Arabic and Spanish MA (Hons)

Arabic

Language courses

You will study elementary Arabic to learn basic grammar and develop your vocabulary.

You will learn to read and write using Arabic script, and to speak confidently in Arabic about a range of topics.

You do not currently need to know any Arabic, as Year 1 courses are designed for beginners. However, if you do have prior experience of Arabic, you may be eligible for a partial or full exemption from Arabic language study this year.

Discursive courses

You will take courses in:

• Islamic History - a survey of the formation of the Islamic world, from its pre-Islamic origins to the foundation of the first Muslim world empire
• Modern Middle Eastern History - an introduction to the Middle East's political, economic, social and cultural history from 1950 until the present day

Spanish

You will study either Spanish 1A or 1B, depending on your language skills. Typically, students on Spanish 1B come to University with substantially more experience of studying Spanish than students on Spanish 1A.

As well as developing your language skills, both the 1A and 1B courses will introduce you to a diverse selection of cultural texts and films from across the Spanish-speaking world.

Arabic

You will continue with your Arabic language study, developing the grammar and vocabulary to communicate effectively on your year abroad.

Our Year 2 Arabic language course focuses on the main linguistic skills:

• reading
• writing
• speaking
• listening

You will also choose between courses in:

• the religion of Islam - an exploration of the religion's branches, key texts, central beliefs and rituals
• Islamic and Middle Eastern Cultures - an introduction to the literary, aesthetic and intellectual culture of the Middle East, from the eve of Islam to the modern period

Spanish

Students of 1A and 1B will come together in our Spanish Language 2 course. This course will help you communicate your ideas in Spanish using more nuanced grammatical structures, vocabulary and syntax. In both your spoken and written work, you will gain confidence in expressing yourself in Spanish ready to study or work abroad in Year 3.

You will also take a further course on the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. You'll be introduced to different genres and artistic currents which demonstrate how culture has reflected, shaped and contested reality from the 16th century to the present day.

Option course

You will complete your Year 2 studies with an option course.

You can choose from a great selection of options in European languages and cultures that explore literature, film and theatre in themed and comparative contexts.

Typical option courses include: 

• Cultural Responses to War 
• Migration, Exile, Diaspora 
• Crime and Detection in Literature 
• Gender and Culture 
• The Coming-of-Age Narrative 
• Introduction to European Cinema 
• Dynamics of Language and Power 
• Languages Beyond University

Alternatively, you can opt to study Catalan or Basque, expanding your knowledge of Iberian languages and cultures.

You will spend Year 3 abroad, dividing your time between two countries. This is when you will deepen your knowledge of Arabic and Spanish by speaking them daily and immersing yourself in local cultures.

Living abroad will also give you the wider perspective, experience and skills to embrace the opportunities and challenges of life after university.

Read our blog post by student Anu who discovered a passion for teaching yoga on her year abroad

How much time will I spend abroad?

You will spend a minimum of 30 weeks abroad. You will divide your time between a country in which Arabic is spoken and one in which Spanish is spoken.

To give you a balanced experience, you will spend at least eight weeks in each of your two destinations. How you further divide your time abroad is normally based on where you study, or whether you're combining study for Arabic with work for Spanish.

Where can I go?

Transforming classroom learning into lived experience, you will study or work in countries where Arabic or Spanish is spoken.

For Arabic, we currently offer four destinations in the Arabic-speaking world in which to study at an approved institution.

For Spanish, the University has exchange places in a wide variety of universities in Spain and Latin America (Argentina, Chile and Mexico).

A work placement for Spanish is another way to gain an international perspective, build professional networks and prepare you for your career after university.

If you are considering working abroad, it is possible to do so in one of several countries in which Spanish is spoken. The first step is to start thinking about where you would like to go. Visa requirements and application processes vary between countries, so it is a good idea to find out what documentation you will need and whether you are eligible to get it.

Whatever you decide to do, your time abroad is a chance for you to evolve and grow beyond Edinburgh. It adds an international dimension to your studies, showing future employers that you are open to new ideas and experiences.

Coursework while abroad

We will aim to ensure your experience abroad is as beneficial as possible to your final year, as well as to your wider language learning and cultural awareness.

For Arabic, you are likely to have coursework set by your host institution.

Regardless of whether you study or work abroad for Spanish, you will take an e-learning course to prepare you for your Year 4 language courses.

You will also begin preparing for your dissertation while abroad. This can be in either Spanish or Arabic.

You will continue to develop your language and translation skills in Arabic and Spanish.

You will also choose from a wide range of specialist, honours-level courses dealing with different aspects of Arabic literature, both modern and classical, Islam and the Middle East.

For Spanish, honours-level course choices typically cover Spanish and Latin American:

• film
• literature
• history
• politics 
• language
• linguistics
• media and cultural production

Building on all the knowledge and skills you have developed over four years, including in independent research, you will complete an honours dissertation.