The BA Arabic provides an intensive study of Modern Standard Arabic in its first year. Students are free to choose a second module on Arabic culture, Middle Eastern literature or Islam as the year's minor component. The second year continues the study of Modern Standard Arabic and introduces the student to classical Arabic and modern Arabic literature. An appropriate fourth module is chosen from the list of approved optional modules. The third year is spent at an Arab university or Language Institute in the Middle East, where students study the colloquial language as well as Modern Standard Arabic, and write an extended essay in Arabic. In the final year, study of language and literature is continued at the advanced level. In addition, the freedom to select two other appropriate modules from the list of options gives students the opportunity of specialising in a field of particular interest.