Persian Studies
Studying Persian will give you access to one of the world's great languages and literary traditions in the context of the culture and history of its region of origin. Knowing Persian enables you to read the poetry of Rumi, Hafez, Saʿdi, and Ferdowsi, along with modern writers like Forugh Farrokhzad, Simin Behbahani, and Sohrab Sepehri.
Persian is one of the main languages of the Middle East and variations of the language are spoken today in Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia. Historically, it was a lingua franca of the eastern Islamic world, second in importance only to Arabic.
At Cambridge you will learn Persian in a way that mirrors its use across this varied world:
- Persian is spoken in contemporary Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia.
- Learning modern Persian is an excellent entry into both classical and modern Persian literature, one of the world’s great literary traditions.
- Your year abroad will give you the opportunity to learn local dialects, giving access to the vitality and warmth of everyday life in the region of your choice.
Staff in Middle Eastern studies are actively researching in the areas of anthropology, history, manuscript studies, linguistics, cultural history, literature, media and popular culture. Between us we teach and research the Middle East from pre-Islamic times right the way through to the present day.
Required subjects for entry
We welcome students from a wide range of backgrounds. No previous knowledge of Persian is required to study with us. Our course is not suitable for native speakers of Persian.
An overview of our course
Our course (‘Tripos’) is unique for combining intensive and fast-paced study of the Persian language with the chance to specialise in specific areas of the Middle East according to your own interests. Lectures and seminars are combined with personalised supervisions to create a catered form of education that empowers each of you as active learners while providing caring support and thoughtful guidance.
First year (Part IA): Gaining solid grounding
The focus in the first year is on language learning. Persian must be combined with another Middle Eastern language or a modern European language. You will devote the majority of your time to the study of all aspects of the languages and by the third term you will be able to read real world texts.
If you combine Persian with Arabic or Hebrew language, you will take one history/culture paper. If you combine Persian with a European language, you will take the Persian language papers plus Part IA papers in your Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics (MMLL) language.
Second year (Part IB): Going deeper and broader
Language classes in the second year take you from intermediate to early-advanced Persian. You also have the opportunity to take courses in literary Persian and a variety of other disciplines, including premodern and modern history, anthropology, film and linguistics.
If you combine Persian with Arabic or Hebrew you will take papers in that language. You may also commence Hindi. If you combine Persian with an MMLL language, you will select your papers from both faculties. You will also identify a fourth year undergraduate dissertation project with your instructors’ help.
Third year: Year abroad
Currently, UK nationals are unable to travel to Iran therefore you will spend the Persian part of your Year Abroad studying Persian at the University of Yerevan in Armenia. You make your Year Abroad arrangements assisted by the Year Abroad Coordinator in Persian.
Students are required to spend 8 months in a Middle Eastern country for their Year Abroad.
- If you are studying Persian as a single subject in Part II, you spend 8 months in a destination for Persian language learning.
- If you are combining Persian with Arabic you divide your 8 months between a destination for Persian language learning (minimum 3 months) and an Arabic-speaking country (minimum 4 months).
- If you are combining Persian with Hebrew, you divide your 8 months between a destination for Persian language learning (minimum 3 months) and Israel.
- If you are combining Persian with a European language, you spent the full 8 months in a destination for Persian language learning. However, many students also studying a European language use the time before or after their Persian Year Abroad to travel to a country where their European language is spoken.
Fourth year (Part II): Generating knowledge
Fourth year advanced Persian language classes prepare you for professional Persian-speaking environments and you will read, discuss and analyse advanced texts of many kinds. You will also choose from a selection of advanced and specialised courses based on your instructors’ research, covering literature, history, linguistics and social science.
If you continue to combine Persian with Arabic or Hebrew, you will take advanced papers in that language. If you continue to combine Persian with an MMLL language, you will select your papers from both faculties. You will also write your dissertation based on your own independent research and make an original contribution to Middle Eastern studies.
Beyond your time at Cambridge
We keep regular contact with our alumni who have established rewarding careers in a wide range of professions around the world. These include teaching, translating, interpreting, banking, academia, publicity, journalism, diplomacy, business, popular culture and many, many more.