The University of Edinburgh - Postgraduate Discovery Day
18 Mar 2026, 09:00
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Persian and Social Anthropology
- MA (Hons)
- 4 Years
- Full-time
- 14/09/2026
- Undergraduate
- Central area campus
Course summary
Combining Persian with Social Anthropology, you will learn one of the major languages of the Middle East and Central Asia while studying human behaviour and ideas in a range of contexts:
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social
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cultural
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religious
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political
The modern form of Persian is the first language of over 120 million people. It is the national language of Iran, indigenously known as Farsi. It is spoken as Dari in Afghanistan and Tajik in Tajikistan. To study Persian is to enter into a rich and diverse culture that has produced:
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major epic and Sufi poets
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world-class cinema
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exquisite fine art and textiles
Our programme is designed for complete beginners in Persian. It is not for native speakers, but we do welcome heritage language learners. We can also accommodate students with some prior experience of studying Persian through exemptions from introductory language study.
You will develop advanced language skills over your four years, including in translation. You will learn to express yourself in modern Persian on a wide range of topical issues, and will gain the skills to engage with original material and contemporary Persian texts on:
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society and culture
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history and politics
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literature, art, and cinema
In addition to language learning, you will have the opportunity to learn from researchers who are international leaders in their field. Our programme is your gateway to understanding modern Iran, a dynamic society at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
You will also study the wider Islamic world and the Middle East, and take a range of courses in anthropology. The discipline overlaps with sociology, human geography, and development studies, and is also closely linked to history and philosophy.
You will learn how anthropology contributes to some of the most important issues facing us today and build up the theoretical tools and practical techniques to engage in your own original anthropological research.
Your dissertation will enable you to draw on skills from both sides of your programme, and a range of excellent resources in the University of Edinburgh collections.
When you graduate, you will have the combination of broad cultural education and specialist knowledge valued by employers worldwide.
How long it takes to complete this degree programme
This programme is studied over 4 years, including up to one year abroad. This enables us to build choice and flexibility into your studies, giving you time to explore options, find what you like and build your skills.
Your first two years will be your pre-honours years. They will give you a good grounding in your subjects. In addition to studying core courses, you will broaden your education and skill set by choosing option courses.
Your final two years will be your honours years. You may be able to spend time studying abroad in Year 3, gaining lived experience of Middle Eastern cultures. Year 4 will be tailored to your interests in specific topics or approaches to Persian literature, Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, and social anthropology. You will also further develop your Persian language and translation skills.
Programme benefits
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Learn in an historic city where Persian has been taught since the 19th century.
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Become fluent in a language spoken by over 120 million people worldwide.
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Join societies related to what you are studying.
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Delve into fantastic libraries and collections.
How to apply
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
- EU has vacancies
- Wales has vacancies
- England has vacancies
- International has vacancies
- Scotland does not have vacancies
- Northern Ireland has vacancies
- Republic of Ireland has vacancies
Apply by
14 January
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- TL66
- Institution code:
- E56
- Campus name:
- Central area campus
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Standard Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
A level - ABB
ABB. Required subjects: A levels: no specific A level subjects required. GCSEs: a language other than English at A or 7; English at C or 4.
Scottish Higher - ABBB
ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: a language other than English at A; English at C.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 34 points
34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: a language other than English at 6; English at 5.
This degree programme has a subject requirement of a language other than English. You may not use your own native language to meet this requirement. English or an alternative language other than native will be acceptable.
Persian degrees involve beginners language study and are not suitable for native or near-native speakers.
Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply. You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference.
Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
UCAS Tariff - Not accepted
-
A level - ABB
ABB. Required subjects: A levels: no specific A level subjects required. GCSEs: a language other than English at A or 7; English at C or 4.
Scottish Higher - ABBB
ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: a language other than English at A; English at C.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 34 points
34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: a language other than English at 6; English at 5.
Find out more about minimum qualification requirements for this course.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 92 | total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. |
| Cambridge English Advanced | total 176 with at least 162 in each component. | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | total 176 with at least 162 in each component. | |
| Trinity ISE | ISE II with distinctions in all four components. |
You must prove that you can read, write, listen and speak in the English language at a level that will allow you to succeed in your studies. This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals. You can meet our English language requirements with qualifications from school or an English language test. We accept any of the following, at the specified grade or higher: SQA National 5: English at C;
GCSE: English at C or 4; Level 2 Certificate: English at C; International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level: English at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry). Before you apply, check the required subjects for this programme, as you may need a higher English grade to meet the academic requirements. We also accept other qualifications from around the world. If you don’t have school qualifications that meet our requirements, we accept any of the English language tests, at the specified grade or higher, as detailed above. Qualifications from the following English language tests must be no more than two years old from the start date of your programme, regardless of your nationality: IELTS, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT. All other types of English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of your programme. If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country or region, as defined by UKVI, there is no time limit on how old these other types of English language qualifications can be.
Full details of our English language requirements can be found on our website: https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
The University of Edinburgh welcomes students from the UK and all over the world. We accept a wide range of qualifications and our policies support students with diverse backgrounds and experience. UCAS entry grade data is currently not available for our degrees but we publish admissions statistics on our website. We also provide information on widening access offers and entry requirements.
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not available
Historical entry grades data is not currently available for The University of Edinburgh - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Islands | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £1820 | Year 1 |
| England | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9790 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9790 | Year 1 |
| EU | £29600 | Year 1 |
| International | £29600 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
Scotland - Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.
England/Wales/Northern Ireland - The Rest of UK (RUK) students commencing or continuing their studies in September 2026, the tuition fees will be £9,790. This is subject to Parliamentary approval and is an increase of £255 on the fee rate for academic year 2025-2026.
EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees.
Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme
The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Old College
South Bridge
Edinburgh
EH8 9YL
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Course contact details
Student Recruitment & Admissions
Have a question about undergraduate study?
Email:futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
Phone:0131 650 1000
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