Combining Persian with Social Anthropology, you will learn one of the major languages of the Middle East and Central Asia while studying human behaviour and ideas in a range of contexts:
- social
- cultural
- religious
- political
The modern form of Persian is the first language of over 120 million people. It is the national language of Iran, indigenously known as Farsi. It is spoken as Dari in Afghanistan and Tajik in Tajikistan. To study Persian is to enter into a rich and diverse culture that has produced:
- major epic and Sufi poets
- world-class cinema
- exquisite fine art and textiles
Our programme is designed for complete beginners in Persian. It is not for native speakers, but we do welcome heritage language learners. We can also accommodate students with some prior experience of studying Persian through exemptions from introductory language study.
You will develop advanced language skills over your four years, including in translation. You will learn to express yourself in modern Persian on a wide range of topical issues, and will gain the skills to engage with original material and contemporary Persian texts on:
- society and culture
- history and politics
- literature, art, and cinema
In addition to language learning, you will have the opportunity to learn from researchers who are international leaders in their field. Our programme is your gateway to understanding modern Iran, a dynamic society at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
You will also study the wider Islamic world and the Middle East, and take a range of courses in anthropology. The discipline overlaps with sociology, human geography, and development studies, and is also closely linked to history and philosophy.
You will learn how anthropology contributes to some of the most important issues facing us today and build up the theoretical tools and practical techniques to engage in your own original anthropological research.
Your dissertation will enable you to draw on skills from both sides of your programme, and a range of excellent resources in the University of Edinburgh collections.
When you graduate, you will have the combination of broad cultural education and specialist knowledge valued by employers worldwide.