THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2025/2026

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.
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Degree Programme Table: Arabic and Politics (MA Hons) (UTARAPO)

Jump to: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4

Year 1 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: September

Notes:
Students should aim to divide the number of credits they take in each academic year evenly between Semester 1 and Semester 2.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Arabic 1a

Must be passed

IMES08026 20 credits
Arabic 1b

Must be passed

IMES08027 20 credits
Politics and International Relations 1A: Concepts and Debates

Must be passed

PLIT08017 20 credits
Political Thinkers

Must be passed

PLIT08011 20 credits
Modern Middle Eastern History A: Domestic Transformation and International Challenges
IMES08036 20 credits
Politics and International Relations 1B: The Global Dimension

Must be passed

PLIT08018 20 credits

Year 2 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Entry to Honours:

(1) Students must pass courses to the required value of 240 credits in the first two years.
(2) Students must achieve 50% or more, at the first attempt, in Arabic 2.

All courses (including outside subjects) must be passed before embarking on the year abroad; an outside course passed at Resit in August will be acceptable.

Students wishing to transfer to Politics in third year should opt to take 'Introduction to Political Data Analysis PLIT08009'.

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Arabic 2

Must be passed 1st time at 50%

IMES08006 40 credits
Comparative Politics in a Globalized World

Must be passed

PLIT08008 20 credits
Modern Middle Eastern History B: Postwar Independence and Conflict

Must be passed

IMES08037 20 credits

Course options

IMES Politics Year 2

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Selected courses must be passed
Islamic History A: The Formation of the Islamic World
IMES08033 20 credits
Islamic and Middle Eastern Cultures
IMES08051 20 credits
AND

Group A

Select exactly 20 credits in this group.

Level 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y

Select between 0 and 20 credits from Level 8 courses in Schedules A to Q, S, T, W and Y
Selected courses must be passed
AND

Politics Year 2 Optional Courses

Select between 0 and 20 credits of the following courses
Selected courses must be passed
Introduction to British Politics
PLIT08016 20 credits
International Political Economy
PLIT08020 20 credits
Theories of International Relations
PLIT08021 20 credits

Year 3 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
During 3rd year, when permitted, at least 30 weeks of approved residence must be spent in an Arabic-speaking country. During sessions when this is not permitted, students will be offered an alternative means of engagement.

Final Assessment

One unit of assessment is allocated to every 20 credits and constitutes one 20-credit paper. The following are the twelve 20-credit papers on which the classification of the degree is based. (Papers that for the purposes of degree classification acquire a weighting of 40 credits are, therefore, listed twice.)

1. Arabic 4
2. Arabic 4
3. Arabic Oral
4. Arabic Coursework Essay
5. Year Abroad Work for Politics
6. Year Abroad Work for Politics
7. IMES Dissertation Part 1 (same mark as IMES Dissertation Part 2) OR IMES Long Essay
8. IMES Dissertation Part 2 OR Politics Dissertation
9. Politics Dissertation OR IMES Honours Option
10. IMES Honours Option
11. Politics Honours Option
12. Politics Honours Option

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Arabic Coursework Essay
IMES10054 20 credits
Arabic Language Acquisition Through Residence/Study (Part Time)
IMES10056 40 credits
Politics Year Abroad Assessment
PLIT10052 40 credits

Course options

IMES Dissertation or Long Essay Year 3

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
IMES Dissertation (Part 1)
IMES10027 20 credits
IMES Long Essay
IMES10059 20 credits

Year 4 Academic year: 2025/26, Starting in: August

Notes:
Final Assessment

One unit of assessment is allocated to every 20 credits and constitutes one 20-credit paper. The following are the twelve 20-credit papers on which the classification of the degree is based. (Papers that for the purposes of degree classification acquire a weighting of 40 credits are, therefore, listed twice.)

1. Arabic 4
2. Arabic 4
3. Arabic Oral
4. Arabic Coursework Essay
5. Year Abroad Work for Politics
6. Year Abroad Work for Politics
7. IMES Dissertation Part 1 (same mark as IMES Dissertation Part 2) OR IMES Long Essay
8. IMES Dissertation Part 2 OR Politics Dissertation
9. Politics Dissertation OR IMES Honours Option
10. IMES Honours Option
11. Politics Honours Option
12. Politics Honours Option

Compulsory courses

You must take these courses
Arabic 4
IMES10040 20 credits
Arabic Oral
IMES10024 0 credits

Course options

Arabic Language Options Year 4

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
'Arabic Language Based Courses' are courses involving close study of Arabic texts in specific thematic contexts. A list of courses is made available to students prior to the start of the new academic year. Please be aware that all courses may not be available every year.
Modern Arabic Literature
IMES10001 20 credits
Elements of Islam
IMES10002 20 credits
Classical Arabic Literature
IMES10004 20 credits
Reading Arab Feminist Texts: Key Debates on Women's Rights in the Arab World
IMES10093 20 credits
AND

Politics and International Relations Years 3 and 4 Honours Electives

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Please note that students who choose to take PLIT10182 Dissertation in Politics and International Relations MUST also take PLIT10106 Research Design in Politics and International Relations.
Advanced Issues in the Making of Contemporary Africa
AFRI10003 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in International Development
AFRI10004 20 credits
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Nations in Collision
IMES10072 20 credits
Gendering the Middle East
IMES10100 20 credits
The Ottoman World: the Society, Culture and Legacy of Islam's Last Empire
IMES10101 20 credits
Muslim Societies in Southeast Asia
IMES10106 20 credits
International, Transnational and Globalised Dynamics of the Muslim World
IMES10108 20 credits
Unfolding Afghanistan in a Globalised Context
IMES10110 20 credits
Africa in World Politics
PLIT10003 20 credits
Politics of the Middle East
PLIT10036 20 credits
Contemporary Russian Politics
PLIT10048 20 credits
Global Justice and Citizenship
PLIT10054 20 credits
Europe and International Migration
PLIT10068 20 credits
Comparing Scottish Devolution
PLIT10080 20 credits
Understanding Indian Politics
PLIT10088 20 credits
Parliamentary Studies
PLIT10091 20 credits
Political Work
PLIT10093 20 credits
International Politics of Money
PLIT10095 20 credits
Democracy and its Discontents
PLIT10096 20 credits
Public participation in democracy and governance
PLIT10098 20 credits
Public Policy: Agenda-Setting
PLIT10100 20 credits
Neuropolitics
PLIT10101 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in Political Science
PLIT10104 20 credits
Contemporary Issues in International Relations
PLIT10105 20 credits
Research Design in Politics and International Relations
PLIT10106 20 credits
International Relations of the Asia Pacific
PLIT10109 20 credits
Gender, Power and Representation
PLIT10113 20 credits
Populism: Pathology or Panacea?
PLIT10114 20 credits
Climate Justice
PLIT10118 20 credits
The Politics of the UK Constitution
PLIT10119 20 credits
Strategic Studies and its Critics
PLIT10120 20 credits
Law, Violence, and Humanity
PLIT10125 20 credits
Social Movements and Collective Action in the Middle East
PLIT10128 20 credits
Gender, Peace and Security
PLIT10130 20 credits
Technology, Politics and Government
PLIT10133 20 credits
Russia's Foreign and Security Policy
PLIT10135 20 credits
Environmental Politics
PLIT10136 20 credits
Democracy and contemporary capitalism
PLIT10139 20 credits
Chinese Politics
PLIT10140 20 credits
The Persian Gulf in International Relations
PLIT10142 20 credits
Media and Protest
PLIT10143 20 credits
Europe in the World
PLIT10146 20 credits
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
PLIT10147 20 credits
Advanced Topics in Global Security
PLIT10151 20 credits
Foundations in Global Security
PLIT10154 20 credits
Model United Nations
PLIT10155 20 credits
Eastminster: Decolonisation and State-Building in Asia
PLIT10157 20 credits
Education and Social Justice
PLIT10158 20 credits
Global and Transnational Feminisms
PLIT10159 20 credits
Political Emotions
PLIT10160 20 credits
Utopia
PLIT10161 20 credits
Freedom and Slavery in Political Thought
PLIT10162 20 credits
Geopolitics
PLIT10163 20 credits
Anticolonial Political Thought
PLIT10164 20 credits
Conservatism and the Right
PLIT10165 20 credits
Corporate Lobbying and Policymaking in the Global Economy
PLIT10166 20 credits
Elite and Mass Political Behaviour
PLIT10167 20 credits
Majoritarian Nationalism, Populism and Ethnic Conflict in South Asia
PLIT10170 20 credits
Sport and Politics
PLIT10171 20 credits
The Far Right
PLIT10172 20 credits
Digital Media and Democracy
PLIT10173 20 credits
Politics and communication of environmental risks
PLIT10175 20 credits
Latin American Foreign Policies
PLIT10176 20 credits
Propaganda and Censorship in Democracies
PLIT10177 20 credits
Stability, Instability and Renewal in Democratic Systems
PLIT10178 20 credits
The Politics of Economic Expertise
PLIT10179 20 credits
The Political Psychology of Global Affairs
PLIT10180 20 credits
The Political Economy of Digital Capitalism
PLIT10183 20 credits
Migration, Borders, and Resistance
PLIT10184 20 credits
Kant and International Relations
PLIT10185 20 credits
Economic Nationalism and Business Power
PLIT10187 20 credits
Designing and Doing Social Research
SCIL10062 20 credits
Globalization
SCIL10067 20 credits
Health Systems: Strengthening and Reform
SCPL10030 20 credits
Race, Power, and Social Policy
SCPL10043 20 credits
Statistical Modelling
SSPS10027 20 credits
The Internet and Society
STIS10001 20 credits
Energy Policy and Sustainability
STIS10008 20 credits
Controversies in Medicine, Technology and the Environment
STIS10009 20 credits
Knowledge, Expertise and Policy
STIS10010 20 credits
AND

Group A

Select exactly 40 credits in this group.

IMES Dissertation (Part 2)

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
IMES Dissertation (Part 2)
IMES10028 20 credits
AND

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Core Honours Option Courses

Select exactly 20 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Please be aware that all courses may not be available every year.
Mystical Islam (Sufism)
IMES10033 20 credits
Cinema and Society in the Middle East
IMES10035 20 credits
Modern Persian Literature and 'Modern' Iran
IMES10061 20 credits
The Arab-Israeli Conflict: Nations in Collision
IMES10072 20 credits
Islam Through the Arts
IMES10074 20 credits
Of Wine, Love and Loss: Reading Iran through Classical Persian Literature
IMES10076 20 credits
Gender and Media in the Arab World
IMES10085 20 credits
The Qur'an - Islam's Holy Book
IMES10086 20 credits
History and Culture of Iran
IMES10099 20 credits
Gendering the Middle East
IMES10100 20 credits
The Ottoman World: the Society, Culture and Legacy of Islam's Last Empire
IMES10101 20 credits
Iraq: From 'Republic of Fear' to the Islamic State
IMES10102 20 credits
The Seventh Century: The Transformation of East Rome and the Rise of Islam
IMES10104 20 credits
OR

Dissertation in Politics and International Relations

Select exactly 40 credits of the following courses
Notes:
Please note that students who choose to take PLIT10182 Dissertation in Politics and International Relations MUST also take PLIT10106 Research Design in Politics and International Relations.
Dissertation in Politics and International Relations
PLIT10182 40 credits
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