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Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Modern Middle Eastern Studies) is no longer accepting new applications.
The Modern Middle Eastern Studies pathway is designed for highly motivated students who would like to develop their knowledge and understanding of the Modern Middle East, together with the research skills necessary to carry out independent research work in the Humanities or Social Sciences to a high academic standard. Graduates will be well placed to pursue further research in a PhD programme, to use their skills and knowledge in NGOs, charities, government, education, or in any other field where cultural understanding, linguistic skills and high-level critical thinking, analysis and communication skills are needed.
The Educational Aims of the course are:
- To give students with a relevant undergraduate degree and sufficient subject-language ability training in research skills and methodologies in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies;
- To develop students’ expertise in relevant aspects of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies;
- To give students the opportunity to carry out focused research under close supervision.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the MPhil course, students will be able to:
· read, interpret and translate primary sources relevant to their research interests in Arabic, Hebrew or Persian;
· show a good understanding of more general scholarship on Modern Middle Eastern Studies;
· show an in-depth knowledge of the secondary literature relevant to the subjects of their coursework and dissertation;
· formulate original research questions on Modern Middle Eastern Studies and produce a well-constructed argument to answer them, based on the use of primary and secondary sources, using the methods of the Humanities and Social Sciences;
· communicate their research findings in the form of an independent piece of research; and
· use independent archival and library- and internet-based research skills concomitant with successful completion of a Masters-level degree in Modern Middle Eastern Studies.
Continuing
All applicants should submit, via the Applicant Portal, a workable and relevant research proposal and demonstrate that they have the required academic knowledge and skills to carry out their project.
Those students who are enrolled in an MPhil by Advanced Studies at the University of Cambridge and wish to continue to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies will be required to obtain at least 67 per cent overall in their MPhil by Advanced Studies degree and satisfy any pre-existing requirements also set by the Degree Committee, i.e. English language requirement.
Admission is at the discretion of the Degree Committee, which judges each applicant on their own merits and in accordance with its own set of rules and regulations.
Open Days
The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the Postgraduate Open Day page for more details.
See further the Postgraduate Admissions Events pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.