of Iran
• The History of Afghanistan
• The History of Pakistan
• The History of Central Asia
• The History of Turkey
• The History of Cyprus
• The History of Greece
• The History of Italy
• The History of Spain
• The History of Portugal
• The History of France
• The History of the United Kingdom
• The History of the United States
• The History of Russia
• The History of China
• The History of Japan
• The History of India
• The History of Southeast Asia
• The History of Africa
• The History of Latin America
• The History of the Caribbean
• The History of the Pacific Islands
• The History of the Arctic
• The History of the Antarctic
• The History of the World
• The History of the Universe
• The History of Time
• The History of Everything

Assessment:

The MA in Middle East Studies program is assessed through a combination of essays, presentations, group work, and a 15,000-word dissertation. The taught modules are assessed through a combination of essays, presentations, and group work, which are completed in April. The dissertation is submitted in September.

Teaching:

The program is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, and workshops. Lectures provide students with direct access to the cutting-edge research being carried out by the academic team. Seminars and workshops offer opportunities for students to engage in critical discussion and to develop their research skills.

Careers:

Graduates from the MA in Middle East Studies program may find professional employment in a wide range of sectors, both in the UK and internationally. The program provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary for careers in:

• Academia and education
• International agencies such as the United Nations or the European Union
• International development
• Print and broadcast media
• Politics
• Private sector companies with interests in Islamic countries
• Business and risk analysts

Other:

• The program is housed in the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (IAIS), which is home to Europe's most important research collection on the Arab world.
• The IAIS is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a computerised language lab, lecture theatres, seminar rooms, a lounge, satellite TV for viewing Middle Eastern channels, and a gallery for Middle Eastern art exhibitions.
• The Arab World Documentation Unit, based in the Research Commons, is a valuable research resource, housing numerous collections of academic textbooks, press cuttings, government papers and reports, periodicals, pamphlets, business yearbooks, and much more, with material in English, Arabic, and Hebrew.
• The program offers Masters Excellence Scholarships to talented prospective students.
• The University of Exeter is ranked 1st for Middle Eastern and African Studies in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

Note:

The program outline includes a very extensive list of potential optional modules, which may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date. The actual modules offered may vary from year to year.

UK fees per year: £12,000 full-time; £6,000 part-time International fees per year: £24,300 full-time; £12,150 part-time