Iranian Studies (MLitt) 2021 entry
The MLitt in Iranian Studies offers students the opportunity to study the history, politics and international relations of Iran in a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment.
Key information
Course type
Postgraduate, leading to a Master of Letters (MLitt)
Course dates
- Start date: 6 September 2021
- End date: 30 September 2022
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Course duration
One year full time
Entry requirements
- A good 2.1 Honours undergraduate degree in a subject-related area. Students do not need knowledge of the Persian language for admission. If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
- English language proficiency. See English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Some academic Schools will ask applicants to achieve significantly higher marks than the minimum. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the writing sample, personal statement, and supporting documents.
Tuition fees
Home: £9,900
Overseas: £20,370
Application deadline
Wednesday 11 August 2021. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.
Application requirements
- CV or résumé. This should include your personal details with a history of your education and employment to date.
- a personal statement
- a sample of academic written work (2,000 words)
- two original signed academic references
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
- evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language).
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
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Course information
The MLitt in Iranian Studies is a one-year taught programme run by the School of History.
The course introduces you to major themes, concepts and approaches including aspects of methodology and historiography. You will explore questions of nationalism, religion and society, as well as an Iran’s place in the region and the broader international community.
Highlights
- Gain access to a unique range of expertise on Iran from Late Antiquity to the modern era.
- Study in a rich research environment provided by the Institute for Iranian Studies and with staff located in other Schools including Art History, Classics and Modern Languages.
- Benefit from the resources of the University Library which has a distinctive collection of over 6,000 Persian books.
Teaching format
The taught programme includes a compulsory module introducing students to the study of Iran, with further module options in Iranian history, politics and language.
The modules are taught through seminars, lectures and fortnightly tutorials, with class sizes ranging from individual supervision up to 12 students. The modules are assessed through coursework or a combination of coursework and examination.
Students will spend the final three months of the course focusing on researching and writing the final assessment piece for the MLitt, a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words.
Modules
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2020–2021 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2021 entry.
- Themes in Middle Eastern History: looks at a variety of theoretical and disciplinary approaches, including Orientalism, and explores questions of nationalism, statehood and identity.
Students take two of the following modules:
- Directed Reading in Middle Eastern History (1 and 2): encourages the development of skills of historical analysis through concentrated study of a topic chosen by the student in consultation with a supervisor.
- Iran and the World since 1921: looks at the development of the modern Iranian state from its inception under Reza Khan in the 1920s to the present day.
- Medieval Iran: from the Sasanians to the Safavnids: looks at the changing nature of Iran from the perspective of its politics, religion and culture in the period circa 200-1000.
- Two modules in the Persian language at the appropriate level.
If students choose the language option they also need to take the following module:
- Middle Eastern Historical Translation: intended to complement and supplement Persian language modules and to serve as a bridge between the language modules and history modules which constitute the majority of the MLitt in Iranian Studies programme.
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University’s position on curriculum development).
Student dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process. The completed dissertation of not more than 15,000 words must be submitted by a date specified in August.
If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.
The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2021 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.
Conferences and events
The School of History hosts the Middle East History and Iranian seminar programme.
The Institute of Iranian Studies supports conferences, workshops, lectures and other events at the University of St Andrews.
Funding
The School of History is pleased to be able to offer a number of competitive scholarships which contribute to the fees and maintenance for postgraduate study.
- The Begum Iskander Mirza Postgraduate Scholarship: open to students applying for the MLitt in Iranian Studies, worth up to £4,000. Students admitted to the programme by the competition deadline (to be announced) will automatically be eligible.
- Language Bursaries: enables students to undertake intensive language courses abroad during the summer before their programme begins.
- School of History MLitt Awards: offers the cash equivalent of one year's home fees and cannot be held in conjunction with other awards offering full fees and maintenance.
Recent Graduate Discount
The University of St Andrews offers a 10% discount in postgraduate tuition fees to students who are eligible to graduate or who have graduated from St Andrews within the last three academic years and are starting a postgraduate programme with the University of St Andrews.
After the MLitt
Research degrees
Many graduates continue their education by enrolling in PhD programmes at St Andrews or elsewhere. PhD applications are welcomed in a broad range of research topics relating to the history, politics and international relations of Iran.
Careers
History postgraduates go on to pursue careers in a range of sectors including:
- journalism
- publishing
- think tanks
- government
- law
- teaching.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and offers a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Contact
School of History
University of St Andrews
St Katharine’s Lodge
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9BA
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2900
Email: pghist@st-andrews.ac.uk
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.