The Middle East in Global Politics MSc

The Middle East continues to command the attention of scholars, journalists, politicians, NGO organisations and the public.

The politics of oil, the Palestine-Israeli conflict, external influences and waves of popular protests across the Arab world raise questions about the region and its place in a changing global world order. Internationally recognised scholars at the University of Edinburgh offer students a unique opportunity to study and develop an advanced theoretical and empirical understanding of the politics, societies and international relations of this region. The programme provides its graduates with a highly advantageous skill set for careers in journalism, international and domestic civil service, international business and further research.

Drawing on interdisciplinary resources and expertise from the University of Edinburgh, this programme enables students to obtain an understanding of the main historical events, processes and actors that shape the political dynamics of the Middle East in a changing world. Through reading and writing assignments and a dissertation, you will learn and integrate a wide range of theoretical traditions in the study of politics and international relations in and of the Middle East.

You will be able to expand your network and deepen your knowledge by participating in the activities of the Middle East Research Group. The group is convened by staff members from the MSc programme. It hosts an interdisciplinary seminar series geared towards discussing work-in-progress by staff and research degrees students from across the university. The group also convenes the Contemporary Middle East Series, a series of public lectures, roundtables and teach-ins on modern and contemporary issues related to the region. The Series featured scholars and experts based in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Providing an advanced training in the politics and international relations of an important world region, this programme provides graduates with a highly advantageous skill set for careers in journalism, international and domestic civil service, international business and further research.