Modern Languages (Arabic and Persian) and Classical Studies

Arabic and Persian studied alongside classical studies is a combination of unusual intellectual richness, bringing together two of the most significant living languages of the Middle East and Islamic world with the foundational cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. Arabic is the most widely spoken language of the Middle East and the liturgical language of Islam, with a literary and philosophical tradition of extraordinary depth that shaped mediaeval European thought as much as it shaped the Islamic world. Persian carries a classical literary tradition that includes some of the most celebrated poetry ever written, alongside contemporary significance as the language of Iran and a diaspora spanning several continents.

Classical studies provides the Graeco-Roman counterpoint, examining the texts, history and cultures that have influenced Western civilisation most profoundly.

At the University of St Andrews you will study across four years full-time, including a year abroad that deepens your linguistic fluency and cultural understanding. You will develop both Arabic and Persian to a level that allows serious engagement with literature, media and professional contexts, while also building expertise in the languages, history, literature, philosophy and material culture of the ancient Mediterranean world. The combination enables comparative analyses across languages, literatures, cultures, histories and intellectual traditions in ways that few other degree programmes can offer.

Graduates with Arabic, Persian and classical studies are particularly well placed for careers in academia, the diplomatic service, intelligence and security roles, international organisations, journalism, publishing and cultural institutions. The combination of linguistic range and classical learning is valued in roles that require deep cultural understanding across both the Western tradition and the Islamic and Iranian worlds. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in Islamic studies, classical languages, Middle Eastern history, Persian literature or international relations, where this unusual combination of competencies represents a genuine scholarly and professional asset.