Middle Eastern Studies Degree

By Uni Compare · Dec 5th 2023

Middle Eastern Studies is the name given to the study of the History, Culture, Politics, Geography and Economies of the Middle East, which includes Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, Turkey, Iraq and Syria.

Graduating from university with a degree in African and Middle Eastern studies is an excellent starting point for entry into a range of industries and sectors. Whether you’ve studied at a leading institution, earning a Russell Group or SOAS Middle Eastern studies qualification, or at other universities around the country in their own faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern studies, we are going to talk you through some of the Middle Eastern Studies degree careers you might consider after completing.

What to do with a Middle Eastern studies degree

With a degree such as Middle Eastern studies, there is a plethora of opportunities to work overseas, especially in sectors such as business, economics and finance. This can be a lucrative path to take and is generally popular with Asian and Middle Eastern studies degree graduates.

There are also a great deal of opportunities available in the public sector and charitable organisations. If you want to make a difference in the world, consider a career in diplomacy (look for jobs in organisations such as the United Nations) or as a consular assistant. You could work with charities offering humanitarian aid, or if you want to stay closer to home, you can still help even from the UK.

With a year’s conversion course in law, you could work towards becoming an immigration lawyer, or you could even try to make changes from the top down, getting a government role through the civil service fast stream. Eventually, you could become a government advisor on refugee and asylum policy, or on international trade. Where else can a SOAS Middle Eastern studies degree or an online Middle Eastern Studies degree take you?

What can you do with a Middle Eastern studies degree?

As an Asian and Middle Eastern studies almost always includes one language, you could work as a translator for literature, news and broadcast media. Or, if you like working with people, you could become a personal interpreter.

Many alumni have gone to become Prime Ministers, and gained employment within politics within the regions they studied after this degree.

Your expertise in Middle Eastern studies would provide a strong knowledge base for a career as a journalist. You could complete an NCTJ course to become fully accredited, and build up a portfolio by starting your own blog on cultural topics or international affairs.

Graduate training programmes in business and enterprise are a popular way of using a new degree, and for a subject like Asian and Middle Eastern studies, you would have global employment opportunities.

Or perhaps you’d like to keep learning? Consider a life in academia, specialising in an area of Middle Eastern studies at a high level and going into research, academic writing and lecturing. You might see your own work in the British journal of Middle Eastern studies. When you leave the faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern studies, there will be a myriad of exciting opportunities to consider. Read on to discover more about studying Middle Eastern studies at university.

What A Levels do I need?

University entry requirements usually depend on each university, although a BBB and above is a good start. Always confirm the requirements set by the particular university beforehand, especially if it is a Middle Eastern Studies online degree or an online Masters Degree in Middle Eastern Studies.

What are my study options?

Many universities offer a combined degree course, with an opportunity to study abroad for a semester/term or an entire year with this course. Most types of degrees will feature a country/region and a specific area of interest, for example, Africa and history of art studies, or International management studies with the Middle East.

Courses also offer language options for the chance to learn another language as a module/course choice during studying.

With a degree such as Middle Eastern studies, there is a plethora of opportunities to work overseas, especially in sectors such as business, economics and finance.

What should I expect from African and Middle Eastern studies?

Due to the small number of students who take this course, students can expect more tutorial and seminar-based learning which feature a more intimate student-teacher setting. Students should not worry about having to attend packed lecture halls with hundreds of peers.

Large parts of Africa and the Middle East may be covered in mainstream news outlets with associations to war, corruption and poverty; however, this course focuses on countries’ rich culture, history, art and religion.

How will I be assessed?

Degree courses focusing on Africa or the Middle East are assessed in an array of ways, with each module at each institution being assessed differently. The majority of assessment will most likely be through coursework and essays, presentations and group work, as well as exams. A dissertation or research project is a common final year option.

What skills will I learn from Middle Eastern studies?

A degree in Middle Eastern Studies offers students the chance to learn transferable skills, for example, research and communication, presentation, cultural knowledge and a second language. At university, students have the opportunity to learn skills based around an organisation, time management and prioritising tasks. The assessments also give students a chance to learn valuable social skills that can be beneficial later in life.

Why study African and Middle Eastern studies?

This type of degree course is ideal for students who wish to desire a broad knowledge of the regions of Africa and the Middle East, as well as gain an understanding of at least one foreign language. The course accommodates an extensive range of topics to engage with the region’s diversity, and is also a good pathway into studying a Masters degree Middle Eastern studies and postgraduate courses.

This degree offers job opportunities in recruitment, research, interpretation, translation, teaching, lecturing, and secretarial work, you can also find work elsewhere.

This course also offers plenty of opportunities to study abroad for a time during the degree, as many universities have connections with other institutions in these regions.

What happens after I graduate?

The skills learnt during studying for the degree, such as research and communication and a second language offer many international employment opportunities for students. There are numerous companies and businesses that offer graduate schemes in this subject, including embassies and governments of the countries and regions studied.

Will it help me get a job?

There are many degrees featuring African, Middle Eastern and Arabic studies, as well as combining History, Art, Archaeology and Politics. Therefore students will increase their chance of finding work within these areas, as well as management. The study of these regions also opens up international employment opportunities.

What jobs can I get with a Middle Eastern Studies degree?

This degree offers job opportunities in recruitment, research, interpretation, translation, teaching, lecturing, and secretarial work, you can also find work elsewhere if you have a joint honours degree, so you may be able to find a number of useful career related to the two degrees you studied, for instance, if you studied a Film Studies and Middle Eastern Studies degree, you may find work as a correspondent on foreign films.

Degree courses focusing on Africa or the Middle East are assessed in an array of ways, with each module at each institution being assessed differently.

What can I study after African and Middle Eastern studies?

There are many postgraduate opportunities after graduation, such as Master’s in Middle East or African studies, as well as a Master’s in history which focuses on these regions. Also, there is International Management, and Law in the Middle East and Africa.