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Postgraduate Taught

MRes Middle East Studies

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.

UCAS code	1234
Duration	1 year full time 2 years part time
Entry year	September 2025
Campus	Streatham Campus
Discipline	Arab and Islamic Studies
Contact	Programme Director Dr Ahmed Dailami Web: Enquire online Phone: +44 (0)1392 723192

Typical offer View full entry requirements	2:2 Honours degree
Contextual offers

Overview

You’ll develop your research skills through in-depth study of the recent and social history of the Middle East
Receive core training in social scientific philosophy and methodology and learn how to apply this to the study of the contemporary Middle East
You’ll examine how the region has changed and developed over the last 150 years
Join an active and collaborative research culture that draws together doctoral researchers, staff and students to produce cutting-edge knowledge about the Arab and Islamic worlds
Learn discipline specific methodology and analytical techniques that lay the basis for you to progress to doctoral study

Apply online

View 2024 Entry

Fast Track (current Exeter students)

Open days and visiting us

Get a prospectus

Contact

Programme Director: Dr Ahmed Dailami

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies - Archival resources at the University of Exeter.

Second icon

2nd in the UK for African & Middle Eastern Studies

The Complete University Guide 2025

Third icon

3rd for Middle Eastern and African Studies

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Books icon

Home to Europe's most important research collection on the Arab world

Rosette icon

2nd for African & Middle Eastern Studies in The Complete University Guide 2025

Second icon

2nd in the UK for African & Middle Eastern Studies

The Complete University Guide 2025

Third icon

3rd for Middle Eastern and African Studies

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Books icon

Home to Europe's most important research collection on the Arab world

Rosette icon

2nd for African & Middle Eastern Studies in The Complete University Guide 2025

Entry requirements

We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above in the Social Sciences or Humanities or with an MA in a related social science or humanities subject.

Entry requirements for international students

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

This masters is designed to develop your research skills within the field of Middle East Studies. Your core training will be in social scientific philosophy and methodology, which you will then learn to apply to the study of the contemporary Middle East.

The programme is designed to develop your understanding of the history and evolution of the Middle East as a region, as well as introducing you to approaches to studying the area, and specialised quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques appropriate to this specialism.

This programme also forms part of the ESRC SWDTP – a hub of world-class social sciences research.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Modules

Compulsory modules

Code	Module	Credits
ARAM233	Dissertation skills	15
SOCM002A	Philosophy of the Social Sciences 1	15
POLM063	Qualitative Methods in Social Research	15
POLM651	State and Society in the Middle East	30
POLM809	Applied Quantitative Data Analysis	15
ARAM027	MA Dissertation	60

Optional modules

You need to choose a 30 credit ARAMxxx option module as part of your 180 total credits for of the programme.

For details on option modules please use the URL below
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/studyinformation/modules/?prog=arabislamicstudies

Fees

2025/26 entry

UK fees per year:

£12,500 full-time; £6,250 part-time

International fees per year:

£25,300 full-time; £12,650 part-time

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.

For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

^{*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.}

Find out more about tuition fees and funding »

Teaching and research

Teaching

Lectures will give you direct access to the cutting-edge research being carried out by our academic team
Take responsibility for your own learning and that of your peers by participating in group work, class discussions and student presentations
Fine tune your critical reading skills and learn how to ask and field incisive questions
Utilise a range of media from video and audio to articles from newspapers and academic journals

Assessment

The taught modules on this programme are assessed by a combination of essays, presentations and group work. Following completion of these in April, you will then be assessed by a 15,000-word dissertation for submission in September.

Research

Our research is focused on a number of specialist research centres:

Our research culture is collaborative and democratic, drawing together doctoral researchers, staff and students to produce cutting-edge new knowledge about the Arab and Islamic worlds.

As a Masters student you can attend regular research seminars held across the College of Social Sciences and International Studies and organised by our research centres.

Our research newsletter will also give you a flavour of our research.

Facilities

The Institute is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including a computerised language lab, lecture theatres, seminar rooms, lounge, satellite TV for viewing Middle Eastern channels and a gallery for Middle Eastern art exhibitions.

The Arab World Documentation Unit based in the Research Commons is a valuable research resource, housing numerous collections of academic textbooks, press cuttings,  government papers and reports, periodicals, pamphlets, business yearbooks, and much more, with material in English, Arabic and Hebrew.

Professor Gareth Stansfield

Al-Qasimi Professor of Arab Gulf Studies, Professor of Middle East Politics

Dr István Kristó-Nagy

Head of Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology (SPA)

Careers

Graduates from this programme may find professional employment in a wide range of sectors both in the UK and internationally. A comprehensive background in Islamic Studies is relevant to careers in:

Academia and education
International agencies such as the United Nations or the European Union
International development
Print and broadcast media
Politics
Private sector companies with interests in Islamic countries

Employment and professional development

Our excellent Employability and Graduate Development Service provides invaluable support, advice and access to graduate employers. Visit the employment and professional development pages for more information, including podcasts and profiles, about the range of support available.

Further study

The academic skills developed on the MRes Middle East Studies will enable to you to pursue doctoral study. The Institute has an international profile for our pioneering regional focus on the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula and expertise in Islamic Studies providing an ideal place in which to undertake an MPhil/PhD.

MRes Middle East Studies