MA Iranian Studies

Immerse yourself into the intricate tapestry of Iran's contemporary history, culture, politics, language and international relations within the Middle East and beyond and become an expert on Iran and its wider region.

At SOAS, you'll benefit from our prime location in the heart of London. Immerse yourself in a vibrant academic community and take advantage of opportunities to learn Persian and other Middle Eastern languages. This unique programme is offered by only a handful of universities worldwide, placing SOAS at the forefront of Iranian Studies.

Why study MA Iranian Studies at SOAS?

• SOAS is ranked 1st in London and 9th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2023 for Middle Eastern and African Studies.
• We are ranked Top 10 in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2023 for African and Middle Eastern Studies.
• Modern Languages and Linguistics at SOAS has been ranked 10th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
• We are ranked 6th in the UK for employability (QS World University Rankings 2023).
• We are ranked 4th for research environment - with 100% of our research ranked as 'internationally excellent' and 85% as 'world-leading' - and 8th for research outputs in the REF 2021.

Scholarships

Our programme is supported by two highly competitive and generous scholarships: the Kamran Djam scholarships and the Shapoorji Pallonji Scholarship. Applicants have the opportunity to apply for both, enhancing their chances to support their studies in the MA Iranian Studies or MA Iranian Studies with Intensive Persian.

Comprehensive curriculum

The MA in Iranian Studies features an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to enrich your understanding of the religious, political, and cultural influences shaping contemporary Iran and its region.

Engage with leading scholars

SOAS hosts its own Centre for Iranian Studies, offering students the chance to engage with international scholars and attend regular seminars. These events provide a platform to explore diverse aspects of Iranian Studies, enriching your academic experience and professional network.

Join us at SOAS University of London and embark on a transformative journey to become a leading expert in Iranian Studies.

Part-time studies

Part-time students divide their workload of the required modules evenly between the number of years of part-time study, with the dissertation module taken in the last year of study. It is also best practice to take the Major module in the last year of study.

However, different arrangements are possible with the approval of the convenor of the Major module.

Graduates of the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with skills in written and oral communication, analysis and problem solving.

Recent School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics graduates have been hired by:

• Africa Matters
• Amnesty International
• Arab British Chamber of Commerce
• BBC World Service
• British High Commission
• Council for British Research in the Levant
• Department for International Development
• Edelman
• Embassy of Jordan
• Ernst & Young
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Google
• Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
• Middle East Eye
• Saïd Foundation
• TalkAbout Speech Therapy
• The Black Curriculum
• The Telegraph
• United Nations Development Programme
• UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
• Wall Street Journal

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