Near and Middle Eastern Studies

The Near and Middle Eastern Studies programme from SOAS University of Londonprovides training in research methods and the study of theNear andMiddle East, aninterdisciplinary subject area, with research undertaken in the School of Languages, Cultures and linguistics at SOAS.

All students register in year 1 of the programme as MPhil students. The upgrade from MPhil to PhD takes place at the end of the first academic session for full time students (or at the end of the second academic session for Part Timestudents).

Employment

Graduates of the Near and Middle Eastern Studies programme from SOAS University of London leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with skills in written and oral communication, analysis and problem solving.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

• Africa Matters

• Amnesty International

• Arab British Chamber of Commerce

• BBC World Service

• British High Commission

• Council for British Research in the Levant

• Department for International Development

• Edelman

• Embassy of Jordan

• In the first year, students prepare for research by following a research training seminar series (RTS) convened at the Faculty level by the Associate Dean for Research and supported by the generic training on offer in the Academic Development Directorate (ADD) .

• The second year (or part-time equivalent) is normally spent engaged in research. This may be by any combination of fieldwork and research in libraries and material collection as agreed between the student and the supervisor(s).

• The third year (or part-time equivalent) is devoted to writing up research for the PhD thesis. During this time, students will normally give a presentation in a research seminar organised by the Departmental Research Tutor, comprising a select number of staff members with special expertise in the topic and other research students.