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School of Government & International Affairs

MSc in Arab World Studies

The Broad Aims of the Programme are:

  • To establish a cadre of exceptional researchers, qualified at the Masters levels, with skills and knowledge sufficient for the conduct of research in and on the Arab World.
  • To recruit students of high calibre who have not previously completed any substantive research training and who have few or no Arabic language skills.
  • To provide generic training in research methods and methodologies in the social sciences at the level deemed appropriate for ESRC recognition.
  • To provide subject-specific training in research methods and methodologies in Politics, relevant also to International Relations and International Studies.
  • To provide intensive language instruction in the Arabic language, such that the student develops appropriate and sufficient competence to utilise the language in their subsequent research, or employment in the Arabic-speaking world.
  • To develop the knowledge, skills and understanding which will prepare students to undertake research for a doctoral degree in Politics, International Relations and International Studies, and which may be required of a professional researcher in these  fields of  the social sciences.
  • To develop the student's knowledge of the range  of  existing disciplinary, multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research on the Arab World.
  • To develop their awareness of the cultural and social environment of the Arab World, and to enhance their abilities to design and conduct research within that environment.

    This  MSc Programme is specifically focused to provide research training simultaneously with Arabic language training.  It is designed to include all the pertinent requirements of  the one-year research-training masters degree (the ‘1' of the ‘1+3' model) as set out in the ESRC Postgraduate Training Guidelines.  ALL the research training or subject-specific modules are taught at  Durham and are components of ESRC recognised research training masters at Durham. On completion of the programme, it is anticipated that students will have fulfilled the requirements of a normal ESRC research training masters, as well as having attained their language proficiency.

Specifically the course will include: 

Consult the MSc Arab World Studies degree regulations for further information on modules taken in Years 1 and 2.

Students will need to negotiate their particular optional choices and pathways in discussion with the Director of the programme Professor A. Ehteshami, with students sharing a common generic methodologies and Arabic skills base, but having freedom to develop particular strength in fields of their choice.

Entry Requirements:

  • You will normally need to have a good honours degree (2:1, upper second or a first) or its equivalent, in an appropriate subject (either in Arts and Humanities or the Social Sciences) from a recognised university.  
  • An IELTS score of 7.0 or above, no component below 6.5 or a TOEFL PBT score of 600 or above, or a TOEFL IBT score of 100 or above with no element below 25.  We also accept the University of Cambridge test of English with a pass at Grade B or above. If it has been more than two years since a certificate of proficiency has been taken than an up-to-date test must be completed. Students taking the Durham University English Language Centre pre-sessional course will be required to achieve a grade of B or above.
  • Applicants must provide two references, one of which should be academic; these can either be sent by applicants in signed and sealed envelopes, or they can be sent directly to the School. We also accept letters or emails from refereees.