Greek and Persian

Greek and Persian is a combination that places two of the ancient world's most important literary and cultural traditions in dialogue. Ancient Greek is the language of some of the most significant texts in Western intellectual history, including the works of Homer, the tragedians, Plato and Aristotle, as well as the New Testament. Persian, one of the great literary languages of the Islamic world, carries a comparably rich heritage of poetry, philosophy, history and spiritual writing produced across Central and South Asia over more than a millennium.

Studying both opens a unique window onto two civilisations whose encounters, from the Persian Wars to the spread of Hellenistic culture into Central Asia, shaped the ancient and medieval worlds.

At the University of St Andrews this four-year full-time MA (Hons) develops your language skills in both Greek and Persian, building the competence needed to engage with original texts in both traditions. You will develop skills in literary analysis, historical contextualisation and cultural interpretation alongside rigorous linguistic training. The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in an international academic context.

The combination of two classical languages and their associated literary and intellectual traditions demands considerable linguistic commitment and rewards it with a distinctive scholarly perspective.

Graduates from degrees in classical or ancient languages are well placed for careers in academia, teaching, publishing, translation, heritage and archival work, as well as in roles across the civil service, law and public policy where exceptional analytical and communication skills are valued. The intellectual rigour demanded by mastering two complex ancient languages translates into strong critical thinking and close-reading abilities that employers across many sectors recognise. For those pursuing academic careers, the combination of Greek and Persian provides a distinctive profile for postgraduate study in classics, Persian studies, ancient history, Islamic studies or comparative literature.