Directors of Studies (DoS)
During your undergraduate studies, 2 very important people in your College will be your:
- College Tutor (responsible for your wellbeing)
- Director of Studies (DoS; responsible for your academic welfare and progress)
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies differs from most other Faculties where the role of the DoS is concerned. In less specialised areas, your supervisions will usually be arranged in College by your DoS. In our Faculty, however, supervisions are arranged by the relevant Faculty staff.
Because of this, it is sometimes helpful (though not essential) to have a DoS who works in your specific area. If you have something you want to discuss, you will be able to go straight to your DoS who will be well placed to answer your queries. If your DoS is from a different area, for example, if you are studying Hebrew and your DoS's area is Chinese, there may be a delay, as they will need to consult with other staff.
Do bear in mind, though, that this is only one factor in your choice and you should look at the various aspects of College life before deciding.
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Tripos Directors of Studies
Academic Year 2026-27
Christ's College
Professor Andrew Marsham (Queens')
- Professor of Classical Arabic Studies
- Arabic Studies
Churchill College
- Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in Chinese Studies
- Chinese Studies
Clare College
Professor Roel Sterckx (Clare)
- Joseph Needham Professor of Chinese History, Science & Civilization
- Chinese Studies
Corpus Christi College
Professor Barak Kushner (Corpus Christi)
- Professor of East Asian History
- Japanese Studies
Dr Stefan Tarnowski (Department of Social Anthropology)
- External, Affiliated Lecturer
- Middle Eastern Studies
Darwin College
Professor Christine van Ruymbeke
- Ali Reza & Mohamed Soudavar Professor of Persian Studies
- Persian Studies
Downing College
- University Associate Professor in Modern Japanese Studies
- Japanese Studies
Emmanuel College
Professor Laura Moretti (Emmanuel)
- Professor of Early Modern Japanese Literature and Culture
- Japanese Studies
Fitzwilliam College
Dr Mahbod Ghaffari (Fitzwilliam)
- University Associate Professor in Persian Language, Linguistics and Culture
- Persian Studies
Girton College
- University Associate Professor in Hebrew
- Hebrew Studies
Gonville & Caius College
- University Associate Professor in Classical Chinese and Middle Period China
- Chinese Studies
Homerton College
- University Associate Professor in Hebrew
- Hebrew Studies
Hughes Hall College
Dr Roman Vater (Hughes, external)
Jesus College
- Assistant Professor in Hebrew and the Jews of the Mediaeval Middle East
- Hebrew Studies
King's College
Professor Christina Phillips (King's)
- His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Professor of Modern Arabic Studies
- Arabic Studies
Lucy Cavendish College
- Affiliated Researcher and Bye-Fellow
- Chinese Studies
Magdalene College
Professor Andrew Marsham (Queens')
- Professor of Classical Arabic Studies
- Arabic Studies
Murray Edwards College
- University Associate Professor in Arabic, Year Abroad Arabic Coordinator
- Arabic Studies
Newnham College
- University Associate Professor in Modern Arabic Literature and Culture
- Arabic Studies
Pembroke College
- University Associate Professor in the Eastern Islamic Lands and Persian-Speaking World
- Persian Studies
Peterhouse College
Dr Firuza Melville (Pembroke, external)
Queens' College
Professor Andrew Marsham (Queens')
- Professor of Classical Arabic Studies
- Arabic Studies
Robinson College
- Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in Chinese Studies
- Chinese Studies
St Catharine's College
- University Associate Professor in the Study of Late Imperial China
- Chinese Studies
St Edmunds College
Dr Saussan Khalil
- Senior Teaching Associate in Arabic
- Arabic Studies
St John's College
- University Associate Professor in Classical Chinese and Middle Period China
- Chinese Studies
Selwyn College
- Kawashima University Associate Professor in Japanese Literature and Culture
- Japanese Studies
Sidney Sussex College
- University Associate Professor in the Study of Late Imperial China
- Chinese Studies
Trinity College
Dr Polina Barducci
- Japan and the World Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Japanese Studies
Trinity Hall College
Dr Heather Inwood (Trinity Hall)
- University Associate Professor in Modern Chinese Literature and Culture
- Chinese Studies
Wolfson College
- University Associate Professor in Korean Studies
- East Asian Studies