Modern Languages (Arabic and Russian) and International Relations

Arabic, Russian and international relations is a combination of unusual strategic depth, bringing together two languages that are central to understanding the most contested geopolitical regions of the contemporary world. Arabic is the most widely spoken language of the Middle East and North Africa, the liturgical language of Islam and the language through which a vast and diverse civilisation has produced its literature, philosophy and political thought. Russian is the official language of Russia and a lingua franca across much of the former Soviet space, essential for engaging with one of the world's major military and energy powers and with the complex political dynamics of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

International relations provides the analytical frameworks for making sense of the power dynamics within which both language zones operate.

At the University of St Andrews you will study across four years full-time, including a year abroad that deepens your linguistic fluency in one or both languages and your understanding of the regions they open up. You will develop both languages alongside the theoretical and empirical content of international relations, covering questions of power, security, conflict, cooperation, international organisations and human rights in ways that are directly illuminated by your linguistic and cultural expertise.

Graduates with Arabic, Russian and international relations backgrounds are among the most sought-after in the intelligence and security community, the diplomatic service, international organisations, journalism, think tanks and policy research. The rarity of this combination, particularly the capacity to work in both Arabic and Russian professional contexts, is a significant professional asset. Many graduates pursue careers in government departments and agencies, international organisations and the security sector, while others go on to postgraduate study in international security, Middle Eastern or Russian and Eastern European studies, international law or intelligence and strategic studies.