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Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

 

 

MPhil applications for 2024/25 are now open. The deadline for funding is 5 December 2023.

The taught MPhil in Modern Middle Eastern Studies gives you the opportunity to use methods from the Humanities and Social Sciences to research topics relating to the modern Middle East. You will apply the skills gained during your undergraduate studies and advance your research expertise, particularly though the study of primary sources. 

You will already be competent in Arabic, Hebrew or Persian, usually to a level at least equivalent to two years of full time study of the language.

For specifics on how to apply, requirements, fees and finance, please see the University Postgraduate Admissions pages for this course

The course entails

  • a core module providing an overview of the wider field of Middle Eastern Studies and on-going training and support for your dissertation
  • two optional modules providing specialist training in specific aspects of the modern Middle East
  • a 15,000-word research dissertation on a topic of your choice

Before you apply, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your research interests.  Please see the list of Faculty members below.  For more general queries about the degree course please contact the Postgraduate Administrator.  If possible, please attach a draft research proposal for your MPhil dissertation when contacting us.  The proposal should usually be fewer than 1,500 words in length and can later be submitted as part of your formal application.

The course provides an excellent foundation for doctoral research for those interested in continuing their academic careers. Postgraduates have also found employment in a wide range of fields including development and charity work, the cultural sector and education and other fields where cultural understanding, linguistic skills and high level critical thinking, analysis and communication skills are needed.

Faculty Members with Research Interests in Modern Middle Eastern Studies

HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal University Associate Professor in Middle Eastern Studies, Assistant Director, HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre of Islamic Studies

Dr Anderson is open to receiving applications for MPhil and PhD projects from students with a training in social anthropology, who want to work on projects that contribute to current debates in anthropology, particularly in relation to the anthropology of Islam, ethics or commerce; or the anthropology of Syria.

Applicants for PhD study should have some prior academic training in anthropology, which is also usually offered as part of the MPhil by advanced study programme.

Research interests: Social anthropology, relating to Islam, and the sociality of trade. Trading networks connecting China to markets in West Asia and Arabic-speaking countries

University Associate Professor in the Eastern Islamic Lands and Persian-Speaking World

Dr Ashraf welcomes inquiries from prospective MPhil and PhD students who are interested in projects relating to the history of Iran and the Persian-speaking world, from the early modern to modern periods broadly defined.

Research interests: Comparative empires; the ‘Persianate world’; imperial and state formation; political culture; Persian historiography; history, memory, and the politics of knowledge.

Assistant Professor in Modern Arabic Studies

Dr Monier is open to supervising research on the following topics:

The politics of the modern Arab World.

State-Society relations in Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain and Oman.

Nationalism and state-building.

Identity politics and sectarianism.

Minorities.

Regional power, geopolitics and Arab diplomacy.

Arabic media.

Research interests: Citizenship and state-building; conceptual and political history; societal cohesion and security; geopolitics; diplomacy and development; religion and international relations.

University Associate Professor in Modern Arabic Literature and Culture

Dr Olszok is happy to supervise students who wish to work in fields of Arabic literature in which she has expertise.

Research interests: Modern and Contemporary Arabic Literature; Comparative Literature; Animal and Eco-critical Studies.

Kennedy Leigh Professor of Modern Hebrew Studies

Prof Peleg welcomes inquiries from potential MPhil and PhD students with research interests relevant to his interests in modern Hebrew literary history, Israeli cinema and Israeli culture more generally, primarily the creation of a native Hebrew culture in Palestine/Eretz Israel at the beginning of the twentieth century and its legacy.

Research interests: Modern Hebrew literary history; Israeli cinema and culture; the creation and legacy of a native Hebrew culture at the beginning of the 20th century

Ali Reza & Mohamed Soudavar Professor of Persian Studies

Prof van Ruymbeke welcomes approaches from potential graduate students with research interests relevant to hers. She requests that prospective students email her to discuss their proposed projects before sending in their applications.

Dr Christine van Ruymbeke talks about postgraduate studies in Persian Literature

Research interests: Classical Persian Literature, Modern Persian poetry, Poetics and Rhetorics, Science and poetry, Nezami Ganjavi, Persian Animal Fables as Mirror for Princes, Kalila wa Dimna, Anvar-i Sohayli, ‘Iyar-e Danesh, Khamriyya, Eskandar, Politics and poetry, Comparative literature, Persia’ s presence in the European world, Codicology, Persian manuscripts and paintings, Botanical representations in classical Persian paintings, Iranian cinema, Rewritings