Modern Languages (Arabic and German) and International Relations
Arabic, German, and international relations is an ambitious trilingual and interdisciplinary degree that brings together two of Europe's and the Middle East's most significant languages with the analytical study of global politics. Arabic is by far the most commonly used language of the Middle East and one of the six official languages of the United Nations, offering, as St Andrews itself notes, opportunities for comparative analyses across different languages, literatures, cultures, histories, politics, and economics. German is the most widely spoken language in the European Union, the language of Europe's largest economy, and a carrier of an intellectual, literary, and scientific tradition of global significance.
International relations provides the theoretical frameworks to analyse how states and international institutions interact, how conflicts arise and are managed, and how global governance works.
St Andrews' four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, giving you extended immersion in Arabic-speaking and German-speaking environments. You will develop genuine proficiency in both languages alongside the analytical skills that international relations demands, building a combination that is exceptionally rare and genuinely distinctive in the graduate jobs market. The depth of linguistic and cultural knowledge you develop, combined with a rigorous understanding of global affairs, opens doors that more conventional degrees do not.
Graduates with Arabic, German, and international relations work in diplomacy, foreign affairs, intelligence, international journalism, translation and interpreting, international organisations, defence and security, and the private sector in organisations operating in the Middle East or German-speaking Europe. The combination is valued wherever an understanding of both the Arab world and Germany is relevant, which includes many multilateral organisations and international businesses. Postgraduate study in international relations, area studies, or Middle Eastern or European studies is a natural next step.