Arabic, Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies

On this course, you’ll learn Arabic, one of the world’s major languages, while also building your understanding of the cultural, historical, political and religious contexts that have shaped the Middle East, North Africa and the wider Muslim world. You’ll gain a firm grounding in spoken and written Arabic which is then strengthened further by spending a year in an Arabic-speaking country, where you will develop your skills in colloquial Arabic. During your year abroad, you’ll study a tailor-made curriculum designed exclusively for our students. In addition to Arabic, you’ll also have the option to expand your wider language skills by learning Persian.

Studying Arabic, Islamic, Middle Eastern and North African Studies gives you a deep and wide-ranging understanding of the cultures, history, politics and societies of these regions. You’ll develop your 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. You’ll also learn about contemporary relevant issues of the Middle East and North Africa, and explore themes such as cultural identity, sexuality, gender and race. In addition to compulsory modules on key issues and themes, you’ll also choose from a range of optional modules such as Arab culture, politics, performance, Qur’anic Studies and Islamic law.

Alongside gaining linguistic, cultural and historical knowledge, you’ll also develop transferable skills to become a resilient and adaptable graduate. You'll enhance your ability to be self-reflective and critical, and to become a considered, informed thinker.

Additional highlights
You’ll learn from tutors who are recognised nationally and internationally as leaders in Arabic language studies. AIMES (Arabic, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies) at Leeds is also renowned for leading the design and development of Arabic language textbooks.

Learn from leading experts in critical areas such as Islamic history, international relations, Islamic law and legal theory, Muslim reformist thought, Islamophobia, Muslim intellectual history, women’s contributions to Islamic history, sectarian difference, historical topics including the Crusades, Islam in China, Cultural anthropology and Arab and Muslim Cinema. From the early history of the Arabs, North Africans and Islam to the complex international relations of today, you’ll build your knowledge through pioneering approaches such as Islamic history and religion through the female lens, postcolonialism, decoloniality and Critical Muslim Studies, which has been pioneered at the University of Leeds.

You’ll have access to a wide range of co-curricular activities, that will broaden and deepen your knowledge beyond the course’s teachings, 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.