MA Middle East and Islamic Studies
| Duration |
Full time 1 year Part time 2 years |
|---|---|
| Discipline |
|
| Location |  Exeter (Streatham)
|
| Start date | September |
Overview
The MA in Middle East and Islamic Studies is highly flexible in that it enables you to select 75 credits of options, followed by a 60 credit dissertation on an approved subject of your choice - thereby creating your own personalised programme. This award is very well suited to students who need to study for the specific requirements of an employer, as well as those who welcome the opportunity to create an individualised study pathway.
On this programme you will study three core modules, which will bring you into contact with other students on Institute masters programmes. In this way you will be welcomed as a part of our student community and will benefit from contact with a wide range of students with similar interests, no matter which options you later choose.
Programme structure
Students take a total of 180 credits, comprising 105 compulsory credits stemming from three core modules and a dissertation. Students may also take a further 45 credits from the modules offered by the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies. These include language modules (up to 30 credits only), offered at Undergraduate level to students with no previous knowledge of the language, subject to the approval of the Programme Director.
Compulsory modules
A total of 105 credits stemming from three core modules and a dissertation.
Compulsory modules are:
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARAM190 | Research Methods Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies | 15 |
| ARAM027 | MA Dissertation | 60 |
Students MUST choose two of the following three modules:
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARAM215 | Studying the Contemporary Middle East | 15 |
| ARAM214 | Islamic Culture and Civilization | 15 |
| ARAM213 | Approaches to Middle East and Islamic Studies: States, Societies and Identities | 15 |
Optional modules
You choose 75 credits from the optional modules.
45 credits from modules offered by the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies. You may include language modules in Arabic or Persian (up to a maximum of 30 credits) which are at undergraduate level and do not require you to have any previous knowledge of the language.
30 credits from modules offered by the College of Social Sciences and International Studies (which may include further study of Institute modules).
Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARAM054 | State and Society in the Middle East | 30 | ARAM102 | Islam in Practice | 30 |
| ARAM112A | Independent Reading Course - Sem 1 | 15 |
| ARAM112B | Independent Reading Course - Sem 2 | 15 |
| ARAM131 | Nationalisms in the Middle East | 15 |
| ARAM187 | The Middle East Before 1945 | 30 |
| ARAM188 | The Middle East Since 1945 | 30 |
| ARAM190 | Research Methods Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies | 15 |
| ARAM204 | The History and Historiography of the Palestine Question | 30 |
| ARAM209 | Palestinian Politics after Oslo | 15 |
| ARAM210 | Themes and Conflicts in Iranian History and Culture | 30 |
| ARAM211 | The Revolution of 1978/79, the Islamic Republic and the Politics of Contemporary Iran | 15 |
| ARAM213 | Approaches to Middle East and Islamic Studies: States, Societies and Identities | 15 |
| ARAM214 | Islamic Culture and Civilization | 15 |
| ARAM215 | Studying the Contemporary Middle East | 15 |
| ARAM217 | Sufism, Islamic Mysticism and Devotional Life | 30 |
| ARAM220 | Gender, Politics and Society in the Middle East | 30 |
More detailed information on the modules can be found here Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies modules
College modules
See the full list of all College modules
Undergraduate level language modules
See the full list of Undergraduate level language modules
Some examples below
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARA1015 | Arabic for Beginners I | 30 |
| ARA1013 | Elementary Persian I | 15 |
| ARA1020 | Elementary Persian II | 15 |
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Learning and teaching
Your subject knowledge and skills are developed via lectures, class discussion, group work and student presentations. In the lectures, students will be presented with cutting-edge research carried out by those actually giving the lectures; a reality that is hoped will inspire students. The programme also makes use of class discussions, group work and student presentations (both individual and in groups) as different people learn in different ways. However, there is no doubt that all students, regardless of how they best learn, will benefit from input from their peers. Moreover, group work, class discussion and student presentations are seen as ways in which students can take some responsibility for their own (and each others) learning, which is expected at the MA level.
You will fine-tune your critical reading skills, learn to present in front of an audience, to ask and field incisive questions, and work with your peers to develop consensus views and challenge those of others. A range of media will be used in teaching, from video and audio, newspaper articles and academic journal articles.
As a Masters student you can attend regular research seminars held across the College of Social Sciences and International Studies and organised by our research centres. These are given by academics from Exeter and other Universities in the UK and overseas, as well as guest speakers from the private, public and charity sectors.
Assessing your work
The taught modules on this programme are assessed by a combination of essays, presentations and group work. Following completion of these in April, you will then be assessed by a 15,000-word dissertation for submission in September.
Careers
Graduates from this programme may find professional employment in a wide range of sectors both in the UK and internationally. A comprehensive background in Islamic Studies is relevant to careers in:
- academia and education
- international agencies such as the United Nations or the European Union
- international development
- print and broadcast media
- politics
- private sector companies with interests in Islamic countries
Employment and professional development
Our excellent Employability and Graduate Development Service provides invaluable support, advice and access to graduate employers. Visit the employment and professional development pages for more information, including podcasts and profiles, about the range of support available.
Research areas
Research in the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (IAIS) is divided into three disciplinary research clusters. Staff and postgraduate students (MA, MPhil and PhD students) are affiliated to one these clusters, sharing research findings and participating in seminars, lectures and research projects.
Our research newsletter will also give you a flavour of our research.
Previous graduates have commented that they enjoyed the dissertation element of their programme because of the scope of potential subjects to choose from, due to the number of experts available.
Entry requirements 2017
A 2:1 Honours degree or equivalent in the Social Sciences or Humanities.
Requirements for international students
If you are an international student, please visit our international equivalency pages to enable you to see if your existing academic qualifications meet our entry requirements.
English language requirements
IELTS (Academic)
Overall score 6.5. No less than 6.0 in any section.
TOEFL IBT*
Overall score 90 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, 21 for listening, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking.
Pearson Test of English (Academic)
58 with no less than 55 in all communicative skills.
Other accepted tests
Information about other acceptable tests of linguistic ability can be found on our English language requirements page.
Pre-sessional English
Applicants with lower English language test scores may be able to take pre-sessional English at INTO University of Exeter prior to commencing their programme. See our English language requirements page for more information.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees per year 2017/18
- UK/EU: £7,500 full-time; £3,750 part-time
- International: £16,500 full-time
Funding
Find out about funding opportunities available to students on our taught Masters programmes.
University funding
The Scholarships, Bursaries and Studentships website has information on all available options for funding open to prospective students of taught Masters programmes. You can also use the searchable database of all Scholarships and Bursaries to find funding for which you are eligible.
Fee information
Fees can normally be paid by two termly instalments and may be paid online. You will also be required to pay a tuition fee deposit to secure your offer of a place, unless you qualify for exemption. For further information about paying fees see our Student Fees pages.
UK government postgraduate loan scheme
Postgraduate loans of up to £10,000 are now available for Masters degrees. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.
Contact us
Please contact us if you would like more information about any of our programmes or activities, or if you would like to arrange to come and see us.
Postal address
Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
University of Exeter
Stocker Road
Exeter
EX4 4ND
United Kingdom
Postgraduate Taught admissions
For all enquiries relating to this programme, please contact:
SSIS Student Recruitment Office
Phone: +44 (0)1392 723192
Email ssis-admissions@exeter.ac.uk
Where to find us
The Institute is located on the University’s Streatham Campus. For information on how to find us, please see our directions to Streatham Campus and the Streatham Campus map.