Arabic
Master the official language of the 22 members of the Arab League and one of the six official languages of the UN. Arabic is one of the strongest links uniting countries as diverse as Iraq and Morocco, and understanding this language is increasingly important in modern politics and international relations.
At St Andrews, you will not only learn the Arabic language, but also study Arab and wider Middle Eastern history, medieval and modern Arabic literature, and Islamic studies.
Undergraduate
Postgraduate taught
Postgraduate research
The School of Modern Languages offers PhD, MPhil, and MSt (Res) research programmes. Research interests in the School cover many aspects of language studies, including:
- literature
- linguistics
- cinema
- history
- gender
- identity issues.
To apply, you should first identify and contact a potential supervisor you would like to work with in your intended research area. Find out how to contact a research supervisor.
“It is amazing to have the opportunity to put your language skills to use within a real-life context and rewarding to be able to read a piece of literature or watch a film and understand what is happening. It makes all the hours of studying worth it.”
- New York, USA
Awards
First in Scotland and second in the UK for languages and linguistics
Guardian University Guide 2023
83% of research activity rated 3* or 4*
Most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021)
School of Modern Languages
The School offers a truly global approach with specialists across eight languages – Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Persian, Russian and Spanish – as well as Comparative Literature.
Expertise spans from the Middle Ages to the present day and includes prose, poetry, theatre, film, history, translation, and material culture.
Studying in St Andrews
The University offers a variety of flexible entry options in order to allow all students, regardless of background or personal circumstances, to apply.
Scholarships and funding options are available at every level of study.
St Andrews has variety of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets.
Visit St Andrews
If you’re interested in studying at St Andrews, join us at a visiting day or talk and tour to explore the town, find out about our courses and meet current students. You can also join us for one of our upcoming online events.
