Guide to studying Middle Eastern & African Studies

CONTENTS

1. What's Middle Eastern & African Studies?

2. Why study Middle Eastern & African Studies?

3. What jobs can you get as a Middle Eastern & African Studies graduate?

4. What do graduates do and earn?

5. What qualifications do you need?

6. What degrees can you study?

7. How will you be assessed?

8. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

What's Middle Eastern & African Studies?

Middle Eastern Studies is a name given to the study of the history, culture, politics, economies and geography of the Middle East, encompassing Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria.

African Studies is the study of the continent's cultures and societies, as opposed to its geology, geography and zoology. The field includes the study of Africa's history, ethnicity, culture, politics and economy.

Similar courses for Middle Eastern & African Studies include: 

• African Studies
• Modern Middle Eastern Studies

Why study Middle Eastern & African Studies?

Middle Eastern & African Studies is a broad subject area with several different course options offered at different universities. It accommodates a wide variety of topics that engage with the region's diversity and is a good pathway into numerous MA and postgraduate courses.

Read our six reasons to study Middle Eastern & African Studies for more information on why you might choose this subject area.

What jobs can you get?

Middle Eastern & African Studies degrees teach transferable skills, such as presentation, research and communication, as well as a rounded cultural knowledge and second language.

Particular job areas include recruitment, research, translation and interpretation, secretarial work, teaching and lecturing, and consular assistant.

Numerous companies offer graduate schemes in this subject, including the governments and embassies of countries in these areas.

What do graduates do and earn?

In the infographic below, the first table shows what graduates of Middle Eastern & African Studies have gone on to do in the months after their graduation.

The second table shows the average salaries of undergraduate Middle Eastern & African Studies students entering employment. The three skill levels – high, medium and low – reflect the UK's Standard Occupational Classification's major groups 1–3, 4–6 and 7–9 respectively.

Source: HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18

What qualifications do you need? 

Grade requirements vary depending on the university. You should confirm the entry requirements for the particular university and course you're interested in.

What degrees can you study?

• BA African Studies & History of Art
• BA Arabic & Archaeology
• BA Middle Eastern Studies & Politics
• BSc International Management with a year abroad in Africa or the Middle East

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed in a variety of ways. Each module at each individual university on each unique course will be assessed differently. Mostly, it's done via coursework essays, group and individual presentations, or formal examinations. A dissertation is usually a final year option.

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Examples of taught MAs and research degrees at postgraduate level include straight MAs in Middle East or African Studies, as well as history-focused courses on the regions, International Management, Law in Middle East and Africa, and in one of the regional languages.