International Relations and Persian

International relations and Persian is a combination of striking depth and relevance. International relations examines how states, international organisations, and other actors interact in a world of competing interests, shared challenges, and complex interdependencies. It asks about the origins of war and peace, the making of foreign policy, the operation of trade and financial regimes, the challenges of international terrorism and human rights, and the interaction of political and economic development at a global level.

Persian adds a dimension that relatively few Western graduates possess: fluency in one of the world's most historically significant languages and access to the cultures, literatures, and political landscapes of Iran, Afghanistan, and the broader Persian-speaking world.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year, full-time programme develops your understanding of international relations at an advanced level alongside serious study of Persian language and culture. You will engage with the major theories and empirical debates in international relations while also developing genuine linguistic competence in Persian, reading its classical and modern literature and engaging with the contemporary political and social landscape of the Persian-speaking world. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the chance to develop your language and area knowledge in a Persian-speaking environment.

Graduates from this combination are well positioned for careers in diplomacy, foreign policy, intelligence, international law, journalism, development, and international business, with a regional expertise that is highly sought after by governments, think tanks, NGOs, and multinational organisations. The combination of international relations training with Persian fluency creates a particularly distinctive and valued profile in a region that remains central to global politics. Postgraduate study in international relations, Middle Eastern studies, or Persian studies is a natural next step for those wishing to build deeper expertise.