BA Arabic SOAS University of London

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

In the first year, the programme's major component is the intensive study of Modern Standard Arabic; the student is free to choose as the year's minor component a second module on Arabic culture, Middle Eastern literature or Islam.

The second year continues the study of Modern Standard Arabic and, at the same time introduces the student to classical Arabic and modern Arabic literature. An appropriate fourth module is chosen from the list of approved optional modules.

The third year of the course is spent at an Arab university or Language Institute in the Middle East, where students study the colloquial language as well as Modern Standard Arabic and write an extended essay in Arabic. View the prize-winning essays (with English abstract) written by students.

In the final year study of language and literature is continued at the advanced level. In addition, the freedom to select two other appropriate modules from the list of options gives students the opportunity of specializing in a field of particular interest.

Structure

Students take modules to the value of 120 credits per year. There is some element of choice to develop special interests.

Language modules at an advanced level are also available to students who have the necessary background.

Year 1

Core Module

Must be passed with an overall mark of 50 to proceed to the following year of study.

• Arabic 1 Intensive

Compulsory Module

Choose one of the following modules

• Literature of the Near and Middle East
• Introduction to Arabic Culture

Year 2

Core Module

• Arabic 400

Compulsory Module

and

Guided Option
Choose from the "Second Year Options", below to the value of 30 credits.

or

Open Options
Choose related Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits.

Year 3

SOAS Arabic Language Year Abroad

Students have the choice to spend the Arabic Language Year Abroad at one of the following three institutions:

1. The Alexandria School of Languages, (ACL) in Alexandria, Egypt
2. The Alif Institute in Fez, Morocco
3. The Qasid Institute in Amman, Jordan

Year Abroad programmes run from September to May of the following year and involve 18 to 20 hours of instruction per week. While the syllabus differs somewhat from one institution to the other, the prime focus throughout is on enhancing the students’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in Modern Standard Arabic as well as on imparting an advanced level of competence in the local form of Colloquial Arabic.

Year 4

Core Module

• Arabic 600

and

Compulsory Module
Choose from the "Arabic-related Fourth Year Options" (not all are running every year), below to the value of 30 credits.

and

Guided Options
Choose from the "Arabic-related Fourth Year Options" or the "Other Approved Options" (not all are running every year), below to the value of 30 credits.

or

Open Options
Choose related Language or Non-Language open option modules to the value of 30 credits.

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.

Employment

As a graduate who specialised in Arabic, you will have gained competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, literature, history, cinema, politics, economics or law. Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector. These include: written and oral communication skills; attention to detail; analytical and problem-solving skills; and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.

Because the Middle East occupies a place of major importance in global politics and economics graduates of Arabic has a considerable range of career opportunities. SOAS alumni with degrees in

Arabic have found jobs in business, finance and diplomacy, as well as in humanitarian aid, higher education and the media. There is also an increasing need for graduates of Arabic in Arab companies with subsidiaries in the East and the West.

Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:

• Policy Advisor
• Production Manager
• Teacher
• HM Ambassador to Beirut
• British High Commissioner
• Senior Advisor
• Political Analyst, East and Central Africa
• Press Attache
• Journalist/Author
• Delegate
• Senior Research Fellow
• Paralegal
• Professor, Social Psychology
• Associate, Emerging Markets
• Professor of Islamic Studies

Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:

• Amnesty International
• Arab British Chamber of Commerce
• British High Commission
• Capital Advisory Group
• CNBC
• Department for International Development
• Embassy of Jordan
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• House of World Cultures
• ICRC
• Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
• Middle East International
• National Center for Social and Criminal Research
• Royal United Services Institute
• Saïd Foundation
• United Nations