This programme equips students with a broad knowledge and in-depth understanding of the cultural, historical, political and religious contexts that have shaped the Middle East, North Africa and the wider Muslim world. This course also includes the opportunity to study languages such as Arabic and Persian. The programme aims to produce graduates with a range of transferable skills and competencies.
Students will take modules which provide them with an opportunity to develop their study of Islam, one of the most influential and widely practised religions in the world, and a subject of strategic importance both in the global context and in modern Britain. They will also learn about contemporary relevant issues of the Middle East and North Africa, and explore themes such as cultural identity, gender and race. In addition to compulsory modules on key issues and themes, they also choose from a range of optional modules such as Arab culture, politics, performance, Qur’anic Studies and Islamic law.
Modules at level 2 and 3 enable students to deepen their knowledge of particular aspects of the region. They help students build knowledge on concepts such as postcolonialism, decoloniality and Critical Muslim Studies. In addition to core modules on key issues and themes, students can choose from a range of optional modules such as Arab culture, politics and performance to Qur’anic Studies and Islamic law.
Students can access a wide range of co-curricular activities, such as Qur’anic Arabic and the ‘Amimiyyah’ seminars (readings of classical Islamic madrasah texts), offered by the School's Iqbal Centre for Critical Muslim Studies.
Students are expected to graduate with a sound knowledge of the Arabic language, invaluable experience of life in an Arabic-speaking society. Alongside gaining cultural and historical knowledge, Students also develop transferable skills to become a resilient and adaptable graduate. They will have the chance to enhance their ability to be self-reflective and critical, and to become a considered, informed thinker. Explore important themes such as cultural prejudice, politics, sexuality, gender and race. Learn from leading experts in critical areas such as international relations; Arabic linguistics; Islamic law and legal theory; Muslim reformist thought; Islamophobia; and Muslim intellectual history.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARAB1171 | Studying the Middle East and North Africa | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| ARAB1220 | Islamic Theology | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Optional modules 1
Candidates will be required to study 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARAB1015 | Arabic for Beginners | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| ARAB1030 | Introduction to Arab and Islamic Civilisation | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| ARAB1150 | Early and Medieval Islamic History | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| LANG1190 | Persian beginners (A1) | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LANG1192 | Persian post-beginners: language and society (A2) | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Optional modules 2:
Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL1050 | Introduction to Audio-Visual Culture | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| MODL1060 | Language: Structure and Sound | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| MODL1100 | Politics, Culture and Society | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| MODL1150 | Worlds of Literature | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| MODL1401 | Discourse, Culture and Identity | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates are required to study 20 credits of Discovery modules.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARAB2181 | Cultures of the Arab Middle East and North Africa | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| ARAB2312 | Islamic Law: Authority, Continuity and Change | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates are required to study 20 credits from the following list of optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARAB2007 | Arabic for Beginners 2 | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| ARAB2095 | Global Media: Discourse, Representation and Society | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates are required to study 40 credits from the following list of optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARAB2066 | Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| ARAB2190 | Global Jihad: From the Taliban to ISIS | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| ARAB2310 | Modern Middle Eastern History | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates may study up 20 credits of the following optional modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL2015 | Black Europe | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| MODL2070 | Reception, Transmission and Translation: The Global Circulation of Literature | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| MODL2075 | Global Environmental Humanities | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL2250 | Digital Communications Across Cultures | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates may study 20 credits of Discovery modules.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARAB3072 | Islam and Modernity | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| ARAB3110 | Middle Eastern Politics: Regimes, Societies and Conflict | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL3050 | Final Year Project | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARAB3090 | The Qur’an and the Hadith: Muslim Scriptural Sources | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| ARAB3100 | Arabic for Beginners 3 | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| ARAB3190 | Performing Islam: Piety and Environment in Dialogue | 20 | Not running in 202526 |
Candidates will be required to study 20 credits of discovery modules
Last updated: 15/07/2025 16:55:45
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