A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent. We expect most applicants will have a background in Arabic language/or Middle Eastern studies. You do not need to have a formal Arabic qualification, but you should have a good knowledge of Arabic. Applicants may be asked to complete an Arabic assessment - such as a conversation in Arabic with one of our Arabic teaching staff via Skype - before being offered a place on the programme. The level of Arabic we require is ACTFIL Higher Intermediate/Lower Advanced (the equivalent of CEF B2/C1).
For 2020 entry we accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:
IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.5 in each module)
TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 23 in each module). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
PTE Academic: total 67 (at least 61 in each of the "Communicative Skills" sections)
CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 176 in each module)
Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
For 2021 entry we will accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:
IELTS: total 7.0 (at least 6.5 in each module)
TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition): total 100 (at least 23 in each module). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
CAE and CPE: total 185 (at least 176 in each module)
Trinity ISE: ISE III with a pass in all four components
*(Revised 21 February 2020 to remove PTE Academic from 2021 entry requirements. Revised 21 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition in 2020 and 2021 entry requirements.)
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
This MSc is an intensive language programme coupled with research.
It will equip you to function in Arabic at a high level both orally and in writing. A unique feature of the programme is that spoken Arabic will be taught alongside Modern Standard Arabic.
You will acquire a strong understanding of a major spoken Arabic dialect, which is required to understand films, songs and an increasing amount of oral intellectual discourse. You will also develop your Modern Standard Arabic, enabling you to communicate as an educated native speaker of Arabic.
You will refine your abilities to engage critically and analytically with different aspects of the Arabic language and undertake a sustained piece of independent research that demonstrates the research skills, training and knowledge you have acquired.
You will also have the option of a course in Arabic pedagogy, which will equip you with the skills to teach Arabic to non-native speakers.
The language component of the programme will combine intensive class teaching with a wide range of activities including situational interpreting, listening and summarising and oral presentations. There will also be an e-learning element to the language learning.
The research and option pedagogy components will be delivered in the form of seminars and workshops.
The dissertation or language-based project will involve one-to-one meetings with supervisors and detailed feedback.
The MSc in Advanced Arabic is both a professional and an academic qualification providing students with a solid linguistic as well as research foundation. You could use this qualification to continue in academic life either in teaching or research and the language skills gained will help you to use your Arabic in any professional capacity such as media, business, diplomacy, working for NGOs and other international organisations. Graduates are also in a good position to apply their language skills in various interpretive roles for organisations such as the International Red Cross.
