Modern Languages (Arabic and French) and International Relations

Combining Arabic and French with international relations creates one of the most intellectually ambitious and professionally relevant programmes in modern languages and social science. Arabic is the language of the Middle East and much of North Africa, a region of profound geopolitical significance, and knowledge of it opens a dimension of understanding that no amount of English-language reading can fully replicate. French is a global language of diplomacy, culture, and commerce, widely used in international institutions and across the African continent.

International relations provides the analytical frameworks for understanding how the world is ordered, how states and other actors interact, and what drives conflict and cooperation.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time programme combines the linguistic training and cultural depth of both languages with the theoretical rigour of international relations. You will develop working proficiency in Arabic and French alongside a thorough grounding in international relations theory and contemporary world politics. The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to develop your language skills in an immersive environment and to engage with political realities on the ground in a region of your choice.

The combination of two very different world languages and an analytically demanding social science is genuinely rare in British higher education.

You will develop analytical thinking, cross-cultural competence, linguistic proficiency in two major world languages, and the research and communication skills that international careers demand.

Graduates pursue careers in diplomacy, the foreign service, international organisations including the UN and EU, NGOs, journalism, intelligence, international law, and business roles requiring engagement with Arabic-speaking or Francophone regions. Postgraduate study in international relations, Middle Eastern studies, Arabic, or French is a well-established continuation.